Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
-
Transition T1A
Absence of disturbance and natural regeneration over time, may be coupled with excessive grazing pressure
More details -
Restoration pathway R2A
Absence of disturbance and natural regeneration over time, may be coupled with excessive grazing pressure
More details -
Transition T2A
Absence of disturbance and natural regeneration over time, may be coupled with excessive grazing pressure
More details -
Restoration pathway R3A
Adequate rest from defoliation coupled with brush management
More details -
No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
Select a state
Description
Dominated by tall and midgrasses with few perennial forbs and scattered shrubs. Dominant tallgrasses include sand and little bluestem. Dominant shrubs include sand sagebrush and sand shinoak with lesser amounts of skunkbush, sand plum, and southwest rabbitbrush.
Dominant plant species
sand sagebrush (Artemisia filifolia), shrub
sand bluestem (Andropogon hallii), grass
little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), grass
Submodel
Description
As retrogression proceeds, the tallgrasses give way to an increase in midgrasses such as sideoats grama, dropseed species and perennial three-awn. The better quality forbs are replaced with less palatable species such as gaura, western ragweed, annual wild buckwheat and camphorweed and there will be an increase in annual forbs. Sand sagebrush, yucca and skunkbush can increase to >20% of the total plant community.
Dominant plant species
sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula), grass
sand lovegrass (Eragrostis trichodes), grass
ragweed (Ambrosia), grass
Submodel
Description
There are annual grasses and forbs in understory and very few perennial grasses remaining. Even in this state, a few old root crowns of perennial grasses remain. There may be sufficient seed sources for recovery to the Tall/Midgrass State or Midgrass/Shrub State.
Dominant plant species
sand sagebrush (Artemisia filifolia), shrub
soapweed yucca (Yucca glauca), shrub
sumac (Rhus), shrub
Submodel
Transition T1A
Absence of disturbance and natural regeneration over time, may be coupled with excessive grazing pressure
Mechanism
The tallgrasses are fairly sensitive to overgrazing and will begin to decrease if continuous heavy grazing is applied. They respond to rest very well and if grazed moderately and rested periodically toward the mid to late growing season, they will generally persist. As retrogression proceeds, the tallgrasses give way to an increase in midgrasses. The better quality forbs are replaced with less palatable species. Sand sagebrush and skunkbush can increase to >20% of the total plant community, on some sites yucca plants may start to increase.
Restoration pathway R2A
Absence of disturbance and natural regeneration over time, may be coupled with excessive grazing pressure
Mechanism
With the application of various conservation practices such as Prescribed Grazing, Brush Management, and Pest Management, the Midgrass/Shrub State (2.1) can be reverted back to the Tall/Midgrass State (1.1).
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Brush Management |
|
|
Prescribed Grazing |
|
|
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) |
Transition T2A
Absence of disturbance and natural regeneration over time, may be coupled with excessive grazing pressure
Mechanism
If long-term abusive grazing continues, along with no fires and no brush management, a threshold will be crossed to a Shrub Dominant Community phase (3.1) from the Midgrass/Shrub State (2.1).
Restoration pathway R3A
Adequate rest from defoliation coupled with brush management
Mechanism
With the application of various conservation practices such as Prescribed Grazing, Brush Management, Pest Management, and Range Planting, the Shrubland State (3.1) can be reverted back to the Midgrass/Shrub State (2.1).
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Brush Management |
|
|
Prescribed Grazing |
|
|
Range Planting |
|
|
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) |
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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