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 -
Transition T1B
Extensive soil disturbance followed by seeding
More details -
Restoration pathway R2A
Reintroduction of historic disturbance return intervals
More details -
Transition T2A
Extensive soil disturbance followed by seeding
More details -
Transition T3A
Absence of disturbance and natural regeneration over time, may be coupled with excessive grazing pressure
More details -
No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
Select a state
State 1
Grassland
Grassland
Dominant plant species
sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula), grass
cane bluestem (Bothriochloa barbinodis), grass
Submodel
State 2
Woodland
Woodland
Dominant plant species
pricklypear (Opuntia), shrub
lotebush (Ziziphus obtusifolia), shrub
sumac (Rhus), shrub
Submodel
Transition T1A
Absence of disturbance and natural regeneration over time, may be coupled with excessive grazing pressure
Mechanism
Unless proper grazing and prescribed burning are initiated at this stage, the woody species continue to increase in size and density. When the woody plants become dense enough to suppress grass growth and resist fire damage (about 15 percent), a threshold in ecological succession is reached. The Mixed-grass Prairie Community (1.2) becomes a Shortgrass/Mixed-brush Community (2.1).
Mechanism
With crop cultivation and plowing, the Grassland State can convert into the Converted Land State.
Restoration pathway R2A
Reintroduction of historic disturbance return intervals
Mechanism
Brush management, range planting, prescribed grazing, IPT, and prescribed burning are several conservation practices that can contribute to the Woodland State shift back to the Grassland State.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Brush Management |
|
|
Prescribed Burning |
|
|
Range Planting |
|
|
Prescribed Grazing |
Mechanism
Crop Cultivation and plowing can shift the Woodland State into the Converted Land State.
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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