Natural Resources
Conservation Service
SR Mahogany Mountain Loam 14-18 PZ
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
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Transition T1A
Disruption of the fire return interval, extending time without fire which allows for conifer expansion, especially western juniper
More details -
Transition T1B
Catastrophic fire in the presence of invasive annual grasses,
More details -
Restoration pathway T2B
Mechanical or chemical treatment of controlling brush or mechanical treatment of juniper along with treatment of non-native invasive species. Desired grasses and forbs may need to be seeded.
More details -
Transition T2A
Catastrophic fire in the presence of invasive annual grasses.
More details -
No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
Select a state
Description
The Reference State 1.0 is a representation of the natural range of variability. The reference state has 3 general community phases; a shrub-grass dominant phase, a perennial grass dominant phase and a shrub dominant phase. State dynamics are maintained by interactions between climatic patterns and disturbance regimes. Negative feedbacks enhance ecosystem resilience and contribute to the stability of the state. These include the presence of all structural and functional groups, low fine fuel loads, and retention of organic matter and nutrients. Plant community phase changes are primarily driven by fire, periodic drought and/or insect or disease attack. Negative feedbacks enhance ecosystem resilience and contribute to the stability of the state. These feedbacks include the presence of all structural and functional groups, low fine fuel loads, and retention of organic matter and nutrients.
Dominant plant species
curl-leaf mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus ledifolius), shrub
antelope bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata), shrub
Idaho fescue (Festuca idahoensis), grass
Submodel
Description
This state is characterized by a dominance of conifers and/or shrubs. Western juniper and/or ponderosa pine dominate the overstory. Mountain mahogany, bitterbrush and other shrubs are either co-dominant with trees, or declining on site. Deep rooted perennial bunchgrasses may still be present, but they are no longer controlling site resources. Soil moisture, soil nutrients and soil organic matter distribution and cycling have been spatially and temporally altered.
Dominant plant species
ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa), tree
western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis), tree
curl-leaf mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus ledifolius), shrub
antelope bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata), shrub
Submodel
Description
This state is characterized by the dominance of annual non-native species such as cheatgrass, medusahead, and ventenata in the understory. Shrubs may be present in the overstory, but are not controlling site function.
Dominant plant species
cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), grass
North Africa grass (Ventenata dubia), grass
medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae), grass
Submodel
Transition T1A
Disruption of the fire return interval, extending time without fire which allows for conifer
expansion, especially western juniper
Mechanism
Disruption of the fire return interval, extending time without fire which allows for conifer expansion, especially western juniper
Mechanism
Catastrophic fire in the presence of invasive annual grasses,
Restoration pathway T2B
Mechanical or chemical treatment of controlling brush or mechanical treatment of juniper along with treatment of non-native invasive species. Desired grasses and forbs may need to be seeded.
Mechanism
Requires mechanical or chemical treatment of controlling brush or mechanical treatment of juniper along with treatment of non-native invasive species. Desired grasses and forbs may need to be seeded.
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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