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, coupled with excessive grazing pressure
More details -
Restoration pathway R2A
Reintroduction of historic disturbance regimes
More details -
No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
Select a state
State 1
Grassland State
Grassland State
Description
The Tall/Midgrass Community is dominated by little bluestem and sideoats grama. The tallgrasses such as sand bluestem and Indiangrass usually occur in crevices or in small areas of greater soil depth and where more moisture is available. A variety of shortgrasses are also present. A moderate amount of forbs are usually present and are usually well distributed. Forbs present in this community include: plains actinea, dotted gayfeather, plains blackfoot daisy, perennial wild buckwheat, and halfshrub sundrop. Shrubs make up around 5-10% of the production, but may be localized in occurrence. The major shrubs are skunkbush, yucca, broom snakeweed and feather dalea. There are not any junipers in this particular plant community but there are scattered junipers nearby.
The Mid/Tallgrass Community contains little bluestem, other tallgrass species, yucca, skunkbush sumac and has approximately 10% woody canopy cover, mainly juniper. Juniper has a tendency to increase with the absence of fire provided a seed source is available.
The more mesic north and northeast exposures tend to have more diversity and taller grasses and shrubs than the plants growing on the south and southwest exposures. The plant community is primarily short and midgrasses with increasing shrubs on the south exposure and midgrasses and shrubs on the north exposure. Various grasses growing in the south facing slopes include hairy grama and perennial three-awn along with smaller amounts of sideoats grama. The north facing slopes has primarily little bluestem with a stronger shrub component such as skunkbush.
Dominant plant species
fragrant sumac (Rhus aromatica), shrub
sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula), grass
little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), grass
Submodel
Description
This Shrubland State for the Rough Breaks ecological site is now approaching the threshold of a shrub and tree dominant site. It is shrub/tree dominant with some mid and shortgrasses, yucca, and skunkbush sumac. There are fewer forbs in this plant community. It is, however, approaching 20+% woody canopy cover. The common juniper is one-seeded juniper (Juniperus monosperma).
Dominant plant species
skunkbush sumac (Rhus trilobata), shrub
juniper (Juniperus), shrub
little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), grass
Submodel
Transition T1A
Absence of disturbance and natural regeneration over time, coupled with excessive grazing pressure
Mechanism
With heavy continuous grazing, no brush management, and no fires, the Grassland State will transition into the Shrubland State.
Restoration pathway R2A
Reintroduction of historic disturbance regimes
Mechanism
With the implementation of Prescribed Burning, Prescribed Grazing, and Brush Management, the Shrubland State can be restored back to the Grassland State.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Brush Management |
|
|
Prescribed Burning |
|
|
Prescribed Grazing |
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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