Dry Alluvial Fans
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
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Transition Historic Transition to Reference Community
Historic Transition
More details -
Transition T2
Invasion.
More details -
Transition T3
Human Alteration
More details -
Restoration pathway R1
Weed Management
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Transition T3
Human Alteration
More details - Restoration pathway R3 More details
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Restoration pathway R2
Restoration w/o Weed Management
More details -
No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
Select a state
Description
This community phase represents all the varied expressions of native vegetation prior to the introduction of Mediterranean annuals in the 1700s
Characteristics and indicators
This site is poorly understood and believed to be entirely extirpated
Submodel
Description
This State has been the dominant condition since the arrival of Europeans. It is dominated by a variety of annual grasses and forbs introduced from the Mediterranean region, which are well adapted to the local climate.
The specific traits of these introduced species and the current soil moisture will govern the plant community phase and dominant vegetation over the course of a year.
Scattered blue oak may be a part of this community.
Submodel
Description
This state is dominated by a newer suite of introduced species which have not yet been naturalized and have traits which make them highly undesirable, including medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae) and yellow star-thistle (Centaurea solstitialis).
Submodel
Mechanism
Fodder and livestock from early Europeans in Mexico is believed to have introduced Mediterranean annuals, which established during the 16th century.
Constraints to recovery
The Historic State is too poorly understood and too thoroughly removed to be successfully restored.
Mechanism
This transition is caused when a more recent cohort of Mediterranean annuals, with undesirable traits, establish a seedbank sufficient to cross a threshold. It is associated with and accelerated by a variety of disturbances which create bare ground, such as severe drought, fire and grazing beyond recommend RDM levels. Complete removal of grazing has also been shown to cause a transition from State 2 to State 3.
Mechanism
This transition is caused by significant human alterations that force this ecological site over a threshold and change the function and structure of this site in extensive ways.
Mechanism
This restoration pathway occurs only with significant time and money inputs are focused on managing invasive species to a level appropriate for component of State 2. This requires constant maintenance and weed management. Herbicides and targeted grazing with sheep or goats have been demonstrated as effective on some invasive forb species. Fire, pre and post emergent herbicides and grazing to appropriate RDM levels have been shown to be effective on annual grasses.
Mechanism
This transition is caused by significant human alterations that force this ecological site over a threshold and change the function and structure of this site in extensive ways.
Mechanism
This restoration pathway may occur rapidly when time and money inputs are focused on site prep weed management, and seed bank establishment.
Model keys
Briefcase
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Ecological site groups
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.