Ecological dynamics
The Footslope/Drainageway Forests ecological site reference state is a mesic hardwood forest. This site is predominantly in northeastern sections of MLRA 103 where fires were historically suppressed by topography and density of waterbodies. Following European settlement, most areas were cleared of their trees and converted to agriculture. Currently, the dominant land use is corn and soybean production.
The state and transition model consists of the Reference State, Tillage State, and the Degraded Woodland State. The Reference State describes a site with wet tolerant native grasses and scattered hardwoods. State 2 is the Tillage State which describes land transitioned to agricultural production. This is the most common state in MLRA 103 for this site. A few areas within this State have been reseeded to native warm season or cool-season grasses. State 3 is a Disturbed Forest State in which human disturbances have modified the plant community composition and structure. Lack of natural fire, hydrological alterations, unmanaged grazing, and invasive species are common triggers transitioning a site to State 3.
State 1
Reference State
The Footslope/Drainageway Forests reference state is a mature, deciduous forest that includes sugar maple, hackberry, elm, and basswood. The shrub layer often consists of red elderberry, chokecherry, and various tree saplings. The understory on high-quality sites are diverse and boasts a variety of native herbaceous species. Dense patches of wood nettle may be present. In absence of large-scale natural or anthropogenic disturbances, this ecological site is generally stable. Small gap regeneration occurs commonly. Species in the successional stage communities will be influenced by site slope, aspect, drainage, and seed sources. Common early-successional species are quaking aspen and sugar maple. Mid-successional dominants often are sugar maple and American elm.
Resilience management. Resilience management practices include monitoring for invasive vegetation, applying herbicides as needed, and excluding grazing and logging.
Community 1.1
Reference Community
This ecological site is a mesic hardwood forest. Canopy dominants include sugar maple, hackberry, basswood, and elm. Subcanopy, shrubs and herbaceous cover will vary depending on slope and drainage. Spring ephemerals are characteristic. High-quality sites will have an array of native understory species. Reference communities are now rare in MLRA 103 as many of the existing wooded sites have been disturbed by human activities (State 3). Many sites have been transitioned to agricultural production (State 2).
Resilience management. Resilience management practices include monitoring for invasive vegetation, applying weed control methods as needed, and excluding disturbances such as grazing and large-scale timber harvesting.
State 2
Tillage State
The Tillage State contains the Row Crop Community and the Seeded Grassland Community. This state describes areas currently in crop production or areas that were tilled but now are seeded to grass. Pathway mechanisms include preparing the site, planting desired species, applying herbicide, applying fertilizer, and harvesting. Hydrological modifications (tiling and ditching) may be installed to improve drainage.
Soil tillage is the primary trigger to State 2. Tillage alters dynamic soil properties, including bulk density, structure, organic carbon content, and saturated hydraulic conductivity. Intensive tillage negatively impacts soil ecological functions. Conservation practices can help mediate soil health impacts. Conservation tillage minimizes soil disturbance and improves soil structure and soil health. A cover crop rotation builds soil structure, improves infiltration rates, reduces erosion, and protects water quality.
Some areas within this ecological site have been converted to a warm-season grasses under conservation programs such as the NRCS Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). Plantings usually perennial warm-season grasses and native forbs to benefit wildlife and pollinators.
Non-native, cool-season grasses are also feasible. Common species are reed canarygrass and Kentucky bluegrass. Seed mix selection will depend on the site characteristics and landowner objectives. Although not as biologically diverse as native grasslands; seeded grasslands still offer ecological benefits for wildlife, water quality protection, and soil health.
Resilience management. Prescribed fire is a resilience management practice on warm-season grasslands.
Seeding, fertilizing, and controlling weeds and brush are resilience management practices for cool-season grasslands.
Community 2.1
Row Crop Community
Community 2.1 consists of intensive row crop agriculture. This is a primary use of this ecological site. Soil tillage and intentional plant establishment are the primary triggers. The most common crops are corn and soybeans on an annual rotation. A secondary trigger is drainage modifications (ditching and tiling), which may be installed to improve soil drainage.
Resilience management. Resilience management practices include preparing the sites, planting, fertilizing, controlling weeds, and harvesting. The maintenance of the desired vegetation community is controlled by the intensity, frequency, duration, and timing of agricultural practices.
Community 2.2
Seeded Grassland Community
The Seeded Grassland Community grows in areas that were previously tilled and used for agricultural production, but have been transitioned to either warm-season or cool-season grasses. The primary trigger is the intentional establishment of a grass species. Many of these areas are eventually transitioned back to annual crop production.
Resilience management. The resilience management practices may include planting desired species, managing grazing, mowing, fertilizing, and controlling unpalatable plant species. Prescribed fire is a resilience management practice for warm-season grasslands. The controlled application of fire modifies vegetation structure and influence ecological processes.
Pathway 2.1A
Community 2.1 to 2.2
This pathway converts Community 2.1 (row crops) to Community 2.2 (seeded grassland). The primary mechanism of change is the seeding of desired grass species. This pathway is commonly triggered in conjunction with a conservation program such as the NRCS Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). The site is removed from crop production and seeded with warm-season grasses which benefit wildlife, soil health, and water quality. A small percentage of sites are utilized as cool season grasslands.
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Pathway 2.2A
Community 2.2 to 2.1
This pathway describes the site transitioning from a seeded grassland to row crop agriculture. This is a common pathway throughout MLRA 103 as sites are placed in crop production. The mechanisms of change are tillage and intentional plant establishment (crop seeding).
State 3
Disturbed Forest State
This state describes a wooded site that has been disturbed and exhibits altered forest species composition. Numerous ruderal woodland and forest plant communities may occur on this ecological site depending on the type and severity of disturbance and available seed sources. Invasive, non-native shrubs, grasses, and herbaceous plants are often common on disturbed sites and may dominate if left unmanaged.
Community 3.1
Disturbed Forest Community
Community 3.1 is an altered forest community caused by previous or ongoing human disturbances. Invasive, non-native plant species are common in this community. Canopy composition varies depending on the severity and type of disturbance and the availability of seed sources. Invasive, non-native species are common on these sites and will continue to increase without management intervention.
Transition T1A
State 1 to 2
Transition T1A is the conversion of the reference state to agriculture. The triggers are site clearing, soil tillage, and intentional plant establishment (crop seeding). Resilience management practices include common agricultural practices such as seeding, fertilizing, and managing invasive plants with herbicides or field cultivation. Hydrological modifications, such as ditching and tiling, may be installed depending on drainage.
Constraints to recovery. Site clearing and soil tillage preclude recovery of the former state.
Transition T1B
State 1 to 3
Transition T1B is a transition from a mature deciduous forest to a disturbed (ruderal) forest. Triggers include timber harvest, grazing, and introduction of non-native species. The native plant community is altered, and these areas do not exhibit the ecological function or native vegetative composition of State 1.
Restoration pathway R3A
State 3 to 1
Restoration to the reference state may be feasible for some sites with long-term management inputs including restoration of natural hydrology (if altered), establishment of desired species, forest stand management, and control of invasive species. Management includes intentional plant establishment (planting desired species), absence of disturbance (site protected from grazing and other site altering disturbances), timber stand improvement, and eradication of invasive plant species.
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| Tree/Shrub Site Preparation |
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| Tree/Shrub Establishment |
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| Forest Stand Improvement |
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Transition T3A
State 3 to 2
Transition T3A is the transition of a disturbed forest state to agriculture production. This is a common pathway in MLRA 103. The mechanisms of change include clearing of woody species, site preparation, tillage, and intentional plant establishment (crop seeding). Drainage alterations may be installed.
Constraints to recovery. Soils tillage and the transition to agriculture preclude recovery of the former state.
