Shallow Upland
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
-
Transition T1B
Tree removal, mechanical and chemical woody vegetation suppression, tillage, introduce annual or perennial forage species.
More details -
Transition T1A
Tree removal, brush management, plantation tree establishment and management.
More details -
Transition T2B
Tree removal, mechanical and chemical woody vegetation suppression, tillage, introduce annual or perennial forage species.
More details -
Transition T2A
Tree removal, brush management, plantation tree establishment and management.
More details -
Transition T3B
Forage species suppression, brush management, native tree establishment and management.
More details -
Transition T3A
Forage species suppression, brush management, plantation tree establishment and management.
More details -
Transition T4A
Plantation species suppression, brush management, native tree establishment and management.
More details -
Transition T4B
Woody species removal, prescribed fire, seeding, and grazing.
More details -
No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
Select a state
Description
The Reference State is representative of the natural range of variability without anthropogenic influences.
Drivers: Fire frequency between 3 and 25 years, climate (decadal scale), insect and disease presence or establishment, and wildlife grazing or browsing.
Feedbacks: Fire-tolerant species dominate the ecological site. Wildlife grazing or browsing decreases the amount of grass available, decreasing fire intensity and causing wildlife migration to a new grazing location. When wildlife migrate, grasses and small shrubs grow and become sufficient fuel to carry a low or medium intensity fire across the landscape within the fire return interval.
Characteristics and indicators
The reference state consists of a hardwood and pine forest, characterized by mixed hardwood and pine species. Gaps in the canopy allow sunlight to reach the herbaceous layer, allowing grass and forb species to grow.
Submodel
Description
The Forest State is representative of the natural range of variability with minor anthropogenic influences.
Drivers: Fire frequency between 3 and 25 years, climate (decadal scale), insect and disease presence or establishment, non-native vegetation establishment, and wildlife or livestock grazing or browsing.
Feedbacks: Fire-tolerant species dominate the ecological site. Grazing and browsing species decreases the amount of grass available, decreasing fire intensity. Grazing and browsing species are removed from the area allowing grasses and small shrubs grow and become sufficient fuel to carry a low or medium intensity fire across the landscape within the fire return interval. Prescribed fire is the most common cause of fire on the current landscape.
Characteristics and indicators
The forest state consists of a hardwood and pine forest, characterized by mixed hardwood and pine species. Gaps in the canopy allow sunlight to reach the herbaceous layer, allowing grass and forb species to grow. The forest state is different than the reference state because non-native vegetation is present.
Submodel
Description
The Pasture State is characterized by the dominance of improved forage species. The quality and quantity of forb, grass, and legume species within this state will depend on the level of management inputs including seeding, fertilization, herbicide application, livestock management, and land uses. Species of both warm-season and cool-season grasses are feasible for these sites.
Drivers: Mechanical soil disturbance and seed planting, climate (decadal scale), seed dispersal, and wildlife or livestock grazing or browsing.
Feedbacks: Land managers use mechanical and chemical equipment to increase forage. Inputs of fertilizer and brush management are required to maintain high productivity. Wildlife and livestock grazing and browsing decrease the amount of available forage.
Characteristics and indicators
The Pasture State consists of species that are grown for specific management goals, mainly livestock grazing. Common pasture species include bermudagrass, bahiagrass, dallas grass, little bluestem, broom sedge bluestem, annual ryegrass, and tall fescue. Quality and quantity of forb, grass, and legume species within this state depend on the level of management inputs (seeding, weed management, and land uses). Species of both warm-season and cool-season grasses are feasible for these sites.
Submodel
Description
The timber plantation state is characterized by the planting of merchantable trees species. The most common species for plantations in the Ouachita Mountains is loblolly pine.
Drivers: Pest management, vegetation management, canopy density.
Feedbacks: Timber harvesting. Planted tree species dominate this ecological site, shading out other vegetation. Anthropogenic management decreases competition with other species and assists in growth.
Characteristics and indicators
The timber plantation state consists of tree species that are planted and managed to maximize the production of merchantable timber. The most common plantation species is loblolly pine, followed by hardwood trees. Timber management differs by tree type (softwood or hardwood), timber harvest method, and reforesting practices.
Submodel
Mechanism
Trigger: Mechanical and chemical woody vegetation suppression, tillage, seeding, and annual forage species introduction.
Slow Variables: Increase production and management of forage species.
Thresholds: Changes in soil properties, such as structure, organic matter, and nutrient cycling, as well as changes in type and frequency of disturbance.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Brush Management |
|
|
Prescribed Burning |
|
|
Land Clearing |
|
|
Prescribed Grazing |
Mechanism
Trigger: Native tree removal, mechanical and chemical woody vegetation suppression, introduce plantation tree species.
Slow Variables: Increased production and management of plantation species.
Thresholds: Changes in soil properties such as structure, organic matter, and nutrient cycling as well as changes in type and frequency of disturbance.
Mechanism
Trigger: Mechanical and chemical woody vegetation suppression, tillage, seeding, and annual forage species introduction.
Slow Variables: Increase production and management of forage species.
Thresholds: Changes in soil properties, such as structure, organic matter, and nutrient cycling, as well as changes in type and frequency of disturbance.
Mechanism
Trigger: Native tree removal, mechanical and chemical woody vegetation suppression, introduce plantation tree species.
Slow Variables: Increased production and management of plantation species.
Thresholds: Changes in soil properties such as structure, organic matter, and nutrient cycling as well as changes in type and frequency of disturbance.
Mechanism
Trigger: Forage species removal and suppression, mechanical and chemical woody vegetation suppression, introduce and manage native tree species.
Slow Variables: Increased production and management of native species.
Thresholds: Changes in soil properties such as structure, organic matter, and nutrient cycling as well as changes in kind and frequency of disturbance.
Mechanism
Trigger: Forage species removal and suppression, mechanical and chemical woody vegetation suppression, introduce and manage plantation tree species.
Slow Variables: Increased production and management of plantation species.
Thresholds: Changes in soil properties such as structure, organic matter, and nutrient cycling as well as changes in kind and frequency of disturbance.
Mechanism
Trigger: Timber species removal and suppression, mechanical and chemical woody vegetation suppression, introduce and manage native tree species.
Slow Variables: Increased production and management of native species.
Thresholds: Changes in soil properties such as structure, organic matter, and nutrient cycling as well as changes in kind and frequency of disturbance.
Mechanism
Trigger: Tree removal, mechanical and chemical woody vegetation suppression, tillage, seeding, and introduce annual or perennial forage species.
Slow Variables: Increase production and management of forage species.
Thresholds: Changes in soil properties such as structure, organic matter, and nutrient cycling as well as changes in type and frequency of disturbance.
Model keys
Briefcase
Add ecological sites and Major Land Resource Areas to your briefcase by clicking on the briefcase (
) icon wherever it occurs. Drag and drop items to reorder. Cookies are used to store briefcase items between browsing sessions. Because of this, the number of items that can be added to your briefcase is limited, and briefcase items added on one device and browser cannot be accessed from another device or browser. Users who do not wish to place cookies on their devices should not use the briefcase tool. Briefcase cookies serve no other purpose than described here and are deleted whenever browsing history is cleared.
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.