Sandy Upland Prairie
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
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Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
- Transition T1A More details
- Transition T1B More details
- Transition T1C More details
- Transition T2A More details
- Transition T2B More details
- Restoration pathway R2A More details
- Transition T3A More details
- Transition T3B More details
- Restoration pathway R3A More details
- Transition T4A More details
- Transition T4B More details
- Restoration pathway R4A More details
- Transition T5A More details
- Transition T5B More details
- Transition T5C More details
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No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
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Description
The reference plant community is categorized as a dry prairie community, dominated by herbaceous vegetation. The two community phases within the reference state are dependent on fire and sand blowouts. Short fire return intervals and occasional slope failures alters species composition, cover, and extent, while regular fire intervals keep woody species from dominating. Drought and grazing have more localized impacts on the reference phases, but do contribute to overall species composition, diversity, cover, and productivity.
Submodel
Description
Long-term fire suppression can transition the reference sand prairie community into a woody-invaded shrub-prairie. This state is evidenced by a well-developed shrub layer and sparse trees (LANDFIRE 2009). Proximity to lands that have been altered provide opportunities for non-native invasive species to readily colonize this state, thereby reducing the native biodiversity and changing the vegetative community.
Submodel
Description
The forage state occurs when the site is converted to a farming operation that emphasizes domestic livestock production known as grassland agriculture. Fire suppression, periodic cultural treatments (e.g., clipping, drainage, soil amendment applications, planting new species and/or cultivars, mechanical harvesting) and grazing by domesticated livestock transition and maintain this state (USDA-NRCS 2003). Early settlers seeded non-native species, such as smooth brome and Kentucky bluegrass, to help extend the grazing season (Smith 1998). Over time, as lands were continuously harvested or grazed by herds of cattle, the non-native species were able to spread and expand across the landscape, reducing the native species diversity and ecological function.
Submodel
Description
The low topographic relief across the MLRA has resulted in nearly the entire area being converted to agriculture (Eilers and Roosa 1994). The continuous use of tillage, row-crop planting, and chemicals (i.e., herbicides, fertilizers, etc.) has effectively eliminated the reference community and many of its natural ecological functions in favor of crop production. Corn and soybeans are the dominant crops for the site, and oats (Avena L.) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) may be rotated periodically. These areas are likely to remain in crop production for the foreseeable future.
Submodel
Description
Prairie reconstructions have become an important tool for repairing natural ecological functions and providing habitat protection for numerous grassland dependent species. Because the historic plant and soil biota communities of the tallgrass prairie were highly diverse with complex interrelationships, historic prairie replication cannot be guaranteed on landscapes that have been so extensively manipulated for extended timeframes (Kardol and Wardle 2010; Fierer et al. 2013). Therefore, ecological restoration should aim to aid the recovery of degraded, damaged, or destroyed ecosystems. A successful restoration will have the ability to structurally and functionally sustain itself, demonstrate resilience to the natural ranges of stress and disturbance, and create and maintain positive biotic and abiotic interactions (SER 2002). The reconstructed prairie state is the result of a long-term commitment involving a multi-step, adaptive management process. Diverse, species-rich seed mixes are important to utilize as they allow the site to undergo successional stages that exhibit changing composition and dominance over time (Smith et al. 2010). On-going management via prescribed fire and/or light grazing can help the site progress from an early successional community dominated by annuals and some weeds to a later seral stage composed of native, perennial grasses, forbs, and a few shrubs. Establishing a prescribed fire regimen that mimics natural disturbance patterns can increase native species cover and diversity while reducing cover of non-native forbs and grasses. Light grazing alone can help promote species richness, while grazing accompanied with fire can control the encroachment of woody vegetation (Brudvig et al. 2007).
Submodel
Mechanism
Long-term fire suppression transitions the site to the fire-suppressed state (2).
Mechanism
Cultural treatments to enhance forage quality and yield transitions the site to the forage state (3).
Mechanism
Tillage, seeding of agricultural crops, and non-selective herbicide transition the site to the cropland state (4).
Mechanism
Cultural treatments to enhance forage quality and yield transitions the site to the forage state (3).
Mechanism
Tillage, seeding of agricultural crops, and non-selective herbicide transition this site to the cropland state (4).
Mechanism
Site preparation, invasive species control, and seeding native species transition this site to the reconstructed sand prairie state (5).
Mechanism
Land abandonment transitions the site to the fire-suppressed state (2).
Mechanism
Tillage, seeding of agricultural crops, and non-selective herbicide transition this site to the cropland state (4).
Mechanism
Site preparation, invasive species control, and seeding native species transition this site to the reconstructed sand prairie state (5).
Mechanism
Land abandonment transitions the site to the fire-suppressed state (2).
Mechanism
Cultural treatments to enhance forage quality and yield transitions the site to the forage state (3).
Mechanism
Site preparation, invasive species control, and seeding native species transition this site to the reconstructed sand prairie state (5).
Mechanism
Land abandonment transitions the site to the fire-suppressed state (2).
Mechanism
Cultural treatments to enhance forage quality and yield transition the site to the forage state (3).
Model keys
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