Sandy Dune Prairie
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
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Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
- Transition T1A More details
- Transition T1C More details
- Transition T1B More details
- Restoration pathway R2A More details
- Transition T3A More details
- Transition T3B More details
- Transition T4B 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 sand dune prairie and is sparsely vegetated with drought- and disturbance-tolerant grasses and forbs. The reference community phase is dependent on a relatively continuous disturbance regime that exposes bare soil, such as from natural blowouts or fire. Shorter intervals maintain dominance by annual herbs, while less frequent intervals allow perennial vegetation to increase their importance in the plant canopy.
Submodel
Description
The woody-invaded state occurs when the reference state is devoid of any disturbance. Two community phases define this state and are ultimately determined by time since last disturbance occurred. Initially, the shrub component generally increases its canopy cover and species diversity decreases. As the land remains untouched from natural or anthropogenic disturbances, woody species begin to dominate eventually forming a near continuous canopy.
Submodel
Description
The cool-season grassland state occurs when the reference state has been anthropogenically-altered for livestock production. Fire suppression, seeding of non-native cool-season grasses, removal of woody vegetation, and grazing by domesticated livestock transition and maintain this simplified grassland state (Rosburg 1994). Early settlers seeded such non-native cool-season species as Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) in order to help extend the grazing season (Smith 1998). Over time, as lands were continually grazed by large herds of cattle, the non-native species were able to spread and expand across the prairie habitat, reducing the native species diversity.
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 significant portions of this ecological site (USGS 1999). 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 forseeable future.
Submodel
Mechanism
Fire suppression transitions this site to the woody-invaded state (2).
Mechanism
Overgrazing, interseeding non-native cool-season grasses, and brush control 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
Mechanical or chemical control of brush and non-native species and reintroduction of a historic fire regime restore the site back to the reference state (1).
Mechanism
Land is abandoned and transitions this site to the woody-invaded state (2).
Mechanism
Installation of drain tiles, tillage, seeding of agricultural crops, and non-selective herbicide transition this site to the cropland state (4).
Mechanism
Land is abandoned and left fellow; natural succession by opportunistic species transitions this site to the woody-invaded state (2).
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.