Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
- Transition T1B More details
- Transition T1A More details
- Transition T1C More details
- Transition T6A More details
- Restoration pathway R2A More details
- Transition T2A More details
- Transition T2B More details
- Transition T6A More details
- Restoration pathway R3A More details
- Transition T3A More details
- Transition T6A More details
- Transition T4A More details
- Transition T4B More details
- Transition T6A 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) represents what is believed to show the natural range of variability that dominated the dynamics of the ecological site prior to European settlement. This site in the Reference State (1.0) is dominated by cool-season grasses. In pre-European times, the primary disturbance mechanisms included frequent fire and grazing by large herding ungulates. Timing of fires and grazing coupled with weather events dictated the dynamics that occurred within the natural range of variability. Taller cool-season wheatgrasses and needlegrasses would have declined and a corresponding increase in short statured grass and grass-like species would have occurred. Today, a similar state can be found on areas that are properly managed with grazing and sometimes on areas receiving occasional short periods of rest.
Dominant plant species
prairie sagewort (Artemisia frigida), shrub
big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata), shrub
western snowberry (Symphoricarpos occidentalis), shrub
silver sagebrush (Artemisia cana), shrub
rose (Rosa), shrub
western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii), grass
green needlegrass (Nassella viridula), grass
blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis), grass
sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula), grass
prairie Junegrass (Koeleria macrantha), grass
buffalograss (Bouteloua dactyloides), grass
sedge (Carex), grass
American vetch (Vicia americana), grass
white sagebrush (Artemisia ludoviciana), grass
dotted blazing star (Liatris punctata), grass
white prairie aster (Symphyotrichum falcatum), grass
purple prairie clover (Dalea purpurea), grass
Submodel
Description
The Shortgrass Sod State is dominated by shortgrass species, upland sedges and clubmoss. This State is the result of grazing management that did not provide adequate recovery time for cool-season wheatgrasses and green needlegrass. The hydrologic function of this state is dramatically altered. Runoff is high and infiltration is low. This State is very resistant to change through grazing management alone.
Dominant plant species
buffalograss (Bouteloua dactyloides), grass
blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis), grass
clubmoss (Lycopodiella), grass
western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii), grass
prairie Junegrass (Koeleria macrantha), grass
cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), grass
white sagebrush (Artemisia ludoviciana), grass
scurfpea (Psoralidium), grass
woolly plantain (Plantago patagonica), grass
common yarrow (Achillea millefolium), grass
prairie sagewort (Artemisia frigida), grass
yucca (Yucca), grass
Submodel
Description
The Early Successional State (3.0) is dominated by weedy annuals, threeawn, wheatgrass, and pricklypear cactus. This State is the result of heavy disturbance such as frequent and severe defoliation, heavy livestock concentrations coupled with grazing management that does not provide adequate recovery time for cool-season wheatgrasses and green needlegrass. The hydrologic function is also likely to be dramatically altered. Runoff is high and infiltration is low. This State is very resistant to change through grazing management alone.
Dominant plant species
threeawn (Aristida), grass
field brome (Bromus arvensis), grass
blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis), grass
buffalograss (Bouteloua dactyloides), grass
sedge (Carex), grass
western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii), grass
thickspike wheatgrass (Elymus lanceolatus), grass
sixweeks fescue (Vulpia octoflora), grass
prairie sagewort (Artemisia frigida), grass
fetid marigold (Dyssodia papposa), grass
Cuman ragweed (Ambrosia psilostachya), grass
pussytoes (Antennaria), grass
prostrate verbena (Verbena officinalis var. prostrata), grass
Submodel
Description
This State is dominated by rhizomatous wheatgrass, green needlegrass, and non-native cool-season annual and perennial grasses. The Native/Invaded State can resemble the Reference State (1.0) in species composition and vegetative production except that it is invaded by non-native cool-season grasses. Big Sagebrush is unlikely to persist in this State (4.0) because of an increase in the fire potential due to annual brome grasses.
Dominant plant species
cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), grass
field brome (Bromus arvensis), grass
smooth brome (Bromus inermis), grass
crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum), grass
western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii), grass
green needlegrass (Nassella viridula), grass
blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis), grass
buffalograss (Bouteloua dactyloides), grass
Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), grass
white sagebrush (Artemisia ludoviciana), grass
scarlet globemallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea), grass
common yarrow (Achillea millefolium), grass
scurfpea (Psoralidium), grass
Submodel
Description
Any plant community can transition to the Disturbed State (5.0). The three separate vegetative plant communities found in this State are highly variable in nature. They are derived through different management scenarios and are not related successionally. Infiltration, runoff, and soil erosion vary depending upon the vegetation present on the site.
Dominant plant species
broom snakeweed (Gutierrezia sarothrae), shrub
threeawn (Aristida), grass
dropseed (Sporobolus), grass
field brome (Bromus arvensis), grass
crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum), grass
smooth brome (Bromus inermis), grass
western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii), grass
squirreltail (Elymus elymoides), grass
foxtail barley (Hordeum jubatum), grass
sweetclover (Melilotus), grass
deathcamas (Zigadenus), grass
prickly lettuce (Lactuca serriola), grass
Canadian horseweed (Conyza canadensis), grass
forage kochia (Bassia prostrata), grass
common sunflower (Helianthus annuus), grass
Submodel
Mechanism
Fire or brush management that removes the majority, or all the big sagebrush, continuous season-long grazing, or continuous seasonal grazing (early spring), will transition the Reference State (1.0) to the Shortgrass Sod State (2.0). This transition is most likely to occur from Plant Community 1.2.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Brush Management |
|
|
Prescribed Burning |
Mechanism
The removal of the majority, or all big sagebrush, with fire or brush management, followed by heavy, continuous season-long grazing; frequent and severe defoliation; or heavy disturbance including livestock feeding areas will transition the Reference State (1.0) to the Early Successional State (3.0).
Mechanism
Invasion of non-native cool-season annual grasses followed by fire can remove all, or the majority of, Wyoming big sagebrush from this site and transition the Reference State (1.0) to the Native/Invaded State (4.0). Wildfire or brush management targeting Wyoming big sagebrush and the invasion of non-native cool-season perennial grasses can cause this transition to the Native/Invaded State (4.0). If sagebrush does not occur on the site, long period of non-use will likely result in the transition of the Reference State (1.0) to the Native/Invaded State (4.0).
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Brush Management |
|
|
Prescribed Burning |
Mechanism
Heavy disturbance including, mechanical renovation, tillage, abandonment of cropland, seeding to improved pasture species, or long-term non-use and invasion of non- native cool-season grasses will result in a transition to the Disturbed State (5.0). This transition can occur from any plant community on this site.
Mechanism
Removal of the grazing disturbance coupled with long-term prescribed grazing, and favorable climatic conditions, which allow for adequate plant recovery periods, and no fire, may cause a shift the Shortgrass Sod State (2.0) to the Reference State (1.0). This transition may not be rapid or in the end meet management goals.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Prescribed Grazing |
Mechanism
Frequent and severe defoliation, or heavy disturbance, and extended periods of drought will move the Shortgrass Sod State (2.0) to the Early Successional State (3.0).
Mechanism
Removal of the grazing disturbance along with long-term prescribed grazing, and favorable climatic conditions, which allow for adequate plant recovery periods, and fire, may cause a shift from the Shortgrass Sod State (2.0) to the Native/Invaded State (4.0). This transition my not be rapid or feasible.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Prescribed Grazing |
Mechanism
Heavy disturbance including mechanical renovation, soil erosion, tillage, abandonment of cropland, or seeding to improved pasture species will result in a transition to the Disturbed State (5.0).
Mechanism
Removal of grazing disturbance, and herbaceous weed control to address annual bromes and cactus followed with long-term prescribed grazing that incorporates proper stocking, change in season of use, and periodic deferment will potentially transition the Early Successional State (3.0) to the Reference State (1.0). A return to normal or above normal precipitation will help with this transition. This transition my not be rapid or in the end meet management goals.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Prescribed Grazing |
|
|
Herbaceous Weed Control |
Mechanism
Removal of the grazing disturbance coupled with herbaceous weed control, and long-term prescribed grazing, along with favorable climatic conditions, which allow for adequate plant recovery periods, may shift the Early Successional State (3.0) to the Native/Invaded State (4.0). This transition may not be rapid or feasible.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Prescribed Grazing |
|
|
Herbaceous Weed Control |
Mechanism
Transition T6A: Heavy disturbance including mechanical renovation, soil erosion, tillage, abandonment of cropland, or seeding to improved pasture species will result in a transition to the Disturbed State (5.0).
Mechanism
Continuous season-long grazing or heavy grazing in combination with drought will transition the Native/Invaded State (4.0) to the Shortgrass Sod State (2.0).
Mechanism
Heavy, continuous season-long grazing, or frequent and severe defoliation, or heavy disturbance including livestock feeding areas, will transition the Native/Invaded State (4.0) to the Early Successional State (3.0).
Model keys
Briefcase
Add { ecological sites } and { Major Land Resource Areas } to your briefcase by clicking on the briefcase
(
) icon wherever it occurs. Drag and drop items to reorder. Cookies are used to store briefcase items between browsing sessions. Because of this, the number of items that can be added to your briefcase is limited, and briefcase items added on one device and browser cannot be accessed from another device or browser. Users who do not wish to place cookies on their devices should not use the briefcase tool. Briefcase cookies serve no other purpose than described here and are deleted whenever browsing history is cleared.
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.
Accessibility statement