Thin Breaks

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 Reference, is a mix of grasses, grass-like, forbs, shrubs and tree species. Wet and dry climatic cycles, fire, no fire and encroachment of junipers are the major drivers between plant communities. In general, grazing pressure is limited because of limited accessibility however on flatter slopes, livestock will utilize the site for shade and loafing.

Dominant plant species

1. green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica), tree

2. bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa), tree

3. hackberry (Celtis), tree

4. American elm (Ulmus americana), tree

5. American plum (Prunus americana), shrub

6. silver buffaloberry (Shepherdia argentea), shrub

7. western snowberry (Symphoricarpos occidentalis), shrub

8. green muhly (Muhlenbergia ramulosa), grass

9. big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), grass

10. Canada wildrye (Elymus canadensis), grass

11. sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula), grass

12. little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), grass

13. green needlegrass (Nassella viridula), grass

14. porcupinegrass (Hesperostipa spartea), grass

15. sedge (Carex), grass

16. white sagebrush (Artemisia ludoviciana), grass

17. purple coneflower (Echinacea), grass

18. white prairie aster (Symphyotrichum falcatum), grass

Submodel

Description

This State occurs when eastern redcedar and/or Rocky Mountain juniper encroach onto the site. As the juniper becomes established, the herbaceous component declines and more bare ground is exposed. It appears that juniper is creating the condition for continuing encroachment. As bare ground increases juniper establishes more readily.

Dominant plant species

1. American plum (Prunus americana), shrub

2. silver buffaloberry (Shepherdia argentea), shrub

3. Rocky Mountain juniper (Juniperus scopulorum), shrub

4. chokecherry (Prunus virginiana), shrub

5. western snowberry (Symphoricarpos occidentalis), shrub

6. eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana), shrub

7. Canada wildrye (Elymus canadensis), grass

8. bluegrass (Poa), grass

9. cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), grass

10. white sagebrush (Artemisia ludoviciana), grass

11. northern bedstraw (Galium boreale), grass

12. starry false lily of the valley (Maianthemum stellatum), grass

Submodel

Description

This State is the result of a stand replacing fire that removes the majority of the woody component from the site. Before the re-sprouting shrubs can stabilize the site and native grasses and forbs can reestablish, non-native, cool-season grasses invade the site and become the dominate species. This State can also be the result of heavy use by livestock.

Dominant plant species

1. western snowberry (Symphoricarpos occidentalis), shrub

2. chokecherry (Prunus virginiana), shrub

3. American plum (Prunus americana), shrub

4. silver buffaloberry (Shepherdia argentea), shrub

5. Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), grass

6. cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), grass

7. smooth brome (Bromus inermis), grass

8. blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis), grass

9. western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii), grass

10. slender wheatgrass (Elymus trachycaulus), grass

11. sedge (Carex), grass

12. curlycup gumweed (Grindelia squarrosa), grass

13. lambsquarters (Chenopodium album), grass

14. yellow salsify (Tragopogon dubius), grass

15. thistle (Cirsium), grass

16. Cuman ragweed (Ambrosia psilostachya), grass

Submodel