Ponded Organic Acidic Peatland
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 T2A 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 bog community, dominated by hydrophytic woody and herbaceous vegetation and mosses. The three community phases within the reference state are dependent on consistent groundwater discharge. The fluctuations in discharge alter species composition, cover, and extent. Drought, occasional fires, and windthrow have more localized impacts in the reference phases, but do contribute to overall species composition, diversity, cover, and productivity.
Submodel
Description
The expansion of ruderal and non-native woody species into Ponded Organic Acidic Peatlands can arise due to a complex interaction of fire suppression, hydrological alterations, and edge effects. Subsurface water reduction from agricultural tiling, ditching, or off-site development in conjunction with the removal of periodic fires result in significant changes to the reference plant community. In addition, edge effects can arise from indirect land management practices (e.g., cropping, herbicide drift, sedimentation, groundwater pollution) on directly adjacent sites that facilitates invasive species spread (WDNR 2015).
Submodel
Description
The anthropogenic state occurs when the reference state is cleared and developed for human use and inhabitation, such as for commercial and housing developments, landfills, parks, golf courses, cemeteries, earthen spoils, etc. The native vegetation has been removed and soils have either been altered in place (e.g. cemeteries) or transported from one location to another (e.g. housing developments). Most of the soils in this state have 50 to 100 cm of overburden on top of the natural soil. This natural material can be determined by observing a buried surface horizon or the unaltered subsoil, till, or lacustrine parent materials. This state is generally considered permanent.
Submodel
Mechanism
Changes to hydrology, long-term fire suppression, pollution, and invasive species transition the site to the degraded state (2).
Mechanism
Vegetation removal and human alterations/transportation of soils transitions the site to the anthropogenic state (3).
Model keys
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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.