Rubbly Upland Conifer Forest
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
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Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
- Transition T1A More details
- Transition T1B More details
- Transition T1C More details
- Restoration pathway R2A More details
- Restoration pathway R3A More details
- Transition T3A More details
- Restoration pathway R5A 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
The reference state condition is characterized by red spruce (30% or more) and yellow birch as dominant components of the overstory canopy. Three-lobed bazzania is common on the forest floor of the reference state (20% or more), and is often accompanied by thick folistic epipedons. Reference state conditions or near-reference state conditions may provide quality habitat for the endangered Cheat Mountain salamander.
Characteristics and indicators
- 30% or more red spruce in the overstory canopy
- 20% or more bazzania ground cover
- Folistic epipedons
Submodel
Description
The Logged Hardwood State is characterized by a mix of dominant hardwood species including yellow birch, black cherry, red maple and to a lesser extent American beech. Red spruce may be a component of the overstory to varying degrees, but is always less than 30% canopy cover. Absence of fires or occurrence of light fires did not eliminate the red spruce seedbank, allowing for red spruce sapling regeneration in the understory.
Characteristics and indicators
- Less than 30% red spruce in overstory canopy
- Red spruce sapling regeneration is present in understory
- O horizons are retained to some degree
Submodel
Description
The Logged & Burned Hardwood State is characterized by a mix of dominant hardwood species including yellow birch, black cherry, red maple and to a lesser extent American beech. Severe fires eliminated the red spruce seedbank whereby red spruce regeneration is absent from the understory. Red spruce is non-dominant in the overstory canopy of this state or completely absent.
Characteristics and indicators
- Absence of red spruce regeneration in understory
- Thin O horizons are common and to a lesser extent entirely absent where fires were most severe
- Exposed rubbly surface fragments
Submodel
Description
The Arrested Development State composes landscapes that were logged and burned extensively, representing some of the most disturbed ecosystems of this ecological site. This state contains areas of arrested forest, shrub, and mix-species fields, developed where disturbance was most severe. In some areas the overstory species are stunted in growth. Other areas exist dominantly as scrub/shrub barrens, grading into a structure similar to that of a woodland. Further, some areas in this state consist of rubbly outcrops with high areal cover of mixed grass species. The nonvascular stratum has significant diversity, much of which occurs as abundant crustose lichens on the rocky substrate. In some areas this community was probably maintained by fire (for blueberry production) in the period following European settlement. Native Americans may also have practiced burning in this community. Soils are slowly accumulating surface organic matter again in the absence of widespread fires, and in some areas this community is following a very slow successional pathway back to red spruce-yellow birch dominated forest. In some areas, shallow, infertile, and sometimes waterlogged soils and bedrock outcrops appear to maintain community phases within the ecological state. Other areas of the ecological state contain thicker O horizon accumulations, sometimes classifying as a folistic epipedon. This ecological state is culturally significant in that much of these areas are used for outdoor recreational activities and attract significant attention. Restoration of this state might occur over the course of multiple centuries if initiated and maintained.
Characteristics and indicators
- Presence of tree species repressed in growth
- Dominant presence of shrub species
- Exposed rubbly surface fragments
- High areal cover of mixed grass species
Submodel
Description
The plantation state is an anthropogenic state created by extensive logging with or without fires and is accompanied by high density plantings of conifer species, most often white pine, red pine, Norway spruce, and red spruce.
Characteristics and indicators
Overstory canopy cover of single species even-aged conifer stands planted in recognizable rows and/or columns.
Submodel
Mechanism
Logging with the absence of fire or with the occurrence of light fire removes red spruce from the overstory. Succession gives way to native hardwoods dominating this ecological state, with red spruce retained as a minor component of the overstory community. Fires did not eliminate the red spruce seedbank completely, allowing further red spruce regeneration in the understory.
Mechanism
Logging accompanied by severe fires remove red spruce from the overstory. Succession gives way to native hardwoods. Intense fires burned the red spruce seedbank completely. Red spruce may be absent in the overstory and does not regenerate in the understory due to lack of seed source.
Mechanism
This transition is set in motion by logging, intense fire, and commercial tree planting. Some sites reflect planting of abandoned marginal farmland.
Mechanism
Restoration involves creating canopy gaps for spruce release through thinning hardwood overstory species using ringing, cutting or herbicide application. Canopy gaps release red spruce from the under-story and mid-story, allowing more red spruce to reach the overstory canopy. Underplating red spruce depending on levels of regeneration on site may or may not be required.
Mechanism
Restoration involves creating canopy gaps for spruce release through thinning hardwood overstory species using ringing, cutting or herbicide application. Canopy gaps allow for the release of red spruce from the understory. Underplanting red spruce is required.
Mechanism
Sustained severe fires and prolonged management leads to complete removal of historic ecosystem and seedbanks after logging. Grass fields, shrub/scrub, and arrested forests are all initiated by this disturbance.
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.