Saline Lowland
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
- Transition T1-2 More details
- Transition T1-3 More details
- Transition T1-4 More details
- Transition T 2-3 More details
- Transition T 2-4 More details
- Transition T 3-4 More details
- Restoration pathway R 4-1 More details
- Restoration pathway R4-2 More details
- Restoration pathway R4-3 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
This state describes the range of vegetative community phases that occur on the Saline Lowland site where the natural processes are mostly intact.
The Reference Community is a representation of the native plant community phase that occupies a site that has been minimally altered by management. The Degraded Native Grass, the At-Risk Grass, and the Excessive Litter Communities are the phases that result from management decisions that are unfavorable for a healthy Reference Community. The Ephemeral Forb Community is the result of a high intensity disturbance event.
High perennial grass cover and production allows for increased soil moisture retention, vegetative production, and overall soil quality.
Submodel
States 1, 5 and 2 (additional transitions)
1.1. Reference Community
1.5. Ephemeral Forb Community
1.2. Degraded Native Grass Community
Description
This state has been degraded from the Reference State and much of the native warm-season grass community has been replaced by less desirable plants. The loss of tall- and mid- warm-season grasses has negatively impacted energy flow and nutrient cycling. Water infiltration is reduced due to the shallow root system and rapid runoff characteristics of the grazing-evasive plant communities.
The Native Evaders/Invasives and the Invaded Cool Season communities are the components of the Native/Invaded Grass State.
Submodel
Description
This threshold is crossed as a result of mechanical disturbance to facilitate production agriculture. If farming operations are suspended, the site can be abandoned, which will result in the Naturally Reclaimed Community, or be re-seeded to a desired perennial forage mixture, which is described as the Re-seeded Community.
Permanent alterations of the soil community and the hydrologic cycle make restoration to the original native Reference Community extremely difficult, if not impossible. Formation of a compacted plow pan in the soil profile is likely.
Submodel
Description
Once the tree canopy cover reaches 15 percent with an average tree height exceeding 5 feet, the threshold is crossed to the Invaded Woody State. Woody species are encroaching due to lack of prescribed fire and other brush management practices. Typical ecological impacts are a loss of native warm season grasses, degraded forage productivity and reduced soil quality.
This state consists of the Invasive Woodies Community.
Submodel
Mechanism
Heavy grazing or haying without adequate recovery periods will cause this state to lose a significant proportion of tall and mid- warm-season grass species and cross a threshold to the Native/Invaded State. Water infiltration and other hydrologic functions will be reduced due to the root matting presence of sod-forming grasses. With the decline and loss of deeper penetrating root systems, soil structure and biological integrity are catastrophically degraded to the point that recovery is unlikely. Once this occurs, it is highly unlikely that grazing management alone will return the community to the Reference State.
Mechanism
The Reference State is significantly altered by mechanical tillage to allow the site to be placed into production agriculture. The disruption to the plant community, the soil and the hydrology of the system make restoration to a true reference state unlikely.
Mechanism
Disruption of the natural fire regime and the planting of invasive exotic and native woody species can cause this state to shift to the Invaded Woody State.
Mechanism
The state is significantly altered by mechanical tillage to allow the site to be placed into production agriculture. The disruption to the plant community, the soil and the hydrology of the system make restoration to a true reference state unlikely.
Mechanism
Disruption of the natural fire regime and the planting of invasive exotic and native woody species can cause this state to shift to the Invaded Woody State.
Mechanism
Disruption of the natural fire regime and the planting of invasive exotic and native woody species can cause this state to shift to the Invaded Woody State.
Mechanism
Disruption of natural fire regime, planting of exotic and invasive native woody species. This can be reversed in all states by mechanical removal, immediate follow-up stump treatment of root-sprouting species. Development and implementation of a follow-up maintenance prescribed burn program is necessary to prevent re-invasion. States two and three cannot go back to state 1 through this process.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Brush Management |
|
|
Prescribed Burning |
|
|
Prescribed Grazing |
Mechanism
Disruption of natural fire regime, planting of exotic and invasive native woody species. This can be reversed in all states by mechanical removal, immediate follow-up stump treatment of root-sprouting species. Development and implementation of a follow-up maintenance prescribed burn program is necessary to prevent re-invasion. States two and three cannot go back to state 1 through this process.
Mechanism
Disruption of natural fire regime, planting of exotic and invasive native woody species. This can be reversed in all states by mechanical removal, immediate follow-up stump treatment of root-sprouting species. Development and implementation of a follow-up maintenance prescribed burn program is necessary to prevent re-invasion. States two and three cannot go back to state 1 through this process.
Model keys
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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.