Deep and Very Deep Soils on Limestone Plateaus
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
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Transition T1A
The Reference State (1) may transition to the Naturalized Grassland State (2) by mechanical clearing of the land followed by invasion by or planting of introduced forage species.
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Transition T1B
The Reference State (1) may transition to the Cleared and Abandoned State (3) by clearing the forest, temporary cultivation of crops, abandonment, and invasion by mostly introduced species.
More details -
Restoration pathway R2A
The Naturalized Grassland State (2) can be restored to a facsimile of the Reference State (1) by suppressing the forage species and replanting native trees.
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Transition T2A
The Naturalized Grassland State (2) will transition to the Cleared and Abandoned State (3) from Community Phase 2.1 if the forage species are reduced in cover and vitality by heavy grazing before abandonment, allowing invasion of the site by weedy shrub, forb, and vine species.
More details -
Restoration pathway R2B
The Naturalized Grassland State (2) can be restored to Cultivated State (5) by killing forage species and cultivating for crops.
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Restoration pathway R3B
State 3 Cleared and Abandoned can be restored to a facsimile of State 1 Reference by brush and weed control followed by replanting of native trees.
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Restoration pathway R3A
The Cleared and Abandoned State (3) may be restored to the Naturalized Grassland State (2) by brush control, weed control, reseeding of desired forage species, and cutting back white leadtree or tangantangan (Leucaena leucocephala) to a shorter stature.
More details -
Transition T3A
The Cleared and Abandoned State (3) will transition to the Grazed Woodland State (4) by continued growth and spread of white leadtree, possible invasion by other tree species, and closure of the overstory to shade out most shrubs, forbs, and grasses.
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Restoration pathway R3C
The Cleared and Abandoned State (3) can be restored to the Cultivated State (5) by clearing the land and cultivating for crops.
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Restoration pathway R4A
The Grazed Woodland State (4) may be restored to a facsimile of the Reference State (1) by brush and weed control followed by replanting of native trees.
More details -
Restoration pathway R4B
The Grazed Woodland State (4) may be restored to the Cleared and Abandoned State (3) by clearing and abandoning the site, allowing lower-growing species that require sunlight to invade.
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Transition R4C
The Grazed Woodland State (4) may be restored to Cultivated State (5) by clearing the site, instituting weed control, and cultivating for crops.
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Restoration pathway R5A
The Cultivated State (5) may be restored to a facsimile of the Reference State (1) by weed control followed by replanting of native trees.
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Transition T5B
The Cultivated State (5) may transition to the Naturalized Grassland State (2) by planting desired forages and eventually bringing grazing animals back to the site.
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Transition T5A
Simple abandonment will allow the Cultivated State (5) to transition the Cleared and Abandoned State (3).
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No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
Select a state
Description
The Reference State (1) has two community phases consisting of diverse native forest. Few if any intact examples remain of undisturbed forest in this ecological site. Based on remnant patches and trees, the overstory may grow to between 22 and 45 feet (7 and 14 meters) tall, although the original forest may have been taller than this (Amidon et al., 2017; Falanruw et al., 1989; Fosberg, 1960; Liu and Fischer, 2008; Stone, 1970; Wagner and Grether, 1948; Willsey et al., 2019).
Dominant canopy species can vary by island and region of island, making this forest type hard to characterize by dominant or even characteristic species. The undergrowth in this forest is usually sparse and perhaps not very flammable (Amidon et al., 2017; Falanruw et al., 1989; Fosberg, 1960; Liu and Fischer, 2008; Stone, 1970; Wagner and Grether, 1948; Willsey et al., 2019).
Submodel
Description
The Naturalized Grassland State (2) consists of two community phases consisting mostly of introduced grass species.
Submodel
Description
The Cleared and Abandoned State (3) consists of one community phase dominated by weedy, mostly introduced species.
Submodel
Description
The Grazed Woodland State (4) consists of a variable mix of introduced tree species, sometimes with a few native species, that form a dense forest. White leadtree or tangantangan (Leucaena leucocephala) may dominate, or other tree species may gradually invade a site. Cattle often forage in these forests, but carrying capacity is generally low (CNMI SWARS Council, 2010; Donnegan et al., 2011; Liske-Clark, 2015; Willsey et al., 2019).
Submodel
Mechanism
The Reference State (1) may transition to the Naturalized Grassland State (2) by mechanical clearing of the land followed by invasion by or planting of introduced forage species.
Mechanism
The Reference State (1) may transition to the Cleared and Abandoned State (3) by clearing the forest, temporary cultivation of crops, abandonment, and invasion by mostly introduced species.
Mechanism
The Naturalized Grassland State (2) can be restored to a facsimile of the Reference State (1) by suppressing the forage species and replanting native trees.
Mechanism
The Naturalized Grassland State (2) will transition to the Cleared and Abandoned State (3) from Community Phase 2.1 if the forage species are reduced in cover and vitality by heavy grazing before abandonment, allowing invasion of the site by weedy shrub, forb, and vine species.
Mechanism
The Naturalized Grassland State (2) can be restored to Cultivated State (5) by killing forage species and cultivating for crops.
Mechanism
State 3 Cleared and Abandoned State can be restored to a facsimile of the Reference State by brush and weed control followed by replanting of native trees.
Mechanism
The Cleared and Abandoned State (3) may be restored to the Naturalized Grassland State (2) by brush control, weed control, reseeding of desired forage species, and cutting back white leadtree or tangantangan (Leucaena leucocephala) to a shorter stature.
Mechanism
The Cleared and Abandoned State (3) will transition to the Grazed Woodland State (4) by continued growth and spread of white leadtree, possible invasion by other tree species, and closure of the overstory to shade out most shrubs, forbs, and grasses.
Mechanism
The Cleared and Abandoned State (3) can be restored to the Cultivated State (5) by clearing the land and cultivating crops.
Mechanism
The Grazed Woodland State (4) may be restored to a facsimile of the Reference State (1) by brush and weed control followed by replanting of native trees.
Mechanism
The Grazed Woodland State (4) may be restored to the Cleared and Abandoned State (3) by clearing and abandoning the site, allowing lower-growing species that require sunlight to invade.
Mechanism
The Grazed Woodland State (4) may be restored to Cultivated State (5) by clearing the site, instituting weed control, and cultivating crops.
Mechanism
The Cultivated State (5) may be restored to a facsimile of the Reference State (1) by weed control followed by replanting of native trees.
Mechanism
The Cultivated State (5) may transition to the Naturalized Grassland State (2) by planting desired forages and eventually bringing grazing animals back to the site.
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.