Natural Resources
Conservation Service
SOUTH SLOPE 14-18 P.Z.
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
- Transition T1A More details
- Transition T2A More details
- Transition T2B More details
- Transition T2C More details
- Transition T2D More details
- Restoration pathway R3A More details
- Transition T3A More details
- Transition T3B More details
- Transition T3C More details
- Restoration pathway R4A More details
- Restoration pathway R6A More details
- Restoration pathway R6B More details
- Transition T6A More details
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No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
Select a state
Description
The Reference State is a representative of the natural range of variability under pristine conditions. The reference state has three 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.
Submodel
Description
This state is similar to the Reference State 1.0 but with four community phases. Ecological function has not changed, however the resiliency of the state has been reduced by the presence of invasive weeds. Non-natives may increase in abundance but will not become dominant within this State. These non-natives can be highly flammable, and can promote fire where historically fire had been infrequent. 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. Positive feedbacks decrease ecosystem resilience and stability of the state. These include the non-natives’ high seed output, persistent seed bank, rapid growth rate, ability to cross pollinate and adaptations for seed dispersal.
Submodel
Description
This state has two community phases: a mountain big sagebrush-dominated phase and a rabbitbrush-dominated phase. This state is a product of many years of heavy grazing during time periods harmful to perennial bunchgrasses. Sandberg bluegrass will increase with a reduction in deep rooted perennial bunchgrass competition and become the dominant grass on this site. Sagebrush dominates the overstory and rabbitbrush may be a significant component. Sagebrush cover exceeds site concept and may be decadent, reflecting stand maturity and lack of seedling establishment due to competition with mature plants.
Submodel
Description
This state has one community phase that is dominated by deep-rooted perennial forbs. This state may be the result of many years of abusive grazing or disturbed areas (historic bedding grounds) allowing the perennial forbs to increase. It may also be compounded by fire. This may occur as “pockets” or inclusions within other states of the same site, and can appear to be localized. The positive feedbacks in this state include the presence of a competitive functional group that possesses deep-rooted taproots and strong lateral roots, the sprouting ability of roots or root crown, high seed production and the ability to monopolize soil moisture.
Submodel
Description
This state has two community phases and is characterized by the dominance of annual non-native species such as cheatgrass and tumble mustard in the understory. Sagebrush and/or rabbitbrush dominate the overstory.
Submodel
Description
This state has two community phases that are characterized by the dominance of Utah juniper in the overstory. Singleleaf pinyon may also be present. Big sagebrush and perennial bunchgrasses may still be present, but they are no longer controlling site dynamics in this state. Soil moisture, soil nutrients and soil organic matter distribution and cycling have been spatially and temporally altered.
Submodel
Mechanism
Trigger: Introduction of annual non-native species. Slow variable: Over time, annual non-native plants will increase within the community, decreasing organic matter inputs from deep-rooted perennial bunchgrasses resulting in reductions in soil water availability for perennial bunchgrasses. Threshold: Any amount of introduced non-native species causes an immediate decrease in the resilience of the site. Annual non-native species cannot be easily removed from the system and have the potential to significantly alter disturbance regimes from their historic range of variation.
Mechanism
Trigger: To Community Phase 3.1: Inappropriate grazing will decrease or eliminate deep rooted perennial bunchgrasses, increase Sandberg bluegrass and favor shrub growth and establishment. To Community Phase 3.2: Severe fire in community phase 2.3 will remove sagebrush overstory, decrease perennial bunchgrasses and enhance Sandberg bluegrass. Annual non-native species will increase. Slow variables: Long term decrease in deep-rooted perennial grass density resulting in decreased organic matter inputs and reduced soil water. Threshold: Loss of deep-rooted perennial bunchgrasses changes nutrient cycling, nutrient redistribution, and reduces soil organic matter.
Mechanism
Trigger: Inappropriate grazing management and/or fire promote mule ears and other perennial forbs to dominate the site. Persistent spring grazing after a fire will suppress perennial grasses and promote forb production. Slow variable: Increasing density of perennial forbs and soil erosion. Threshold: Loss of deep-rooted perennial bunchgrasses and shrubs changes nutrient capture and cycling within the community and reduced organic matter inputs and soil water.
Mechanism
Trigger: Multiple fires and/or soil disturbing treatments such as drill seeding, roller chopper or Lawson aerator will cause the site to transition to community phase 5.1. Inappropriate grazing management likely by cattle and/or horses can eliminate the native understory and will leave site open for non-native invasive species, which will transition to community phase 5.2. Slow variable: Increased production and cover of non-native annual species. Threshold: Loss of deep-rooted perennial bunchgrasses and shrubs changes nutrient capture and cycling within the community. Increased, continuous fine fuels modify the fire regime by changing intensity, size and spatial variability of fires.
Mechanism
Trigger: Absence of disturbance over time and lack of management action allows for trees to increase and transitions to community phase 6.1. Slow variables: Increased establishment and cover of juniper trees Threshold: Trees overtop big sagebrush and out-compete shrubs for water and sunlight. Shrub skeletons exceed live shrubs with minimal recruitment of new cohorts.
Mechanism
Brush management with minimal soil disturbance/seeding of desired species.
Mechanism
Trigger: Fire in combination with inappropriate grazing management can eliminate Sandberg bluegrass understory and transition to 4.1. Slow variable: Increasing density of perennial forbs and soil erosion. Threshold: Loss of deep-rooted perennial bunchgrasses and shrubs changes nutrient capture and cycling within the community and reduced organic matter inputs and reduced soil water.
Mechanism
Trigger: Severe fire will transition to 5.1. Inappropriate grazing management in the presence of annual non-native species will transition to 5.2 Slow variables: Increased production and cover of non-native annual species. Threshold: Increased, continuous fine fuels modify the fire regime by changing intensity, size and spatial variability of fires. Changes in plant community composition and spatial variability of vegetation due to the loss of perennial bunchgrasses and sagebrush truncate energy capture and impact the nutrient cycling and distribution.
Mechanism
Trigger: Time and a lack of disturbance or management action allows for Utah juniper to dominate the site. This may be coupled with grazing management that favors tree establishment by reducing understory herbaceous competition for site resources. Slow variable: Over time the abundance and size of trees will increase resulting in reduced infiltration and increased runoff. Threshold: Trees dominate ecological processes and number of shrub skeletons exceed number of live shrubs.
Mechanism
Herbicide treatment to reduce perennial forbs may be coupled with seeding of perennial bunchgrasses and other desirable species (Mueggler and Blaisdell 1951).
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Range Planting |
|
|
Herbaceous Weed Control |
Mechanism
This site could be restored with tree removal and seeding or recovery of herbaceous understory. Restoration efforts may result in smooth brome or intermediate wheatgrass after fire. This is most likely to succeed in community phase 6.1.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Brush Management |
|
|
Range Planting |
Mechanism
Tree removal or fire when Sandberg bluegrass is dominant in the understory will transition to community phase 3.2.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Brush Management |
Mechanism
Trigger: Catastrophic crown fire will reduce or eliminate trees to transition the site to 5.1. Inappropriate tree removal practices such as chop and burn when annual non-natives such as cheatgrass are present will also transition the site to state 5.0. Slow variable: Increased seed production and cover of annual non-native species. Decreased infiltration and increased runoff result in reduction in soil water. Threshold: Increased, continuous fine fuels modify the fire regime by changing intensity, size and spatial variability of fires. Changes in plant community composition and spatial variability of vegetation due to the loss of perennial bunchgrasses and sagebrush truncate energy capture and impact the nutrient cycling and distribution.
Model keys
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Ecological sites
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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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