Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Desert Clay (Castle Valley Saltbush)
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
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Management practices/drivers
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- Transition T1A More details
- Transition T2A 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 reference state describes the natural biotic communities that may become established on the Desert Clay - Castle Valley saltbush ecological site when all successional sequences are completed under the natural disturbance regime. The reference state is self sustaining and resistant to change due to its high resistance to natural disturbances and high resilience following natural disturbances. When natural disturbances occur, the rate of recovery is variable due to disturbance intensity. This community could become at risk where increased disturbance frequencies allow for the introduction of annual grasses, such as cheatgrass. Once invasive plants become established, return to the reference state may not be possible.
Reference State: Community phases influenced by native herbivore grazing, insect herbivory, and weather.
Indicators: A sparse perennial cool and warm season grass understory with Castle Valley saltbush forming the dominant visual aspect.
Feedbacks: Extended drought and/or improper grazing that result in a reduction of native perennial plant vigor which may cause invasive species to become established in the understory, increased bare spaces, erosion, and soil loss. Properly managed grazing that maintains the perennial bunchgrass understory.
At-risk Community Phase: All communities in this state are at risk when native plants are stressed and/or nutrients become available for invasive plants to establish.
Trigger: Introduction and establishment of non-native invasive plants such as cheatgrass and Russian thistle.
Submodel
State 2
Current Potential State
Current Potential State
Description
The current potential state is similar to the reference state, except that non-native and/or invasive species are present in all community phases. This state is generally dominated by Castle Valley saltbush and scattered shadscale; however, depending on disturbance history, native grasses, forbs, or other shrubs may dominate the site. Primary disturbance mechanisms include climate fluctuations, native herbivore grazing, domestic livestock grazing, and surface disturbances such as road and pipeline development and off road vehicle (OHV) use. Timing of these disturbances dictates the ecological dynamics that can occur. The current potential state is still self sustaining; but could be losing resistance to change due to increased disturbance and lower resilience following disturbances. Disturbances such as fire are now more likely to occur. Rate of recovery is variable depending on disturbance factors.
Indicators: A site dominated by Castle Valley saltbush. James galleta, Indian ricegrass and sand dropseed may also be present. Non-native species are now present in the stand.
Feedbacks: Extended drought resulting in a reduction of native perennial plant vigor. Normal fluctuations in weather allowing for the maintenance of both shrubs and perennial grasses.
At-risk Community Phase: This state is at risk when perennial plant cover is reduced and nutrients become available for invasive plants to flourish.
Trigger: Spread of invasive plants to fill available niches.
Submodel
Description
This annual grassland state occurs when sufficient annual non-native and invasive species occupy the community to allow for fire to periodically burn the site. Shrubs and native perennial herbaceous species are significantly reduced or missing. This State is generally dominated by invasive annual plants such as cheatgrass, halogeton and Russian thistle. Castle Valley saltbush may or may not be present.
Annual Weed State: Community phases maintained in a self-sustaining manner by invasive annual weed domination and/or occasional fire.
Indicators: A site where ecological processes are driven by cheatgrass and/or other invasive annual forbs.
Feedbacks: A self sustaining disturbance regime of invasive annual weed domination and/or occasional fire.
Submodel
Mechanism
This transition is from the native perennial warm and cool season grass understory component in the reference state to a state that now contains invasive species. Events that allow for the establishment of invasive plant species include, improper livestock grazing that reduces perennial grasses, prolonged drought, surface disturbances, etc. However, invasive species such as cheatgrass have been known to invade intact perennial plant communities with little to no disturbance. Once invasive species are found in the plant community a threshold has been crossed.
Mechanism
This transition is from the Current Potential State Community 2.2 - Invasive Weed/At Risk Phase to State 3 - Annual Grassland Phase which is dominated by annual invasive plants. This transition occurs as events favor the increased establishment and dominance of annual invasive plants. Typically, this occurs as a series of fires leads to an increase in cheatgrass and a subsequent decrease in the fire return interval. Once invasive plant species drive the ecological dynamics of the site a threshold has been crossed.
Model keys
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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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