Wet Loess Upland Prairie
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
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Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
- Transition T2A More details
- Transition T2B More details
- Transition R2A More details
- Restoration pathway T3A More details
- Transition T3B More details
- Transition R3A More details
- Restoration pathway T4A More details
- Restoration pathway T4B More details
- Transition R4A More details
- Restoration pathway T5A More details
- Restoration pathway T5B More details
- Restoration pathway T5C 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-mesic tallgrass prairie community, dominated by upland and hydrophytic herbaceous vegetation. The one community phase within the reference state is dependent on periodic fire. The intensity and frequency alter species composition, cover, and extent, while regular fire intervals keep woody species from dominating. Drought and native mammal grazing have more localized impacts in the reference phases, but do contribute to overall species composition, diversity, cover, and productivity.
Submodel
Description
Long-term fire suppression can transition the reference tallgrass prairie community into a woody-invaded shrub-prairie state. This state is evidenced by a well-developed shrub layer and sparse trees (LANDFIRE 2009). Proximity to lands that have been altered provide opportunities for non-native invasive species to readily colonize this state, thereby reducing the native biodiversity and changing the vegetative community.
Submodel
Description
The forage state occurs when the reference state is converted to a farming system that emphasizes domestic livestock production known as grassland agriculture. 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. Over time, as lands were continuously harvested or grazed by herds of cattle, the non-native species were able to spread and expand across the landscape, reducing the native species diversity and ecological function.
Submodel
Description
The continuous use of tillage, row-crop planting, and chemicals (i.e., herbicides, fertilizers, etc.) and subsurface tile drainage 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
Prairie reconstructions have become an important tool for repairing natural ecological functions and conserving biodiversity. Because the historic plant and soil biota communities of the tallgrass prairie were highly diverse with complex interrelationships, historic prairie replication cannot be guaranteed on landscapes that have been so extensively manipulated for extended timeframes (Kardol and Wardle 2010; Fierer et al. 2013). Therefore, ecological restoration should aim to aid the recovery of degraded, damaged, or destroyed ecosystems. A successful restoration will have the ability to structurally and functionally sustain itself, demonstrate resilience to the natural ranges of stress and disturbance, and create and maintain positive biotic and abiotic interactions (SER 2002). The reconstructed wet-mesic prairie state is the result of a long-term commitment involving a multi-step, adaptive management process. Diverse, species-rich seed mixes are important to utilize as they allow the site to undergo successional stages that exhibit changing composition and dominance over time (Smith et al. 2010). On-going management via prescribed fire and/or light grazing can help the site progress from an early successional community dominated by annuals and some weeds to a later seral stage composed of native, perennial grasses, forbs, and a few shrubs. Establishing a prescribed fire regimen that mimics natural disturbance patterns can increase native species cover and diversity while reducing cover of non-native forbs and grasses. Light grazing alone can help promote species richness, while grazing accompanied with fire can control the encroachment of woody vegetation (Brudvig et al. 2007).
Submodel
Mechanism
Cultural treatments are implemented to increase forage quality and yield
Mechanism
Agricultural conversion via tillage, seeding and non-selective herbicide
Mechanism
Site preparation, non-native species control and native seeding
Mechanism
Agricultural conversion via tillage, seeding and non-selective herbicide
Mechanism
Site preparation, non-native species control and native seeding
Mechanism
Cultural treatments are implemented to increase forage quality and yield
Mechanism
Site preparation, non-native species control and native seeding
Mechanism
Cultural treatments are implemented to increase forage quality and yield
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.