Seasonally Wet Upland
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
-
Transition T1A
Fire suppression, no management
More details -
Transition T1B
Clearcut, site preparation, tree planting
More details -
Transition T1C
Clearcut, grass/crop planting
More details -
Restoration pathway R2A
Selective timber harvest, prescribed burns
More details -
Transition T2A
Clearcut, site preparation, tree planting
More details -
Transition T2B
Clearcut, grass/crop planting
More details -
Restoration pathway R3A
Gap-phase regeneration or clearcut with tree planting
More details -
Transition T3A
Clearcut, no management
More details -
Transition T3B
Clearcut, grass/crop planting
More details -
Restoration pathway R4A
Tree planting, mid-story shrub control, prescribed burns
More details -
Transition T4A
Fire suppression, no management
More details -
Transition T4B
Clearcut, site preparation, tree planting
More details -
No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
Select a state
Description
State 1 has an overstory of loblolly pine and shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata). Longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) may be found in the southernmost areas of the MLRA mixed in with the other pine species. The understory is diversely vegetated with grasses and forbs. The vegetation has to be able to grow in sometimes shallow soil conditions (depth to bedrock restrictions), as well as the fluctuating water table. The added available water can help plants, but can be a detriment to vegetation that are not adapted to wetter conditions.
Natural disturbances of fires, lightning strikes, hurricanes (wind throw), ice events (rare), and beetle infestations aid in maintaining the uneven-age structure. The natural canopy spacing is kept intact by periodic fires ranging from 5 to 10 years.
Submodel
Description
The Mixed Forest community represents a steady-state for the ecological site. Without fire or management, the site begins to lose the
vegetative indicators that make the ecological site unique. The plant communities will stay constant without disturbance or intervention.
Submodel
Description
The Plantation State is a result of conversion activities. The landowner has maximized silviculture production by planting a monoculture of tree species.
Submodel
Mechanism
The transition from State 1 to State 2 is a result of time and long periods (greater than 10 years) of no fire and/or forest management practices. Without fire to suppress tree seedlings, biomass and diversity is lost from the grass and forb layers of the system.
Mechanism
The transition is due to the land manager maximizing silviculture potential. Merchantable timber is harvested by clearcut, then the site is prepared and planted to a monoculture of trees.
Mechanism
The transition is due to the land manager maximizing agricultural production. Merchantable timber is harvested by clearcut, then the site is prepared and planted to either an improved grass or row crops.
Mechanism
Restoration of this community to State 1 begins with a selective timber harvest. Removing unwanted trees opens up the canopy,
allowing sunlight penetration to the ground. Years of overstory growth have limited the fuel necessary to have an effective fire. Time will be needed to encourage understory growth. Once the herbaceous layer has established, more frequent than natural burns (3 to 5 years) may be required to suppress the woody vegetation.
Mechanism
The transition is due to the land manager maximizing silviculture potential. Merchantable timber is harvested by clearcut, then the site is prepared and planted to a monoculture of trees.
Mechanism
The transition is due to the land manager maximizing agricultural production. Merchantable timber is harvested by clearcut, then the site is prepared and planted to either an improved grass or row crops.
Mechanism
When restoring a plantation, the land manager can either clearcut the timber, prepare the site, and plant trees. Otherwise, gap-phase regeneration is possible through selective timber harvests. This involves replanting the desired overstory species in small openings within the current structure of the woodland. The benefit is a slow progression of restoration instead of starting from primary succession.
Mechanism
This community transition is caused by neglecting the plantation understory. Without fire, mowing, or herbicides, unwanted understory saplings can begin to grow into the overstory.
Mechanism
The transition is due to the land manager maximizing agricultural production. Merchantable timber is harvested by clearcut, then the site is prepared and planted to either an improved grass or row crops.
Mechanism
This restoration path can be accomplished by planting a mix of species to their natural frequencies trying to attain a mature overstory canopy. Management will be required to control unwanted species by burning, mowing, and/or herbicides. Controlling introduced pasture grasses is difficult, with complete control likely not attainable. The herbaceous understory will take time to develop, but this process can be expedited if adapted plant material is available.
Mechanism
This community transition is caused by neglecting the saplings and shrubs. Without fire, mowing, or herbicides, the brush canopy becomes a dense thicket.
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.