Sandstone Backslope Prairie
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
- Transition T1A More details
- Restoration pathway R2A More details
- Transition T2B More details
-
No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
Select a state
Description
As a dry upland sand prairie, this state has a reference plant community which is categorized as upland prairie and includes grasses, forbs, and shrubs. Species composition is typically Schizachyrium scoparium, Asclepias verticillata, Euphorbia corollata, Liatris aspera, Lithospermum canescens, Solidago nemoralis, Danthonia spicata, Carex pensylvanica, Viola pedata, Koeleria macrantha, Hesperostipa spartea, Bouteloua hirsuta, Ambrosia psilostachya, Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium, Packera plattensis, and Tephrosia virginiana (Rosburg, 2014).
Extended periods with no fire and no grazing can cause this state to shift into a shrub-prairie (Figure 3). Shrubs include multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora), smooth sumac (Rhus glabra), roughleaf dogwood (Cornus drummondii), poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans), Rubus allegheniensis, and Vitis riparia. Conversely, grazing and browsing accompanied by frequent or high-intensity fires can ultimately shift this phase back towards the reference community
Submodel
Description
This state is a native reference state transformed into a cool-season pasture due to a suppression of fire and heavy grazing by livestock. Because there were very little inputs to the original reference state, this state has possibility for restoration to the reference state. This path would need prescribed fire, grazing, and a reduction of cool-season grasses by use of a selective herbicide. With a combination of inputs of non-selective herbicide and inter-seeding, the semi-native pasture will transition to a non-native pasture. Continual management is required to prevent invasion of shrubs. Shrubs invade if the site is overgrazed and seeding and herbicide are discontinued.
Submodel
Description
Abandonment of the shrub-invaded pasture for 20 or more years will result in a woody invaded forest consisting of larger diameter base height honey locust and red cedar. At this state, a significant amount of input and resources would be required to reverse the invasion of woody species (Woodland Health, 2004).
Submodel
Description
Prairie reconstruction is accomplished through site preparation, use of herbicide, brush management, seeding, and tillage. Careful management and the planting, seeding, or natural propagation of forbs will further develop this site from an early successional ruderal prairie to a late successional prairie. Unsuccessful attempts to restore forbs due to poor seeding or drought will cause a shift back to the ruderal prairie state.
Submodel
Mechanism
Prescribed fire/ grazing/ reduce cool season grasses, selective grass herbicides.
Model keys
Briefcase
Add ecological sites and Major Land Resource Areas to your briefcase by clicking on the briefcase (
) icon wherever it occurs. Drag and drop items to reorder. Cookies are used to store briefcase items between browsing sessions. Because of this, the number of items that can be added to your briefcase is limited, and briefcase items added on one device and browser cannot be accessed from another device or browser. Users who do not wish to place cookies on their devices should not use the briefcase tool. Briefcase cookies serve no other purpose than described here and are deleted whenever browsing history is cleared.
Ecological sites
Major Land Resource Areas
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.