Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Limestone Hill 8-14 PZ
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
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Transition T1A
Prolonged drought coupled with excessive grazing pressure
More details -
Transition T2A
Prolonged drought couples with excessive grazing pressure
More details -
No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
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Description
The reference state is considered to be representative of the natural range of variability under pre-Euro settlement conditions. This state is characterized by the dominance of warm-season bunchgrasses, warm-season stoloniferous grasses and a variety of perennial forbs and woody shrubs. Community phase changes are primarily driven by prolonged drought.
Dominant plant species
Chino grama (Bouteloua ramosa), grass
black grama (Bouteloua eriopoda), grass
bush muhly (Muhlenbergia porteri), grass
Submodel
Description
The encroached state is characterized by a shift in dominant species, including increased shrubs cover and disturbance tolerant grasses. Non-native species may be present and are stable to increasing.
Dominant plant species
slim tridens (Tridens muticus), grass
hairy woollygrass (Erioneuron pilosum), grass
Submodel
Description
The eroded state is characterized by a significant shift in dominant functional and structural groups. Woody increaser species comprise >70 percent of the total production. Bare ground has increased and litter cover and soil organic matter have decreased. Active soil erosion is occurring.
Dominant plant species
ocotillo (Fouquieria), shrub
sotol (Dasylirion), shrub
acacia (Acacia), shrub
creosote bush (Larrea tridentata), shrub
Submodel
Mechanism
With abusive grazing practices, this site will transition to the shortgrass/shrub state(2). Long term drought may expedite this transition.
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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