Acidic Swamp
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
- Transition T1A More details
- Transition T1B More details
- Restoration pathway R2A More details
- Transition T2A More details
- Restoration pathway R3B More details
- Restoration pathway R3A More details
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No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
Select a state
Description
This site occurs in relatively flat areas (0-4% slopes) near the bottom of watersheds where water saturates both organic soils and coarse-textured mineral soils for most of the year. Soils are deep, poorly- to very poorly-drained and relatively more acidic than other wooded wetlands. The water table is seasonally high (within 18 inches of the surface) and typically dries out in late summer and fall. This site may have pit and mound topography, with ponding and organic matter accumulation in the low areas, and drier soil conditions on the mounds where most trees and shrubs are rooted. Black spruce, rhodora, Labrador tea, and other heath shrubs are abundant, with balsam fir, larch, black ash, and grey birch as common associates. Diverse herbs, shrubs, and bryophytes dominate the understory.
Resilience management
Treethrow, altered hydrology, and logging are common disturbances on this site. Small openings created by treethrow are typically colonized by species already present in the community and eventually return to black spruce dominance. Persistent ponding caused by beavers, man-made structures (such as roads, dams, etc.), or increased runoff in the watershed above can cause water levels to rise and kill cedar trees, resulting in an open ponded or marsh condition. If hydrology is restored to reference conditions, the site is likely to transition through a marsh and/or early seral forest phase before eventually returning to black spruce dominance.
Logging is not common due to the poor productivity of this site, and is limited to very dry years or winter harvest methods due to the wetness of this site. Tree removal may result in an early seral phase dominated by balsam fir, grey birch, red maple, and other colonizers before eventually reverting to black spruce dominance. In some areas, this site has been logged and converted to perennial grass hay land.
Submodel
Description
Shifts in ecological site composition, functionality, and dynamics driven by natural disturbances, processes, and pressures (may have some anthropogenic drivers). More research is needed to determine the extent of the Semi-natural state associated with this ecological site.
Submodel
Description
Shifts in ecological site composition, functionality, and dynamics that are primary driven by anthropogenic disturbances and pressures (may have some associated natural drivers). More research is needed to determine the extent of the cultural state associated with this ecological site.
Submodel
Mechanism
climate change, hydrological alteration, increased nutrients or chemicals (pesticide, herbicide, fertilizer) transported to surface water, significant increase in flooding events and annual precipitation, introduction of invasive species, pests, and pathogens
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
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Monitoring and Evaluation |
Mechanism
hydrologic alteration (barrier, obstruction, dam, diversion), landscape alteration, mechanical soil disturbance, landscape alteration
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
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Land Clearing |
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Precision Land Forming |
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Irrigation Land Leveling |
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Land Smoothing |
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Drainage Water Management |
Mechanism
remediation of hydrologic alteration, management of invasive species, pests, and pathogens, restoration of key native plant species, restoration of terrestrial and aquatic habitat
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
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Aquatic Organism Passage |
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Restoration and Management of Rare and Declining Habitats |
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Wetland Wildlife Habitat Management |
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Shallow Water Development and Management |
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Early Successional Habitat Development/Management |
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Wetland Restoration |
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Wetland Enhancement |
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Restoration and Management of Natural Ecosystems |
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Native Plant Community Restoration and Management |
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Invasive Plant Species Control |
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Pathogen Management |
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Shallow water habitat |
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Non-forested riparian zone enhancement for fish and wildlife |
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Riparian forest buffer, terrestrial and aquatic wildlife habitat |
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Restoration and Management of Rare or Declining Habitats |
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Multi-species Native Perennials for Biomass/Wildlife Habitat |
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Establish pollinator habitat |
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Biological suppression and other non-chemical techniques to manage brush, weeds and invasive species |
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Biological suppression and other non-chemical techniques to manage herbaceous weeds invasive species |
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High level Integrated Pest Management to reduce pesticide environmental risk |
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Monitoring and Evaluation |
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Herbaceous Weed Control |
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Herbicide resistant weed management |
Mechanism
hydrologic alteration (barrier, obstruction, dam, diversion), landscape alteration, mechanical soil disturbance, landscape alteration
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
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Drainage Water Management |
Mechanism
remediation of hydrologic alteration, seeding, planting, significant flooding events and increase in annual precipitation, compacted soil, establishment of key native plant species
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
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Aquatic Organism Passage |
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Obstruction Removal |
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Restoration and Management of Rare and Declining Habitats |
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Wetland Wildlife Habitat Management |
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Shallow Water Development and Management |
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Early Successional Habitat Development/Management |
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Constructed Wetland |
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Wetland Restoration |
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Wetland Creation |
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Wetland Enhancement |
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Riparian forest buffer, terrestrial and aquatic wildlife habitat |
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Forest stand improvement for habitat and soil quality |
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Restoration and Management of Rare or Declining Habitats |
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Multi-species Native Perennials for Biomass/Wildlife Habitat |
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Establish pollinator habitat |
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Habitat Development for Beneficial Insects for Pest Management |
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Monitoring and Evaluation |
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
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Restoration and Management of Rare and Declining Habitats |
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Wetland Wildlife Habitat Management |
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Shallow Water Development and Management |
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Early Successional Habitat Development/Management |
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Constructed Wetland |
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Wetland Restoration |
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Wetland Creation |
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Wetland Enhancement |
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Restoration and Management of Natural Ecosystems |
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Native Plant Community Restoration and Management |
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Shallow water habitat |
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Non-forested riparian zone enhancement for fish and wildlife |
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Riparian forest buffer, terrestrial and aquatic wildlife habitat |
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Restoration and Management of Rare or Declining Habitats |
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Multi-species Native Perennials for Biomass/Wildlife Habitat |
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Establish pollinator habitat |
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Monitoring and Evaluation |
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.