Natric Floodplain Prairie
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
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Management practices/drivers
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- Transition T1A More details
- Transition T1B More details
- Transition T1C More details
- Transition T2A More details
- Transition T2B More details
- Restoration pathway R3A More details
- Transition T3A More details
- Restoration pathway R4A More details
- Restoration pathway 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 wet prairie dominated by salt-tolerant vegetation. The two community phases within the reference state are dependent on high water tables and periodic flooding. The duration and depth of water moving through the site alters salinity levels which affects species composition, cover, and extent. Periodic fire and drought had less of an impact, but still contributed to overall species composition, diversity, cover, and productivity.
Submodel
Description
Large-scale stream channelization efforts along the Missouri River and its tributaries have resulted in excessive streambed incision and changes in landscape hydrology. This has reduced the water table and flood frequency of Natric Floodplain Prairies, causing the salinity to decrease over time. As salinity levels are reduced, the reference community transitions into a state that can be co-occupied by halophytes and non-halophytes alike (Harvey et al. 2007; Steinauer and Rolfsmeier 2010).
Submodel
Description
The cool-season grassland state occurs when the reference state has been anthropogenically-altered for livestock production. Interseeding of non-native cool-season grasses, annual mowing, and grazing by domesticated livestock transition and maintain this simplified grassland state. Over time, as lands were continually grazed by large herds of cattle, native plant species diversity decreased and the non-native species were able to spread and expand across the prairie habitat (Steinauer and Rolfsmeier 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. The 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
Changes in landscape hydrology transition this site to the decreased salinity state (2).
Mechanism
Interseeding of cool-season grasses, non-selective herbicide, and grazing transition this site to the cool-season grassland 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
Interseeding non-native cool-season grasses, non-selective herbicide and grazing.
Mechanism
Installation of drain tiles, tillage, seeding of agricultural crops, and non-selective herbicide transition this site to the cropland state (4).
Mechanism
Site preparation, native seeding, and invasive species control transition this site to the decreased salinity state (2).
Mechanism
Agricultural conversion via drain tile installation, tillage, seeding, and non-selective herbicide.
Mechanism
Removal of drain tiles, site preparation, native seeding, and invasive species control transition this site to the decreased salinity state (2).
Model keys
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