Sandy Interdune
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
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Management practices/drivers
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No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
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Description
This is the reference or diagnostic plant community for this site. In reference condition, this site was an oak woodland with the understory comprised largely of herbaceous prairie species. Fire intensity and frequency was the major disturbance factor for the maintenance of this site. Fires occurred about every 20 years. Tree canopy cover ranged from 21-60% and tree height maxed out at about 80ft. Black oak was the most dominant tree, but white oak, hickory species, and black cherry were also present.
Removal of fire or the lengthening of the return interval would move this site toward state 5, a forested state. Tree harvest management would move this site to either state 3 or 4.
Submodel
Description
This site has largely been converted to agricultural use. Roughly 75% of the historic acres are now in row crop agricultural use. Most common is a corn and soybean rotation of various types. Roughly 5% of the site is not used to grow hay or cool season forage and used for grazing.
Submodel
Description
This state consists of early colonizing trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants. This is the result of clear-cutting the reference state and succession with little to no management. The woodland and prairie phases of the reference community are lost in large part due to the lack of fire as disturbance. Long term succession and timber stand improvement measures can move this site back towards the reference state. Continued fire suppression will move this towards a forest state (#5).
Submodel
Description
This state is a forested state with increased tree cover (61-80%) over the reference state and the loss of most of the prairie species in the understory. The canopy tree species become dominated by less-marketable tree species that are fire intolerant. This is due to selective harvest without follow up timber stand improvement practices and lack of fire. Timber stand improvement, planting of desired tree species, and fire can restore this to the reference state.
Submodel
Description
This state is an oak forest (81-100% canopy) state dominated by black oaks, with an increase in the amount of white oaks, hickories, and given enough time more mesophytic species like sugar maple present in the canopy. Nearly all the prairie herbaceous species are gone from the understory and replaced by more shade loving, fire intolerant woody species. Sassafras becomes common in the understory. With little to no management, the understory will often be invaded by and taken over by invasive honeysuckle species.
Submodel
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.