Wet Flat
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
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Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
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Transition T1A
Natural Vegetation Clearing, Introduction of Native and Non-Native Pasture Grasses and Legumes
More details -
Transition T2A
Long-Term Field Abandonment
More details -
No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
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Description
These are softwood dominated boreal forests most often comprised of mature red spruce (Picea rubens) found on shallow organic over mineral soils. The canopy is often a pure stand of red spruce that is often closed to broken but may be mixed with black spruce (Picea mariana) or red-black spruce hybrids. Other trees that are found in the canopy include balsam fir (Abies balsamea) or red maple (Acer rubrum). Tall shrubs are often well developed, and forbs and graminoids are well expressed in the understory. Bryophytes are the dominant groundcover, covering both hummocks and hollows. Natural disturbances by wind create tip-ups of individual trees or small groups of trees that are attributed to the hummock and hollow microtopography. Changes in light availability and soil wetness are the dominant drivers for these communities, with logging being the main factor attributable to large scale changes.
Submodel
States 1, 5 and 2 (additional transitions)
1.1. Late Successional Spruce Forest
1.5. Mid Successional Uneven Aged Mixed Conifer Forest
1.2. Early Successional Herbaceous Phase
Description
This state represents a once forested area now cleared for pasture. This will typically only occur on gentler slopes (<15 percent) due to potential for water erosion. Pasture vegetation can consist of grasses, legumes, other forbs, shrubs or a mixture. Many of these forages are introduced, having originally come from areas in other states or continents. Overgrazed pastures can lead to soil compaction and numerous bare spots, which may then become focal points of accelerated erosion and colonization sites of undesirable plants or weeds. In these systems, water control structures may be used to prevent excess water in the fields and historical drainage and cultivation of this site may lead to the loss of the mucky organic surface texture.
Submodel
Mechanism
The reference state transitions to the managed grassland state with the clearing of woody vegetation and the establishment of pasture grasses and legumes.
Mechanism
This state transitions to a post-agricultural successional forest following the long-term abandonment of converted fields. While short-term abandonment of fields may allow for dominance of undesirable species they can revert to a commodity field with proper management. Long-term abandonment is accepted as the establishment of a single age stand of closed canopy forest.
Model keys
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Ecological sites
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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.