Wet Loamy Flat
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
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Management practices/drivers
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- Transition T1A More details
- Transition T1B More details
- Restoration pathway R2A More details
- Transition T2A More details
- Restoration pathway R3A More details
- Restoration pathway R3B 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 site occurs on deep, loamy soils that are poorly- to very poorly-drained. They formed in relatively flat glacial outwash or lakebed sediments with slopes generally less than 8 percent. This site has a seasonally-high water table which affects plant species composition and community dynamics.
Balsam fir and red spruce dominate the overstory, with a productive understory of diverse wetland herbs, shrubs, and mosses. As overstory tree canopy is reduced, herbs and shrubs increase, followed by the re-establishment of thick stands of spruce and fir saplings. About twenty to sixty years following disturbance, a young mature spruce-fir forest emerges and understory species begin to re-establish in the community. After about sixty years without tree removal disturbance, many mature fir trees die out, resulting in a spruce-dominated forest. These mature stands include patches of younger stands resulting from small areas of blowdown or other disturbances.
Characteristics and indicators
Sites occur on moist to saturated mineral soils, usually with a dense carpet of mosses and liverworts. Closed canopies are dominated by spruce (>40% cover), or are rarely more open where red maple or northern white cedar mixes with spruce. Wetland plants occur in the herb layer, usually including cinnamon fern and three-seeded sedge.
Resilience management
Logging, wind and insects, particularly the spruce budworm, drive plant community dynamics on this site. Hurricane force winds and fire are rare on this site, but may result in entire stands reverting to the early herb/shrub phase.
Submodel
Description
Shifts in ecological site composition, functionality, and dynamics driven by natural disturbances, processes, and pressures (may have some anthropogenic influences). 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 influences). More research is needed to determine the extent of the cultural state associated with this ecological site.
Submodel
Mechanism
hydrological alteration, climate change pressures, introduction of invasive species, pests, and/or pathogens, shifts in canopy cover composition
*Cedar - Spruce Seepage Forests with a substantial amount of red spruce could grade into Spruce - Fir - Cinnamon Fern Forest (reference state), which usually occur on flats.
Mechanism
heavily logged and cleared, hydrologically altered (surface water drainage), mechanical soil disturbance, seeded and/or planted
Mechanism
restoration/management of invasive species, pests, and/or pathogens, patchcut/group selection harvest (red maple/cedar), seeding/planting
Mechanism
heavily logged and cleared, hydrologically altered (surface water drainage), mechanical soil disturbance, seeded and/or planted
Mechanism
size dependent restoration, seeding/planting, no action taken
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.