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 excessive grazing pressure
More details -
Restoration pathway R2A
Reintroduction of historic disturbance return intervals
More details -
Transition T2A
Absence of disturbance, natural regeneration over time, and prolonged excessive grazing pressure
More details -
Restoration pathway R3A
Chemical/physical removal of woody canopy, coupled with adequate rest from defoliation
More details -
No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
Select a state
State 1
Tallgrass Grassland State
Tallgrass Grassland State
Description
The Tallgrass Dominant Community is a mixture of tallgrasses, forbs, a few woody shrubs and a few trees. The major grass species include sand bluestem, little bluestem, switchgrass, and Indiangrass. Scattered shrubs include sand sagebrush, skunkbush and an occasional sand plum.
The Tallgrass with Shrubs Community is little bluestem dominant with scattered sand sagebrush and a moderate annual forb population. This site would be considered close to reference, although the diversity of tallgrasses is less.
Dominant plant species
sand sagebrush (Artemisia filifolia), shrub
sand bluestem (Andropogon hallii), grass
switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), grass
Submodel
Description
The Midgrass Grassland State is made up of midgrasses and annuals with a few shrubs. The main grasses are dropseeds and sand paspalum. A few tallgrasses remain. The shrubs are sand sagebrush and plains yucca. This site has much lower production than the reference state and is less stable.
Dominant plant species
sand sagebrush (Artemisia filifolia), shrub
dropseed (Sporobolus), grass
crowngrass (Paspalum), grass
Submodel
Description
This plant community for the Sandy (Deep Sand) ecological site is composed of shrub dominant community with annual grasses and forbs. This plant community is severely degraded. Very few perennial grasses remain. Annuals and sand sagebrush dominate. Production is low and so is diversity. Even in this state, a few old root crowns of perennial grasses remain. There may be sufficient seed source for recovery.
Dominant plant species
sand sagebrush (Artemisia filifolia), shrub
skunkbush sumac (Rhus trilobata), shrub
leadplant (Amorpha canescens), shrub
Submodel
Transition T1A
Absence of disturbance and excessive grazing pressure
Mechanism
With heavy continuous grazing and no fires, the Tallgrass Grassland State will transition to the Midgrass Grassland State.
Restoration pathway R2A
Reintroduction of historic disturbance return intervals
Mechanism
With the implementation of Prescribed Grazing and Brush Management conservation practices over a two to three year period, the Midgrass Grassland State can be restored back to the Tallgrass Grassland State.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Brush Management |
|
|
Prescribed Grazing |
Transition T2A
Absence of disturbance, natural regeneration over time, and prolonged excessive grazing pressure
Mechanism
With Heavy Continuous Grazing, No Fire, and No Brush Management, the Midgrass Grassland State will transition into the Shrubland State.
Restoration pathway R3A
Chemical/physical removal of woody canopy, coupled with adequate rest from defoliation
Mechanism
With the implementation of various conservation practices such as Prescribed Grazing and Brush Management over a five to six year period, the Shrubland State can be restored back to the Midgrass Grassland State.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Brush Management |
|
|
Prescribed Grazing |
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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