Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Eroded Fan Remnant Pavette 4-6 P.Z.
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
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Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
- Transition 1 More details
- Transition 2 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
This state is representative of the natural range of variability prior to Euro-American settlement conditions. Plant community phase changes are primarily driven by long-term drought. Insect attack and wildfire are infrequent, but have long-term impacts on the plant community. The reference state is depicted by one general community phase. This community is characterized by dynamic stability. It is stable and long-lived, but is dynamic in response to changes in disturbance regimes and weather patterns.
Submodel
Description
The invaded state is characterized by the presence of non-native species. Compositionally, State 2 is similar to the reference state with a trace of non-natives in the understory. The presence of non-native annuals such as red brome, Mediterranean grass, and red-stem filaree reduce ecological resistance and resilience, making it more difficult for this state to recover following a disturbance. Non-natives annuals are highly flammable and promote wildfires where fires historically have been infrequent. Creosotebush persists through invasion by non-native annuals, but the other shrubs and desirable grasses suffer from increased competition and may be removed from the system.
Submodel
Description
The Eroded State is characterized by reduced vegetative cover, loss of desert pavement and increased bare ground. Persistent and severe surface disturbance, reduced soil moisture and active soil loss prevents establishment and recovery of long-lived native perennials and desert pavement through natural processes. Non-native annuals are of tolerant degraded conditions.
Submodel
Mechanism
Trigger: Introduction of non-native species. Slow variables: Surface disturbance, changes in the kinds of animals and their grazing patterns, drought and/or changes in fire history that altered the recruitment rate of native species. Threshold: 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. Changes in the herbaceous understory, associated with the introduction of non-native annuals, and decreased cover of desert pavement, reduce ecological resistance and resilience following a disturbance.
Mechanism
Trigger: Catastrophic event (ex: wildfire, land clearing, drought, heavy rain event) that removes or kills existing perennial vegetation. Slow variables: Persistent surface disturbances such as; off-highway vehicle use, military operations, changes in the kinds or grazing animals and their grazing patterns, or settlements that damage desert pavement, remove existing perennial vegetation and alter recruitment rates of native species. Threshold: Severe reduction or loss of deep-rooted native perennials leads to changes in energy flow, soil hydrology and nutrient cycling. Decreased infiltration and increased runoff reduces soil stability contributing to erosion and soil loss.
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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