Till Ridge Prairie
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
- Transition T 1A More details
- Transition T1B More details
- Restoration pathway R2A More details
- Transition T2B More details
- Restoration pathway R3A More details
- Transition T3C More details
- Transition T3B More details
- Restoration pathway R4A More details
- Transition T4B More details
- Transition T4C 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
This is the reference or diagnostic plant community for this site. In reference conditions, this site was dominated by prairie grass species. Dominant species include big bluestem, Indiangrass, and prairie dropseed. Fire was the main disturbance agent that maintained this site and occurred quite frequently, often with a return interval of 5 years or shorter. The removal of fire from the system and/or lack of woody species management would move this site toward state 2. Drainage and tillage of the site allows the site to be converted to cropland (state 3).
Submodel
Description
Absence of fire or lack of woody species management will move this site to a woodland state dominated by oak species, specifically black oak and white oak. The understory would contain many of the prairie species until the canopy closed. Woody understory species would include sassafras.
Submodel
Description
This site has largely been converted to agricultural use. Most 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
Abandoned agricultural lands move into the old field state. This state is dominated at the outset by cool season grasses, mostly fescue, and weedy, opportunistic forbs. Absent management or fire, the site will progress to a shrub dominated phase then to that of a mesic forest.
Submodel
Mechanism
No woody species management and/or no fire moves the site to the woodland state
Mechanism
Installation of drainage via either a ditch, field tile, or both followed by tillage and seeding move the site to the agriculture state. Regular agricultural practices maintain the site.
Mechanism
Remove all trees and woody vegetation, seeding, and fire restores the site to the reference state.
Mechanism
Removal of the trees, installation of drainage system, tillage and planting of the crop move this site to the agriculture state.
Mechanism
Site preparation, removal of drainage (if needed), seeding, and regular application of fire.
Mechanism
No management. Agricultural practices abandoned and succession allowed to take place
Mechanism
Remove woody species and drainage system, seed appropriate species and regular application of fire moves the site back to the reference state.
Mechanism
Forestry practices, to include tree planting and timber stand improvement practices, and no fire will move the site to the woodland state.
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.