Till Backslope Seep Forest
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 T1D More details
- Transition T2A More details
- Transition T2B More details
- Transition T3A More details
- Transition T3B More details
- Transition T3C More details
- Transition T4A More details
- Transition T4B 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 seep forest community, dominated by upland and hydrophytic woody and herbaceous vegetation. The two community phases within the reference state are dependent on consistent groundwater seepage and major climatic events. Groundwater seepage creates local conditions suitable to hydrophytic vegetation, and periodic fires following drought or a windstorm alter species composition, cover, and extent.
Submodel
Description
The degraded state can arise from a complex interaction of fire suppression, hydrological alterations, and edge effects. Subsurface water reduction from agricultural tiling, ditching, or off-site development can reduce and even eliminate the groundwater seepage of Till Backslope Seep Forests. Non-native species, especially shrubs, can invade the forest and alter site conditions such as nutrient availability and cycling.
Submodel
Description
The forage state arises when the site is converted to a farming system that emphasizes domestic livestock production, known as grassland agriculture. Tree removal, 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 (Bromus inermis Leyss.) and Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.), to help extend the grazing season (Smith 1998). Over time, as lands were continuously harvested or grazed by herds of cattle, these species were able to spread and expand across the landscape, reducing the native species diversity and ecological function.
Submodel
Description
The cropland state is the dominant land condition throughout the MLRA today. Agricultural tile drains used to lower the water table and 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 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
Ponds may be regularly encountered throughout the MLRA, having been impounded or excavated for a variety of reasons including watering livestock, creating waterfowl habitat, and establishing fisheries (Pearson and Leoschke 1992). Through excavation, the native vegetation is removed, and groundwater seepage can rapidly fill the exposed area and transition the diverse seep forest into an open water habitat. Over time, sediments may accumulate along the edges of the pond where emergent vegetation, introduced by wind or wildlife, can germinate and establish.
Submodel
Mechanism
Changes to the natural hydroperiod and edge effects from adjacent land uses transition this site to the degraded state (2).
Mechanism
Tree removal and cultural treatments to enhance forage quality and yield transition the site to the forage state (3).
Mechanism
Tree removal, installation of drain tiles, seeding of agricultural crops, and non-selective herbicide transition the site to the cropland state (4).
Mechanism
Removal of natural vegetation and excavation transition the site to the pond state (5).
Mechanism
Tree removal and cultural treatments to enhance forage quality and yield transition the site to the forage state (3).
Mechanism
Installation of drain tiles, seeding of agricultural crops, and non-selective herbicide transition the site to the cropland state (4).
Mechanism
Land is abandoned and left fallow; natural succession by opportunistic and non-native species transition this site the disturbed state (2).
Mechanism
Installation of drain tiles, tillage, seeding of agricultural crops, and non-selective herbicide transition the site to the cropland state (4).
Mechanism
Removal of natural vegetation and excavation transition the site to the pond state (5).
Mechanism
Agricultural production abandoned and left fallow; natural succession by opportunistic and non-native species transition this site to the degraded 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.