Ponded Floodplain Marsh
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
- Restoration pathway R2A More details
- Transition T2A More details
- Transition T2B More details
- Restoration pathway R3A More details
- Restoration pathway T3A More details
- Transition T3B More details
- Restoration pathway R4A More details
- Transition T4A 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 marsh dominated by hydrophytic vegetation. The three community phases within the reference state are dependent on seasonal flooding and precipitation as well as an average fire return interval of three years. The amount and duration of ponded water alters species composition, cover, and extent, while regular fire intervals and long duration ponding keep woody species from encroaching. Animal disturbances from beaver and muskrats have more localized impacts in the reference phases, but do contribute to overall species composition, diversity, cover, and productivity.
Submodel
Description
Fire suppression can transition the reference herbaceous marsh community into a woody-dominated marsh. Historically, hot replacement fires occurred on a two to five year cycle and helped to reduce woody encroachment and thatch build-up (LANDFIRE 2009). Over the past 150 years, however, fire suppression policies have allowed shrubs and trees to succeed into areas where they did not historically occur.
Submodel
Description
Agricultural drainage, stream channelization, and levee construction in hydrologically-connected waters has drastically changed the natural hydrologic cycle of Ponded Floodplain Marshes. Reduced backwater flooding and excessive siltation from upland erosion has caused accelerated soil dehydration. This has resulted in a type conversion from the species-rich herbaceous marsh to a simplified, woody-dominated state (Nelson 2010; Steinauer and Rolfsmeier 2010). In addition, the change in the hydrologic cycle (coupled with agricultural runoff) has resulted in a serious invasion of exotic species (Green and Galatowitsch 2002; Kercher et al. 2007; Nelson 2010).
Submodel
Description
The Midwest is well-known for its highly-productive agricultural soils, and as a result, much of the MLRA has been converted to cropland, including portions of this ecological site (USGS 1999). Agricultural tile drains and surface drainage systems used to lower the water table and continuous use of tillage, row-crop planting, and chemicals (i.e., herbicides, fertilizers, etc.) have effectively eliminated the reference community and many of its natural ecological functions in favor of crop production. Corn (Zea mays L.) and soybeans (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) are the dominant crops for the site. These areas are likely to remain in crop production for the foreseeable future.
Submodel
Mechanism
Long-term fire suppression transitions this site to the fire-suppressed state (2).
Mechanism
Altered hydrology from stream channelization and levee construction transition this site to the hydrologically-altered state (3).
Mechanism
Installation of drain tiles, tillage, seeding of agricultural crops, and non-selective herbicide transition this site to the cropland state (4).
Mechanism
Re-establishment of a historic fire regime transitions this site to the reference state (1).
Mechanism
Altered hydrology from stream channelization and levee construction transition this site to the hydrologically-altered state (3).
Mechanism
Woody overstory removal, installation of drain tiles, tillage, seeding of agricultural crops, and non-selective herbicide transition this site to the cropland state (4).
Mechanism
Placement of water control structures to control siltation and flood patterns as well as woody species control transition this site to the reference state (1).
Mechanism
Long-term fire suppression transitions this site to the fire-suppressed state (2).
Mechanism
Woody overstory removal, installation of drain tiles, tillage, seeding of agricultural crops, and non-selective herbicide transition this site to the cropland state (4).
Mechanism
Removal of drain tiles, site preparation, native seeding, and invasive species control transition this site to the reference state (1).
Model keys
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