Cool Isothermic Udic Forest
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
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Transition T1A
State 1 Reference transitions to State 2 Invaded Understory by the very aggressive, introduced weed species present in this ecological site invading intact native forest and gradually replacing native species in the understory. This invasion is greatly facilitated by feral pigs, deer, goats, and cattle that damage and consume native plants, disturb the soil, and spread weed seeds.
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Transition T1B
State 1 Reference can transition to State 4 Naturalized Grass and Shrub by burning or mechanically clearing the forest with and later abandoning the site.
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Restoration pathway R2A
State 2 Invaded Understory may be restored to a facsimile of State 1 Reference. Construction of a suitable fence and removal of all ungulates are necessary. Intensive weed control must then be initiated and maintained in the long term. In some cases, large amounts of dead weed biomass must be dealt with by removal or decomposition. Reintroduction of missing native species will be necessary.
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Transition T2A
State 2 Invaded Understory transitions to State 3 Invaded Over and Understory through the process of fast-growing introduced trees inhibiting reproduction of native plants and gradually growing into and through the overstory. This process is accelerated by feral pigs and cattle directly damaging native plants and promoting the spread of weeds by disturbing the soil and spreading weed seeds.
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Transition T2B
When cleared by landslide, hurricane, fire, or long-term, heavy ungulate browsing, State 2 Invaded Understory transitions to State 4 Naturalized Grass and Shrub when sources of weed seeds are present.
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Restoration pathway R3A
State 3 Invaded Overstory and Understory can be converted to State 1 Reference by removing introduced trees or killing them in place, maintaining aggressive weed control measures, removing and excluding ungulates, and planting native species.
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Transition T3B
State 3 Invaded Overstory and Understory transitions to State 4 Naturalized Grass and Shrub State if the site is cleared or burned in the presence of sources of weed seeds.
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Restoration pathway R4A
State 4 Naturalized Grass and Shrub State can be restored to State 1 Reference by weed control, removal and exclusion of ungulates, and re-establishment of native species.
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Transition T4A
State 4 Naturalized Grass and Shrub transitions to State 3 Invaded Overstory and Understory due to the presence of fast-growing, introduced tree species; wildfire may prevent this from occurring.
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No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
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Description
This state consists of one community phase that is closed canopy forest up to 50 feet (15 meters) tall. Vegetation is transitional between species adapted for dry and moist habitats, creating a zone of very high plant species diversity. This zone is often referred to as “mesic forest” in botanical literature, and, on Kauai and Oahu, is referred to as “diverse mesic forest.” There are no tree species that can be classified as dominant across the entire ecological site, although some species do occur locally.
When cleared by landslide, hurricane, fire, or long-term, heavy ungulate browsing, this state transitions to State 4 Naturalized Grass and Shrub unless the disturbed site is completely surrounded by native vegetation. Gradual invasion by weedy, introduced plant species brings a transition to State 2 Invaded Understory.
Submodel
Description
This state consists of one community phase. It retains the diverse native overstory of the Reference State. However, introduced trees, shrubs, vines, grasses, forbs, and ferns produce a dense understory of competitive vegetation that severely inhibits reproduction of native species. Activity of feral ungulates further reduces native plant abundance and produces disturbed soil patches that promote weed invasion. Eventually, this state transitions to State 3 Invaded Overstory and Understory through growth of introduced tree species.
Submodel
Description
This state consists of one community phase dominated by introduced species in both the overstory and understory. Some individual native trees may persist for their lifetime. The diversity of weedy trees, shrubs, vines, ferns, and herbs is high and the species mix is variable.
Submodel
Description
This state consists of one community phase consisting primarily of weedy shrubs, forbs, and grasses. Seedlings of introduced tree species are usually present and will attain dominance if fire does not set them back.
Submodel
Mechanism
State 1 Reference transitions to State 2 Invaded Understory by the very aggressive, introduced weed species present in this ecological site invading intact native forest and gradually replacing native species in the understory. This invasion is greatly facilitated by feral pigs, deer, goats, and cattle that damage and consume native plants, disturb the soil, and spread weed seeds.
Mechanism
State 1 Reference can transition to State 4 Naturalized Grass and Shrub by burning or mechanically clearing the forest with and later abandoning the site.
Mechanism
State 2 Invaded Understory may be restored to a facsimile of State 1 Reference. Construction of a suitable fence and removal of all ungulates are necessary. Intensive weed control must then be initiated and maintained in the long term. In some cases, large amounts of dead weed biomass must be dealt with by removal or decomposition. Reintroduction of missing native species will be necessary.
Mechanism
State 2 Invaded Understory transitions to State 3 Invaded Over and Understory through the process of fast-growing introduced trees inhibiting reproduction of native plants and gradually growing into and through the overstory. This process is accelerated by feral pigs and cattle directly damaging native plants and promoting the spread of weeds by disturbing the soil and spreading weed seeds.
Mechanism
When cleared by landslide, hurricane, fire, or long-term, heavy ungulate browsing, State 2 Invaded Understory transitions to State 4 Naturalized Grass and Shrub when sources of weed seeds are present.
Mechanism
State 3 Invaded Overstory and Understory can be converted to State 1 Reference by removing introduced trees or killing them in place, maintaining aggressive weed control measures, removing and excluding ungulates, and planting native species.
Mechanism
State 3 Invaded Overstory and Understory transitions to State 4 Naturalized Grass and Shrub State if the site is cleared or burned in the presence of sources of weed seeds.
Mechanism
State 4 Naturalized Grass and Shrub State can be restored to State 1 Reference by weed control, removal and exclusion of ungulates, and re-establishment of native species.
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.