Dry Sands
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
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Transition T1A
Lack of fire
More details -
Transition T1B
Land use conversion
More details -
Transition T1C
Salinization
More details -
Transition T2A
Reintroduction of fire
More details -
Transition T2B
Land use conversion
More details -
Transition T2C
Salinization
More details -
Transition T3A
Restoration
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Transition T3B
Salinization
More details -
Transition T4A
Salinization
More details -
No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
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Description
These woodlands are characterized by an open canopy of longleaf pine above a sparse midstory and understory of scrub oaks and a moderate to dense groundcover of a diversity of grasses and other herbaceous plants.
(FNAI, 2010; Peat and Allard, 1993; Schafale and Weakley, 1990)
Resilience management
This community is maintained by fires on a return interval of 1 to 3 years. Fires at this return interval maintain both vegetation and fuels so that the overall vegetation community is well adapted to the resulting fire intensity. Longleaf pine is well adapted to frequent low intensity surface fires. These fires maintain most of the oaks in a shrub lifeform as sprouts are killed back by each fire, and they stimulate both productivity and diversity of the grasses and herbs.
Description
These woodlands are characterized by a dense and closed midstory canopy of scrub oaks, with or without an open emergent canopy of longleaf pine above. The shade cast by the oaks decreases shrub, grass, and herbaceous diversity and cover.
(FNAI, 2010; Peat and Allard, 1993; Schafale and Weakley, 1990)
Resilience management
This community develops as fire return intervals exceed 3 years on a consistent basis for a long period of time. The size and cover of oaks both increase as time since fire increases. The shade cast by the oaks decreases shrub, grass, and herbaceous diversity and cover.
Submodel
Description
Restoration efforts might include revegetation and reintroduction of periodic fire. There is increased interest in restoration of longleaf pine and it's associated vegetation communities including the application of prescribed and controlled fire. However, it is unclear whether or not the full historical range of fire behavior and fire seasonality can be restored on the modern landscape, and the limited scope of modern fire application may impact full restoration to historical conditions.
Description
Any community on this site that has become salinized by the impacts of salt water inundation or intrusion. Saltwater intrusion is the movement of saltwater into freshwater systems. The process occurs mostly by lateral flow into areas adjacent to coastal waters or ditch systems that connect saltwater bodies. These ditch systems are designed to drain freshwater off of a site, but sea level rise and extreme tidal events push saltwater up these ditch systems and expose more of the landscape to salinization processes. Salinization can also occur as storm surge and/or extreme high tides push saltwater over the top of these terrestrial freshwater systems.
Mechanism
Lack of fire, or a fire return interval that exceeds 3 years on a consistent basis for a long period of time.
Mechanism
Sea level rise, tidal inundation, and soil saltwater intrusion.
Mechanism
Sea level rise, tidal inundation, and soil saltwater intrusion.
Mechanism
Restoration of vegetation community and application of managed fire.
Mechanism
Sea level rise, tidal inundation, and soil saltwater intrusion.
Model keys
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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.