Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Clayey 16-18" P.Z.
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
- Transition T1A More details
- Transition T1B More details
- Transition T1C More details
- Transition T7A More details
- Transition T2B More details
- Transition T2A More details
- Transition T7A More details
- Transition T3A More details
- Transition T7A More details
- Transition T4A More details
- Transition T7A More details
- Transition T5A More details
- Transition T7A 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
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. 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. Non-use, no fire, and invasion of non-native cool-season grasses will result in a transition to a Native/Invaded State (4.0).
Submodel
Description
The Shortgrass/Pioneer State is dominated by shortgrass species and upland sedges. This State is the result of grazing patterns that did not provide adequate recovery time for cool-season wheatgrasses and needlegrasses. If heavy disturbances such as frequent and severe defoliation and livestock concentration continues, pioneer perennials and annual grass and forb species may become dominant. 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 forage production potential of a shortgrass plant community can be quickly improved through mechanical renovation. Mechanical renovation creates microrelief that can restore hydrologic function by increasing infiltration and decreasing runoff. These factors favor cool- season species such as western wheatgrass, green needlegrass, and a variety of forbs. Mechanical renovation may not be economically feasible, and the renovation will not be successful if the management activities that created the plant community are not changed.
Submodel
Description
This State has been invaded by smooth brome and/or Kentucky bluegrass, but not at the levels where the plant communities are dominated by these species. Long-term non-use, in combination with above average precipitation, may transition a native/non-native cool-season grass plant community phase (PCP) to a predominantly non-native PCP. This scenario has been observed on this ecological site in small acreage field but not on larger tracts of land. This transition can be observed in the adjacent MLRAs: MLRA 63A – Northern Rolling Pierre Shale Plains, MLRA 61 – Black Hills Foot Slopes, and MLRA 62 – Black Hills. Once these species are established, it is unlikely that an invaded plant community can be returned to the Reference State (1.0).
Submodel
Description
This state is greatly influenced by conifers, primarily ponderosa pine in the northern portion of the MLRA and pine and or Rocky Mountain juniper in the southern portion. Ponderosa pine canopy was found to significantly reduce precipitation reaching the soil surface (average of 30 percent) due to interception in area of intermediate and dense canopy (Wrage, 1994). This state will develop when conifers encroach onto the site from adjacent forest sites or ecological sites that have been invaded. Encroachment and the establishment of conifers on this site is primarily the result of no fire and grazing management that reduced the competitive nature of the native herbaceous plant community. Once conifers become established on this site, non-native cool-season grasses will increase especially in the shaded areas. The site in general will become more droughty, but the shallow-rooted cool-season species will be able to outcompete the deeper rooted native species for available moisture.
Submodel
Description
This State can be transition to from any Plant Community. 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 varies depending on the vegetation present on the site.
Submodel
Mechanism
With heavy, continuous seasonal grazing this site will move toward the Shortgrass/Pioneer State (2.0). This would be typical of calving/lambing pastures where the unit is continuously utilized during the late winter through spring. This transition will result in decreases in both forage production and plant species diversity. Heavy, continuous season-long grazing will also move this plant community toward State 2.0. During this transition, the plant community can have the appearance of a mosaic, with sod and mixed grass communities intermingled. As the plant community becomes dominated by shortgrasses, runoff will increase, and infiltration will decrease. This change in hydrologic function can make any restoration very difficult.
Mechanism
Continuous seasonal grazing, or non-use and no fire and invasion of non-native cool-season grasses, including smooth brome and Kentucky bluegrass, will lead to the Native/Invaded State (4.0).
Mechanism
No fire, non-use, and encroachment from adjacent plant sites containing juniper and/or ponderosa pine will move this State toward the Conifer Encroachment State (5.0).
Mechanism
Heavy disturbances including tillage, abandoned cropland, or seeding to improved pasture species result in a transition to the Disturbed State (6.0). This transition can happen from any plant community on this site.
Mechanism
Mechanical renovation such as pitting, light disking, chiseling and possible inter-seeding in combination with long-term prescribed grazing may help improve the productivity of the site. This pathway will convert the plant community to the Renovated Sod State (3.0).
Mechanism
If theses plant communities are invaded by non-native cool-season grasses and the heavy disturbance causing the frequent defoliation is removed, these plant communities are likely to transition to the Native/Invaded State (4.0).
Mechanism
Heavy disturbance including tillage, abandoned cropland, or seeding to improved pasture species result in a transition to the Disturbed State (6.0). This transition can happen from any plant community on this site.
Mechanism
If this State is invaded by non-native cool-season grasses, this plant community is likely to transition to the Native/Invaded State (4.0).
Mechanism
Heavy disturbance including tillage, abandoned cropland, or seeding to improved pasture species result in a transition to the Disturbed State (6.0). This transition can happen from any plant community on this site.
Mechanism
Non-use and encroachment (or escaped) of conifers from adjacent sites will lead to the Conifer Encroachment State (5.0). This occurs when this plant community is protected from natural fires or controlled burning.
Mechanism
Heavy disturbance including tillage, abandoned cropland, or seeding to improved pasture species result in a transition to the Disturbed State (6.0). This transition can happen from any plant community on this site.
Mechanism
Wildfire or prescribed burning, or mechanical brush management in combination with long-term prescribed grazing will move this plant community to the Native/Invaded State (4.0).
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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