Upland Prairie
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
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Transition T1A
Reduction in fire return intervals
More details -
Transition T1B
Clearing; site prep; seeding; weed control; agricultural management
More details -
Restoration pathway R2A
Planting; brush/weed control; native grassland management
More details -
Transition T2A
Clearing; site prep; seeding; weed control; agricultural management
More details -
Transition T3A
Abandonment; no management inputs
More details -
No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
Select a state
Description
Tallgrass prairie. Multiple species of warm season grasses, sedges, and herbaceous plants may be present.
Submodel
Description
This state has tree saplings and shrubs encroaching upon the grass dominated prairie system. Species will vary depending upon seed sources and disturbance regimes. Longer fire intervals and limited or no grazing will continue to allow for increases in trees and shrubs and a reduction in prairie species.
Submodel
Description
This state is characterized by the conversion of the site to agricultural use. Most common practice is a row crop rotation of various types. A small portion of the historic acres are used for forage and pasture. Species and management inputs will depend upon landowner objectives and goals.
Submodel
Mechanism
Reduction in fire and/or grazing on the landscape. Species will vary greatly depending on past disturbances, current on-going disturbances and seed sources.
Mechanism
Forest for conversion to agricultural production. This could be row crops, cool season pasture, or warm season pasture depending on landowner objectives. Many plant species are feasible for this transition and selection will depend upon landowner objectives.
Mechanism
Restoration from successional to prairie states will likely require management inputs such as prescribed fire, managed grazing, brush removal, seeding and weed control.
Mechanism
Transition from successional state to agricultural state. Management activities would be determined by the landowner’s production objectives.
Mechanism
Transition from agricultural state to successional state. Abandoning farmland will result in the system moving toward a shrub-sapling-herbaceous community. Weeds will be problematic without management and native warm season grasses would be rare or absent unless previously utilized as part of a pasture. Seed sources will determine plant community composition.
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.