Natural Resources
Conservation Service
JD Clayey South 12-16 PZ
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
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Management practices/drivers
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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 represents the historic natural range of variability under pre-european conditions. It is characterized by native plant communities with high resistance/resilience to degraded conditions in comparison to other states found on this ecological site. Three general community phases are found on this site; a shrub-grass dominated phase, a perennial grass dominated community and a shrub dominated community. State dynamics are driven by the interactions of climatic patterns and disturbance regimes which create relatively stable conditions by promoting negative feedbacks.
Characteristics and indicators
State dynamics remain stable when non-native annual plant species are absent; all structural and functional plant groups exist within natural bounds; soil organic matter and nutrients are retained on site; and fine fuel loads remain at low levels. Within the reference state, plant community phase changes are driven primarily by fire, periodic drought and/or insect or disease attack. Transitions to a degraded state are linked to the introduction of non-native annual plant species and subsequent decreases in state resilience.
Dominant plant species
western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis), tree
basin big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata), shrub
antelope bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata), shrub
bluebunch wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria spicata), grass
Submodel
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.
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