Upper Floodplain
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
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Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
- Transition T1-2 More details
- Transition T1-3 More details
- Restoration pathway R2-1 More details
- Transition T2-3 More details
- Restoration pathway R3-1 More details
- Restoration pathway R3-2 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
As a result of a long history of human activity, the associations listed below, may in reality, reflect the current naturalized, minimally-managed state rather than the historic, pre-European settlement condition. Notice transition pathways are not always designated between some of the communities in the reference state because the differences in vegetation are more controlled by landscape position, rather than disturbances or management, or that the relationships are not understood. In addition, undisclosed successional plant community-types following disturbance may be included as community phases.
Within the reference state, the plant communities are quite variable depending upon the size of the river system. The following rivers may be found along medium to larger rivers systems:
• Acer saccharinum - Fraxinus pennsylvanica - Ulmus americana Floodplain Forest (CEGL002586),
(Translated Name: Silver Maple - Green Ash - American Elm Floodplain Forest),
[Common Name: Midwestern Silver Maple - Elm Floodplain Forest];
• Fraxinus pennsylvanica - Ulmus spp. - Celtis occidentalis Floodplain Forest (CEGL002014),
(Translated Name: Green Ash - Elm species - Common Hackberry Floodplain Forest),
[Common Name: Central Green Ash - Elm - Hackberry Floodplain Forest];
And along sandy riverfronts and stable point bars:
• Populus deltoides - Salix nigra - Acer saccharinum Floodplain Forest (CEGL002018),
(Translated Name: Eastern Cottonwood - Black Willow - Silver Maple Floodplain Forest),
[Common Name: Midwestern Cottonwood - Black Willow - Silver Maple Floodplain Forest].
Common along medium to small rivers:
• Betula nigra - Platanus occidentalis Floodplain Forest (CEGL002086),
(Translated Name: River Birch - American Sycamore Floodplain Forest,
(Common Name: River Birch - Sycamore Small River Floodplain Forest];
As well as othe plant communities:
• Fagus grandifolia - Quercus spp. - Acer rubrum - Juglans nigra Floodplain Forest (CEGL005014),
(Translated Name: American Beech - Oak species - Red Maple - Black Walnut Floodplain Forest),
[Common Name: Beech - Mixed Hardwood Floodplain Forest].
• Platanus occidentalis - Acer saccharinum - Juglans nigra - Ulmus rubra Floodplain Forest (CEGL007334)
(American Sycamore - Silver Maple - Black Walnut - Slippery Elm Floodplain Forest)
[Sycamore - Silver Maple Calcareous Floodplain Forest]
(Source: NatureServe 2020)
Submodel
Description
The Semi-natural State would expect plant communities where ecological processes are primarily operating with some land conditioning in the past or present, e.g., managed forests, or plant communities that are an artifact of land management e.g., predominately invasive plants.
Submodel
Mechanism
forest management, fire suppression, disturbance, invasive plant establishment
Mechanism
plant removal, plant establishment, successional management
Mechanism
plant removal, plant establishment, successional management
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.