Shallow Upland
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
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Transition T1A
Clear cutting or stand-replacing fire.
More details -
Transition T1B
Removal of forest vegetation and tilling.
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Restoration pathway R2A
Disturbance-free period 70+ years.
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Transition T2A
Removal of forest vegetation and tilling.
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Restoration pathway R3A
Cessation of agricultural practices, natural or artificial afforestation.
More details -
No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
Select a state
Description
Reference state is a forest community dominated by sugar maple (Acer saccharum) with ashes, American Basswood and/or American Beech. Hemlock may be present on these sites as well. Depending on history of disturbance, two community phases can be distinguished largely by differences in dominance of tree species and community age structure. With the shallow bedrock of these sites, maximum tree size may be limited along with growth rate. It is also likely that these sites are prone to more windthrow and thus may spend less time in an advanced successional state.
Submodel
Description
Following disturbances such as fire and clear cutting a wide range of forest community phases may come into temporary existence, the three most common ones are described here. The communities within this state are largely influenced by available seed source and type and intensity of disturbance leading to this successional state.
Submodel
Mechanism
Clear cutting with initial control of competing vegetation, or stand-replacing fire, prepare the site for occupancy by shade intolerant species. This may occur through natural regeneration or by planting.
Mechanism
A period of some 70-100 years without major stand disturbance, especially fire, leads to decreased presence, through natural mortality, of early successional species and the dominance of shade tolerant sugar maple and Hemlock with less tolerant associates of American Beech and White ash, returning the community to Reference State.
Mechanism
Removal of forest cover, tilling and application of other agricultural techniques to grow agricultural crops.
Model keys
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Ecological sites
Major Land Resource Areas
The Ecosystem Dynamics Interpretive Tool is an information system framework developed by the USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and New Mexico State University.