Calcareous, Wet Arctic Mountain Slopes
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
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Management practices/drivers
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Transition T1A
Increased cryoturbation and time - non-feasible due to time scale controlled
More details -
No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
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Description
The reference state has plant communities representative of the native or natural conditions. Minimal impact from human influence is seen. The somewhat stable swales are tolerant of wildlife browse and use. Fire is stated to be of infrequent occurrence, but will have an impact when it does occur, shifting the major cover. Vegetation will vary across the area based on where late-lying snow and the most exposed soils occur on the ecological site. This natural variance is common across the peat, or organic soils on the side slopes.
This state supports late lying snow beds. This ecological site has subsurface moisture, but the harsh climate and exposure create a mesic climate. Across the landscape, as exposure increases to the winds, little snow cover remains, and lichen cover is low. But in areas with higher snow cover, the lichen will vary and can account for 25 percent of cover (Viereck et al. 1992).
Submodel
Description
The Circles and Stripes State is again thought to be in reference due to the minimal threat to disturbance. Cryoturbation is the major disturbance for this State. Original formation occurred over centuries to thousands of years ago.
Submodel
Mechanism
Shift in extent of fluctuating temperatures may accelerate the formation of stone circles or patterned ground. This is in response to increased frost heaving (cryoturbation), especially in southern exposed and more exposed areas, and may be an effect of climate change. These features are natural occurrence in the arctic region and closely associated with the wet swales.
Context dependence
The time scale for the formation of stone circles is thousands of years. Signs of this process is evident in small events throughout a decadal time scale but are not visible in a functional time scale.
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.