State 1
Savannah

This ecological state consists of native grasses and forbs with an overstory of oak trees. The average canopy coverage of tree species ranges from 20-40%.

Characteristics and indicators. The average canopy coverage of tree species ranges from 20-40%.

Resilience management. Without periodic fire or alternative brush management, woody species may continue to encroach and eventually dominate the site.

Community 1.1
Tallgrass Savannah (Reference Community)

The Reference Plant Community for this site was formed by the collective influence of fire, herbivory, drought, and extremes of temperature. This site is dominated by a mixture of tall and midgrasses with scattered woody species. The dominant grasses include big bluestem, little bluestem, switchgrass, and indiangrass. The major woody species are oaks, elms, hickory, sumacs, wild plum, redbud and other understory species. This plant community evolved with a fire frequency of every 3-5 years.

Community 1.2
Midgrass Savannah

Within this community phase, the more palatable tallgrasses and forbs have decreased. They have been replaced by species such as tall dropseed, silver bluestem, and sideoats grama. The less palatable annual forbs, such as broomweed and western ragweed have increased also. Total herbacious production may remain the same as the reference community, however, the composition has been altered significantly.

Pathway 1.1A
Community 1.1 to 1.2

Abusive grazing practices will result in a quick reduction of tall grass species and palatable forbs.

Pathway 1.2A
Community 1.2 to 1.1

Through a properly implemented prescribed grazing system that includes some degree of growing season rest, this community phase may be reverted to the reference plant community. The length of deferment and time required for this restoration is dependent upon precipitation and management system used.

State 2
Woodland

This vegetative state is composed of an overstory of trees and shrubs that will slowly eliminate most herbaceous vegetation from the plant community if left unchecked.

Characteristics and indicators. The major species are post oak and black jack oak with elm, hackberry and eastern redcedar.

Resilience management. There is a high potential for encroachment by eastern redcedar in this ecological state if proper management is not applied.

Community 2.1
Tree/Shrub Dominant

This plant community is composed of an overstory of post oak and blackjack oak. There are occasional elm, hackberry, and hickory also. The understory is composed of buckbrush, sumac, and other shrubby woody plants. The grasses include shade tolerant species such as Canada wildrye, nimblewill, and others. Some warm season grasses occur where sunlight penetrates the overstory. Forbs include ironweed, goldenrod, and others. Woody canopy has increased greater than 35 percent.

Community 2.2
Closed Canopy Woodland

This plant community is composed of an overstory of mature post oak and blackjack oak with a midstory of eastern redcedar. Birds sit in the oak trees and through defecation, deposit eastern redcedar seeds into the leaf litter. The leaf litter makes an ideal site for winter germination of the cedar. There is very little herbaceous plant cover. Herbaceous cover is represented by shade tolerant species such as Canada wildrye and Scribner’s panicum. Some warm season grasses include little bluestem, purpletop, and big bluestem where sunlight is sufficient. Goldenrod, sagewort, and ragweeds are the main forb components.

Pathway 2.1A
Community 2.1 to 2.2

Tree/Shrub Dominant

Closed Canopy Woodland

In the absence of fire or brush managment, the trees and shrubs in this plant community will continue to out-compete the herbaceous vegetation for sunlight and resources. With time, it will become a closed canopy woodland community.

Pathway 2.2A
Community 2.2 to 2.1

Closed Canopy Woodland

Tree/Shrub Dominant

Through a program of brush management and prescribed fire, the closed canopy plant community can be reverted to the tree/shrub dominant community. This pathway can be accomplished by opening the canopy and allowing more sunlight to reach the soil surface.

State 3
Grassland

In this state, the shallow savannah has been transitioned to an open grassland dominated by tallgrasses and forbs.

Resilience management. Without management, this state may return to a savannah state within a short time. It is important to note that maintaining this state will require significant inputs.

Community 3.1
Tallgrass Dominant

This community is dominated by tallgrass species such as little bluestem, big bluestem, switchgrass, and indiangrass. Some perenial forbs may persist, deopending on the herbicide used on the oak trees. Grazing management plays a key role in the maintenance of this plant community. If tebuthiuron pellets are used to control woody species, it is important to rememeber that there is a period of years following treatment that it is inadvisable to burn. Therefore special caution should be taken when stocking pastures to ensure that the tallgrass community remains dominant. Other invaders such as sericia lespedeza and eastern redcedar also thrive once released from the oak canopy.

Community 3.2
Midgrass Dominant

This community is dominated by less palatable midgrass species. Abusive grazing has resulted in the decline of palatable tallgrasses and forbs. Little bluestem will persist, along with dropseed species, silver bluestem, native lovegrasses, sideoats grama, and broomsedge bluestem(in eastern portions of MLRA). Annual forbs increase in abundance. Total site production may be similar to community 3.1 but composition has change significantly.

Community 3.3
Shortgrass/Annuals

This community is the result of long term abusive grazing. The plant community consists some perennial shortgrass species, a large amount of annual grasses and forbs, and increased bare ground. Over time this site will become susceptible to water erosion. There is very little grazing or wildlife value remaining on this site.

Pathway 3.1A
Community 3.1 to 3.2

Tallgrass Dominant

Midgrass Dominant

Abusive grazing can push this tallgrass dominated plant community towards a community that is dominated by less palatable midgrass species.

Pathway 3.2A
Community 3.2 to 3.1

Midgrass Dominant

Tallgrass Dominant

Through a properly implemented prescribed grazing system that includes some degree of growing season rest, this community phase may be reverted to the reference plant community. The length of deferment and time required for this restoration is dependent upon precipitation and management system used.

Pathway 3.2B
Community 3.2 to 3.3

If grazing management is not altered, this site will continue to decline. Long term abusive grazing will push this site to a plant community of shortgrasses and annuals.

Pathway 3.3A
Community 3.3 to 3.2

It can be difficult to shift this site to another grassland community. Long term rest will be required to allow tall and midgrasses to re-establish. The length of deferment and time required for this restoration is dependent upon precipitation and management system used.

State 4
Eroded

This state is the result of water erosion over bare soil. Most of the "A" horizon of the soil profile has been displaced. The remaining subsoil is very low in fertility. Some native grasses and forbs will persist in this state, however, production is greatly reduced. The return of soil properties to reference condition may not be
achievable, post cultivation. Range planting can be used to establish reference vegetation, however, this restoration effort may take many years.

Transition T1A
State 1 to 2

In the absence of fire or brush management, this savannah state will transition to a woodland state of tree/shrub dominance.

Transition T1B
State 1 to 3

Through intensive chemical brush management, the savannah state may be transitioned to a grassland state dominated by tallgrasses or midgrasses with very few trees and shrubs. It is important to note that maintaining this state will require significant inputs.

Transition T1C
State 1 to 4

If this ecological site is subjected to soil disturbances such as land clearing, ripping, or plowing that leave large amounts of exposed soil, the site may become very susceptible to water erosion. Once the "A" horizon has been displace through erosion, this site has transitioned to an Eroded Sate.

Restoration pathway R2A
State 2 to 1

Implementing a brush management plan that includes mechanical thinning and the use of prescribed fire can restore the woodland state to an open canopy savannah state.

Transition T2A
State 2 to 3

Through intensive chemical brush management, the woodland state may be transitioned to a grassland state dominated by tallgrasses or midgrasses with very few trees and shrubs. It is important to note that maintaining this state will require significant inputs.

Transition T2B
State 2 to 4

If this ecological site is subjected to soil disturbances such as land clearing, ripping, or plowing that leave large amounts of exposed soil, the site may become very susceptible to water erosion. Once the "A" horizon has been displace through erosion, this site has transitioned to an Eroded Sate.

Restoration pathway R3A
State 3 to 1

This state may be restored to the savannah state with the exclusion of chemical brush management. However, a prescribed fire program must be imoplemented to control resprouting woody species and maintain an open savannah canopy. Otherwise, the site could transition to the woody dominated state.

Transition T3A
State 3 to 2

In the absence of fire or brush management, this grassland state will transition to a woodland state of tree/shrub dominance.

Transition T3B
State 3 to 4

If this ecological site is subjected to soil disturbances such as land clearing, ripping, or plowing that leave large amounts of exposed soil, the site may become very susceptible to water erosion. Once the "A" horizon has been displace through erosion, this site has transitioned to an Eroded Sate.