Eolian Forest
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
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Transition T1A
Disturbance; invasion of non-native species
More details -
Transition T1B
Clearing; site preparation; tillage; seeding; weed control; agricultural management
More details -
Restoration pathway R2A
Brush/weed control; planting of desired species; long-term timber stand management
More details -
Transition T2A
Clearing; site preparation; tillage; seeding; weed control; agricultural management
More details -
Transition T3A
Abandonment
More details -
No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
Select a state
Description
Tree species on these dry oak sites may include black oak, white oak, scarlet oak, pignut hickory, shagbark hickory, blackgum, sassafras, dogwoods sassafras, and hophornbeam. Post oak and blackjack oak may be present on the drier sites. The shrub and understory layers are variable on these sites based on fire regime, anthropogenic disturbances, water table depth, and landscape position. With a natural fire regime, the understory was relatively dense since the wide tree spacing allowed for sunlight to support a variety of understory species.
Submodel
Description
Numerous disturbances can impact these sites including lack of natural fire regime, agricultural conversion, and woodland harvest. Large scale disturbance are often the precursor to an invasion of non-native plants. Species will depend upon available seed sources. Dense non-native shrub layers will negatively impact native plant and tree regeneration.
Submodel
Mechanism
Large scale disturbance such as clearing, selective harvest, unmanaged grazing, etc will alter the species composition and allow for invasive species to increase in dominance.
Mechanism
Transitioning an oak woodland to a agricultural state would require multiple management inputs including clearing, brush removal, site preparation, seeding, and weed control.
Mechanism
Transitioning this State to a reference community would require long-term management inputs including planting of desired species, timber stand management activities, and brush/weed control.
Mechanism
Transitioning an oak woodland to a agricultural state would require multiple management inputs including clearing, brush removal, site preparation, seeding, and weed control.
Mechanism
When agriculture sites are abandoned, they move through a series of successional plant communities. Species will depend on previous uses; on-going disturbances; available seed sources; and natural disturbances such as fire. Eventually, tree species will gain dominance but often is a mix of fast growing species such as maples, poplars, locusts, and cedars.
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.