Sloping Lacustrine Forest
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
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Transition T1A
Non-native species invade site; no control efforts
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Transition T1B
Clearing of site; tillage; seeding; weed control; agricultural management
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Restoration pathway R2A
Brush and weed control; timber stand improvement activities
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Transition T2A
Clearing of trees and shrubs; site preparation; tillage; seeding; weed control
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Restoration pathway T3A
Site abandoned. No management inputs.
More details -
No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
Select a state
Description
Historically, these reference communities were mature, high-quality, upland hardwood forests. Tree species included northern red oak, sugar maple, white oak, American beech, tulip polar, shagbark hickory, bitternut hickory, white ash, American elm, black walnut, and basswood.. Mid-canopy species may include sassafras, flowering dogwood (Cornus florida), hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana), and red maple (Acer rubrum). Shrubs vary depending on topography and aspect but often include spicebush (Lindera benzoin) and maple-leaf viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium L.). Due to lack of disturbance, the understory communities are dense, with rich diversity, and numerous spring ephemerals.
Submodel
Description
This state is characterized by disturbances such as clearing, selective harvest, heavy grazing, or other soil disturbing activities. Often these disturbances result in the introduction, establishment and eventual dominance of invasive species, especially in the shrub layer and/or understory. This greatly reduces the tree, shrub and understory species richness and diversity of the site. Trees that are able to reproduce are the shade tolerant species such as maple and ash. Common invasives include, but are not limited to, Asian bush honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii), Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana Decne.), garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolate), Japanese stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum), tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus), Japanese chaff flower (Achyranthes japonica), and wintercreeper (Euonymus fortune).
Submodel
Description
This state is characterized by the conversion of the site to agricultural use. Most common practice is a corn and soybean rotation. A small portion of the historic acres are used for forage and pasture. Some mapunits in this group have slopes that preclude cropland use. Often these sites are in rough pasture.
Submodel
Mechanism
Establishment of invasive understory species with no management to control their abundance or distribution.
Mechanism
Clearing of the site and management activities to prepare the site for planting of agricultural crops. Practices and species depend on management objectives.
Mechanism
Management inputs will include long-term chemical and mechanical treatments to remove non-native plant species. Planting of desired species may be needed. Timber stand improvement activities will include brush control, weed control, and selective thinning.
Mechanism
Management inputs would include clearing of trees and brush and preparing the site for planting. Numerous crops can be grown on these sites. Currently, a crop rotation of corn-soybeans is most common with a smaller percentage of acres in pastureland.
Mechanism
Agricultural sites that are abandoned will naturally transition to a shrub dominated successional state followed by an increase in tree species. Eventually the site will be forested but the species composition will be composted of low quality trees and non-native, weedy species.
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.