Frigid Colluvium
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
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Management practices/drivers
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- Transition A More details
- Transition B More details
- Restoration pathway A More details
- Restoration pathway A 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 includes at least three NatureServe forested ecological systems in addition to heath and grass balds. All communities occur at high elevations in the Southern Blue Ridge Mountains and primarily fall under public ownership. Climate due to elevation largely determines where ecological systems occur. They do intergrade typically and so do not have "hard" boundaries.
Heath and grass balds differ. Past disturbances interacting with topography and preexisting vegetation most likely produce heath balds (White et al. 2001). Once established, they maintain the site for a long period of time and so are considered a stable vegetation community. Grassy balds are largely considered to be a result of past clearing and grazing prior to the establishment of public land ownership (Lindsay 1976). They require management such as tree and shrub clearing or they will eventually revert to forest.
Submodel
Description
Because most of this ecological site is publicly owned, very little private management takes place. However, some acreage is in pasture and Christmas tree production. Forestry may be important on National Forests.
Description
Perhaps the greatest challenge to the integrity of this ecological site is the presence of invasive, non-native pests and pathogens. The impact and response varies by species and can be situational, depending on available resources. Fraser fir forests were decimated in the 1990's by the Balsam Woolly Adelgid but do seem to be recovering in some areas. Beech gaps were impacted by Beech Bark Disease. In some areas, they will be lost to other forest types in all likelihood.
Mechanism
Natural succession may suffice in some cases, especially where pasture is largely in native grasses. However, where needed some measures may be taken to re-establish the native forest community.
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.