Depressional Wet Forests
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
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Transition T1A
Site is cleared, tilled, seeded, and managed for crop production
More details -
Transition T1B
Site incurs disturbance and altered plant community
More details -
Restoration pathway R3A
Restoration of native plant community
More details -
Transition T3A
Site cleared, soil tillage,drainage, crop establishment, and continued agriculture management
More details -
No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
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Description
The Reference Community is characterized by multiple canopy species, a variable shrub layer, and a diverse ground cover of native sedges and herbaceous species. Black ash is often the dominant canopy species. The shrub layer includes black ash seedlings and saplings, chokecherry, and wild black currant. The understory is a mosaic of wet to wet-mesic species including various species including common marsh marigold, touch me not, and Canadian woodnettle.
Resilience management
Resilience management practices include monitoring for invasive vegetation, applying herbicides as needed, and excluding grazing and logging. Maintenance of natural hydrology is key to the ecological communities of this site.
Submodel
Description
The Tillage State contains the Row Crop Community and the Seeded Grassland Community. This state describes areas in crop production or areas that were re-seeded to grass. Pathway mechanisms include preparing the site, planting desired species, applying herbicide, applying fertilizer, and harvesting. Hydrological modifications (tiling and ditching) are usually 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 will 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 runoff and erosion, and protects water quality.
Some areas within this ecological site have been converted to a warm-season or cool-season grasses. Seed mix selection will depend on site characteristics and landowner goals. Seeded grasslands are not as species rich or biologically diverse as native grasslands; however, they still offer ecological benefits for wildlife, water quality, and soil health.
Submodel
Description
This state describes a shrub or wooded site that has been disturbed and exhibits altered vegetative species composition. Numerous ruderal shrub and tree plant communities may occur on this ecological site depending on the type and severity of disturbance, the length of disturbance, available seed sources, ongoing disturbances (selective harvest, grazing), and management activities. Common tree and shrub species include black ash, alder, and willow. Seed source availability (both native and non native) will greatly influence plant community composition on these sites. Understory species may include reed canarygrass and various sedges.
Submodel
Mechanism
Transition T1A is the conversion of the Reference State to agriculture. The triggers are site clearing, hydrological modifications (tilling, ditching), 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.
Constraints to recovery
Site clearing and soil tillage preclude recovery of the former state.
Mechanism
Transition T1B is a transition from a mature deciduous forest to a disturbed (ruderal) shrub-woodland community. Triggers include timber harvest, surface site disturbance, grazing, and introduction of non-native species. The native plant community is altered, and these areas do not exhibit the ecological function or vegetative composition of State 1.
Mechanism
Restoration to the Reference State may be feasible for some sites with natural hydrology. Restoration inputs including establishment of desired native plant species, continued forest stand management (selective thinning), and control of invasive species.
Triggers include intentional plant establishment (planting desired species), absence of disturbance (site protected from grazing and other site altering disturbances), forest stand improvement, and eradication of invasive plant species.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
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Brush Management |
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Tree/Shrub Site Preparation |
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Tree/Shrub Establishment |
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Forest Stand Improvement |
Mechanism
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, site preparation, tillage, and intentional plant establishment (crop seeding). Continued resilience management practices are necessary and include weed control (herbicide application), disturbance management (field cultivating), and harvest management.
Constraints to recovery
Soils tillage, hydrological modification, and the transition to agriculture preclude a transition back to a true reference state.
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.