Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
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Transition T1A
Excessive grazing. Non-use. Lack of fire. Drought.
More details -
Transition T2A
Excessive grazing. Lack of fire. Drought.
More details -
No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
Select a state
Description
The Reference state is characterized by two distinct plant community phases. The plant communities, and various successional stages between them, represent the natural range of variability within the Reference state.
Dominant plant species
sand sagebrush (Artemisia filifolia), shrub
western sandcherry (Prunus pumila var. besseyi), shrub
prairie sandreed (Calamovilfa longifolia), grass
sand bluestem (Andropogon hallii), grass
Submodel
Description
The Reference state has been driven beyond the limits of ecosystem resilience. An ecological threshold has been crossed to the Sandhill Muhly state. Short, drought-tolerant grasses and shrubs dominate the plant community. Occasional mid-grasses may be found within the canopy of the shrubs where it is protected from grazing. Understory plants may be negatively affected by shrubs, which reduce the availability of light, soil moisture, and soil nutrients. A significant amount of production and diversity has been lost when compared to the Reference state. Significant biotic and soil changes have negatively impacted energy flow, and nutrient and hydrologic cycles.
Dominant plant species
sand sagebrush (Artemisia filifolia), shrub
soapweed yucca (Yucca glauca), shrub
sandhill muhly (Muhlenbergia pungens), grass
sand dropseed (Sporobolus cryptandrus), grass
Submodel
Description
This condition is not stable. It consists of bare areas that are continually eroded by wind. Evapo-transpiration rates are high due to bare ground, lack of litter, and extremely low plant density. Soil development is poor. Dry conditions and open winters tend to increase the likelihood of blowout formation. An ecological threshold has been crossed. Erosion and loss of organic matter are resource concerns.
Dominant plant species
sand sagebrush (Artemisia filifolia), shrub
sandhill muhly (Muhlenbergia pungens), grass
sandbur (Cenchrus), grass
Russian thistle (Salsola), grass
burningbush (Bassia scoparia), grass
Submodel
Mechanism
Continuous, heavy grazing without adequate recovery periods between grazing events, or non-use and lack of fire shift this this state across an ecological threshold to the Sandhill Muhly State.
Mechanism
Long-term, heavy, continuous grazing without adequate recovery periods, lack of fire, and drought causes a shift across an ecological threshold to the Eroded State. Constraints to recovery include changes in aggregate stability, nutrient availability, plant cover, hydrologic function, severe soil erosion, and loss of organic matter. Accelerated wind erosion can cause the formation of blowouts.
Model keys
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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.
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