Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Clayey 13-16" P.Z.
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
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No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
Select a state
State 1
Reference State
Reference State
Description
This State 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 and subdominant warm-season grass. Shrubs, including Wyoming big sagebrush, are important components within this State. Grazing and the lack of grazing, fire, and drought are the major drivers between plant communities. Continuous season-long grazing can push this State to a warm-season shortgrass-dominated State. Invasion of non-native cool-season annual grasses and fire will result in a transition to a Native/Invaded State (4.0).
Submodel
Description
The Shortgrass State is dominated by shortgrass species and upland sedges. The State is the result of fire, or heavy disturbance that removed much or all the big sagebrush, and 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.
Submodel
Description
The Early Seral State is dominated by weedy annuals, rhizomatous wheatgrass, threeawn and pricklypear cactus. This State is the result of fire, heavy disturbance such as, frequent and severe defoliation, and livestock concentration that removed big sagebrush 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.
Submodel
Description
The Native/Invaded State is dominated by rhizomatous wheatgrass, green needlegrass, and non-native cool-season annual and/or perennial grasses. This State is the result of the invasion on non-native annual grasses and an increase in fire frequency that has permanently removed the big sagebrush component from the plant communities. This State can resemble the Reference State (1.0) except for the absence of big sagebrush and to what degree it is invaded by non-native cool-season grasses. This State is very resistant to change through grazing management alone.
Submodel
Description
The Disturbed State can be transitioned to from any plant community on this ecological site. The two separate vegetative plant communities are highly variable in nature. They are derived through different management scenarios, and are not related successionally. Infiltration, runoff, and soil erosion vary depending on the vegetation present on the site.
Submodel
Mechanism
Fire and/or brush management that removes the majority, or all of the big sagebrush, heavy continuous season-long grazing, or continuous seasonal grazing (early spring), and a loss of hydrologic function will transition this Plant Community to the Shortgrass State (2.0).
Mechanism
The removal of the majority, or all of big sagebrush, with fire or brush management, followed by heavy continuous season-long grazing or frequent and severe defoliation, or heavy disturbance including livestock feeding areas, and the loss in hydrologic function will transition this State to the Early Seral State (3.0).
Mechanism
Invasion of non-native cool-season annual or perennial grasses followed by fire will transition this State to the Native/Invaded State (4.0). The use of herbicides and/or prescribed burning for brush management, or Fire followed by a long period of non-use can also cause this transition.
Mechanism
Heavy disturbance, including tillage, abandoned cropland, or 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 to the Shortgrass-Rhizomatous Wheatgrass/Big Sagebrush < 8% Cover Plant Community (1.3). This transition may not be rapid or in the end meet management goals.
Mechanism
Frequent and severe defoliation, and/or heavy disturbance such as livestock feeding areas, and/or extended periods of drought will move this plant community to the Early Seral 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 to the Native/Invaded State (4.0). This transition my not be rapid or feasible.
Mechanism
Heavy disturbance including tillage, abandoned cropland, or 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 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 this Plant Community 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.
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 this Plant Community to the Native/Invaded State (4.0). This transition may not be rapid or feasible.
Mechanism
Heavy disturbance including tillage, abandoned cropland, or 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
Heavy, continuous season-long grazing and loss in hydrologic function due to a shift in the plant community to predominately shortgrass species will transition this Plant Community to the Shortgrass State (2.0).
Mechanism
Heavy, continuous season-long grazing, or frequent and severe defoliation, or heavy disturbance including livestock feeding areas, will transition this State to the Early Seral State (3.0).
Mechanism
Heavy disturbance, including tillage, abandoned cropland, or 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.
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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