Shallow Stony, Prairie
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
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Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
- Transition T1 More details
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No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
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Description
State 1 Narrative:
State 1 represents grassland steppe with no invasive or exotic weed species. Each functional, structural group would have one or more native species. The prairies of MLRA 6 have no sagebrush or bitterbrush, and no rabbitbrush.
The Reference Community is dominated by bluebunch wheatgrass with native forb species prominent.
Reference State Community Phases:
1.1 Reference Bluebunch wheatgrass – Native Forbs
1.2 Forbs Native forbs – Bluebunch Wheatgrass
At-risk Communities:
• Different communities have different degrees of risk
• All communities in the reference state are at risk of invasive species
• All communities in the reference state are at risk of moving to State 2. The seed source of invasive species is nearby and moving onto most sites annually.
Submodel
Description
State 2 represents grassland steppe with the inclusion of invasive species such as bulbous bluegrass, annual bromes or foxtail barley. Native species are present and dominant, but invasive species have gained a foothold that they do not easily relinquish. All the native functional, structural groups are still represented by one or more species. Grazing pressure weakens the stand of native species allowing the invasive species to colonize and establish themselves in the community.
Invasive species are a minor component in State 2. But once a community has been invaded by invasive species the chance of going back to State 1 is small.
Dominate State 2 Species: unpalatable native forbs and native bunchgrasses
Mechanism
T1 Result: shift from Community 1.2 in State 1 (with no invasive species) to State 2 Native-Invasive Mix.
Primary Trigger: grazing pressure (heavy grazing intensity, season long grazing and frequent late spring grazing) to bluebunch wheatgrass and other palatable species.
Ecological Process: with consistent defoliation pressure palatable native species exhibit poor vigor, shrinking crowns and plant mortality. This releases resources and niche space that invasive species take advantage of to colonize the site. Native species are still present and dominant but invasives have gained a foothold that they do not easily give up.
Indicators: decreasing cover of Idaho fescue, bluebunch wheatgrass and other native species. Presence of invasive species on site where they had been absent.
References:
Boling M., Frazier B., Busacca, A., General Soil Map of Washington, Washington State University, 1998
Daubenmire, R., Steppe Vegetation of Washington, EB1446, March 1968
Davies, Kirk, Medusahead Dispersal and Establishment in Sagebrush Steppe Plant Communities, Rangeland Ecology & Management, 2008
Environmental Protection Agency, map of Level III and IV Ecoregions of Washington, June 2010
Miller, Baisan, Rose and Pacioretty, “Pre and Post Settlement Fire regimes in mountain Sagebrush communities: The Northern Intermountain Region
Natural Resources Conservation Service, map of Common Resource Areas of Washington, 2003
Rapid Assessment Reference Condition Model for Wyoming sagebrush, LANDFIRE project, 2008
Rocchio, Joseph & Crawford, Rex C., Ecological Systems of Washington State. A Guide to Identification. Washington State Department of Natural Resources, October 2015. Pages 156-161 Inter-Mountain Basin Big Sagebrush.
Rouse, Gerald, MLRA 8 Ecological Sites as referenced from Natural Resources Conservation Service-Washington FOTG, 2004
Soil Conservation Service, Range Sites for MLRA 8 from 1980s and 1990s
Tart, D., Kelley, P., and Schlafly, P., Rangeland Vegetation of the Yakima Indian reservation, August 1987, YIN Soil and Vegetation Survey
Model keys
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Ecological site groups
Major Land Resource Areas
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