Calcareous Fen
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
-
Transition T1A
Hydrologic manipulation, trampling, herbicide use, nutrient loading
More details -
No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
Select a state
Description
This state represents what is believed to show the natural range of variability that dominates the dynamics of the ecological state prior to European settlement. This site, in the Reference State (State 1), is a complex community with different vegetation zones. The marl flat zones are dominated by prairie sedge, common threesquare, and needle beaksedge. Below or outside of the marl flat may be border zones of wetland vegetation. These may vary from wet meadow types dominated by fine-stemmed grasses and sedges, e.g. bluejoint, or prairie cordgrass; to deep marsh vegetation of cattails and bulrushes, or the water may converge into a stream channel along the downslope edge of the marl flat with riparian vegetation including shrubs. The discharge zone is typically dominated by water sedge and broadleaf cattail.
Climatic variation, disturbance, and fire are drivers between community phases, while herbivory plays a very minor role as these areas are typically avoided by large ungulates. Invasion of non-native cattails may occur if the hydrology of the site is manipulated through ditching, draining, or excavating, nutrient loading, herbicide use, and/or trampling by livestock. Invasion may also occur due to changes in water pH. This will result in a transition to the Native/Invaded State (State 2).
Submodel
Description
The Native/Invaded State is characterized by a shift from native species to inclusion of invasive cattail species such as narrowleaf (Typha angustifolia) and hybrid cattail (Typha x glauca) due to hydrologic manipulation from ditching, draining, or excavating, nutrient loading, herbicide use, and/or trampling by livestock. The various forms of manipulation result in a lowered water table, which allows peat and organic soils to decompose in absence of saturation. This altered site provides an environment for non-natives and exotics to invade.
Submodel
Mechanism
Hydrological manipulation such as ditching, draining, or excavating, nutrient loading from the watershed, herbicide use and/or trampling by livestock may all lead to this shift in plant community. Invasion of nonnative cattails, common reed (Phragmites australis), and invasive forbs such as purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) leads to a Native/Invaded State (State 2).
Model keys
Briefcase
Add ecological sites and Major Land Resource Areas to your briefcase by clicking on the briefcase (
) icon wherever it occurs. Drag and drop items to reorder. Cookies are used to store briefcase items between browsing sessions. Because of this, the number of items that can be added to your briefcase is limited, and briefcase items added on one device and browser cannot be accessed from another device or browser. Users who do not wish to place cookies on their devices should not use the briefcase tool. Briefcase cookies serve no other purpose than described here and are deleted whenever browsing history is cleared.
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.