Tidal Flat
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
-
Transition T 1A
Extreme disturbance event coupled with excessive grazing pressure
More details -
Restoration pathway R2A
Absence of disturbance, reintroduction of native species and natural regeneration over time
More details -
No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
Select a state
Description
The Reference state is considered to be representative of the range of variation under pre-Euro settlement conditions. Historically the tidal flats were subject to the erosion and accretion and tidal inundation.
Submodel
Mechanism
Excessive disturbance of the Cordgrass Community (1.1) or Hurricane-Impacted Community (1.2) will shift to the Mudflat Community (2.1). Mechanical disturbance or improper grazing management that removes the existing protective vegetation can cause severe soil erosion and/or deposition.
Mechanism
With time and protection from disturbance, the Mudflat Community (2.1) can recover and return to the Hurricane-Impacted Community (1.2) and eventually the Cordgrass Community (1.1). Remnant cordgrass plants are necessary for this restoration pathway to occur. The drivers for this restoration pathway are time between disturbances and proper grazing management.
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.