Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
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Transition T1A
Heavy continuous grazing, non-use, no fire, invasion
More details -
Transition T1B
Tillage
More details -
Transition T2A
Non-use, no fire, heavy continuous grazing
More details -
Transition T2C
Tillage
More details -
Restoration pathway R3A
Long term prescribed grazing, prescribed burning, seeding
More details -
Transition T3
Tillage
More details -
Restoration pathway R4A
Seeding
More details -
Restoration pathway R4B
Seeding, abandonment of cropping
More details -
No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
Select a state
Description
The Reference State represents the natural range of variability that dominates the dynamics of this ES. This state is typically dominated by warm-season grass and grass-like species. Before European settlement, the primary disturbance mechanisms for this site in the reference condition included periodic fire, grazing by large herding ungulates, and fluctuations in the water table and ponding frequency and duration. Frequent surface fires (3 to 5 years) and grazing coupled with weather events dictated the dynamics that occurred within the natural range of variability. Today, the primary disturbance is from a lack of fire, concentrated livestock grazing, and weather fluctuations. Species that are desirable for livestock and wildlife can decline and a corresponding increase in less desirable species will occur.
Dominant plant species
leadplant (Amorpha canescens), shrub
rose (Rosa), shrub
willow (Salix), shrub
western snowberry (Symphoricarpos occidentalis), shrub
Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans), grass
little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), grass
porcupinegrass (Hesperostipa spartea), grass
blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis), grass
sedge (Carex), grass
white sagebrush (Artemisia ludoviciana), grass
goldenrod (Solidago), grass
western marbleseed (Onosmodium bejariense var. occidentale), grass
Norwegian cinquefoil (Potentilla norvegica), grass
Submodel
Description
This state represents the more common range of variability that exists with higher levels of grazing management but in the absence of periodic fire due to fire suppression. This state is dominated by warm-season grasses. It can be found on areas that are properly managed with grazing and/or prescribed burning, and sometimes on areas receiving occasional short periods of rest. Taller warm-season species can decline and a corresponding increase in short statured grass will occur.
Dominant plant species
western snowberry (Symphoricarpos occidentalis), shrub
leadplant (Amorpha canescens), shrub
rose (Rosa), shrub
willow (Salix), shrub
big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), grass
little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), grass
porcupinegrass (Hesperostipa spartea), grass
blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis), grass
sedge (Carex), grass
Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), grass
smooth brome (Bromus inermis), grass
goldenrod (Solidago), grass
white sagebrush (Artemisia ludoviciana), grass
Cuman ragweed (Ambrosia psilostachya), grass
Indianhemp (Apocynum cannabinum), grass
Submodel
Description
This state is a result of encroachment mainly by invasive introduced cool-season grasses. The ecological processes are not functioning, especially the biotic processes and the hydrologic functions. The introduced cool-season grasses cause reduced infiltration and increased runoff. Preliminary studies would tend to indicate this threshold may exist when Kentucky bluegrass exceeds 30 percent of the plant community and native grasses represent less than 40 percent of the plant community composition. The opportunity for high intensity spring burns is severely reduced by early greenup and increased moisture and humidity at the soil surface, and grazing pressure cannot cause a reduction in sodgrass dominance. Production is limited to the sod forming species. Infiltration continues to decrease and runoff increases and energy capture into the system is restricted to early season low producing species. Nutrient cycling is limited by root depth of the dominant species.
Dominant plant species
western snowberry (Symphoricarpos occidentalis), shrub
rose (Rosa), shrub
willow (Salix), shrub
leadplant (Amorpha canescens), shrub
smooth brome (Bromus inermis), grass
Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), grass
reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea), grass
little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), grass
green needlegrass (Nassella viridula), grass
sedge (Carex), grass
white sagebrush (Artemisia ludoviciana), grass
goldenrod (Solidago), grass
New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae), grass
Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense), grass
Submodel
Description
This state is characterized by the production of annual crops using a variety of tillage and cropping systems along with management practices.
Submodel
Mechanism
Non-use and/or no surface fire for extended periods of time (typically for 10 or more years) causing litter levels to become high enough to reduce native grass vigor, diversity, and density, and/or heavy continuous grazing or invasion of non-native plant species will likely lead this state over a threshold resulting in the Native-Invaded State (State 2).
Mechanism
Tillage will cause a shift over a threshold leading to the 4.1 Annual Crops Plant Community Phase within the Crop Production State (State 4).
Mechanism
Non-use and/or no surface fire for extended periods of time (typically for 10 or more years) causing litter levels to become high enough to reduce native grass vigor, diversity, and density, will likely lead this state over a threshold leading to the 3.1 Smooth Bromegrass-Kentucky Bluegrass-Little Bluestem Community Phase within the Invaded State (State 3). Heavy continuous grazing (stocking levels well above carrying capacity for extended portions of the growing season and often at the same time of year each year), will likely lead this state over a threshold leading to the 3.2 Kentucky Bluegrass-Quackgrass-Forbs Plant Community Phase within the Invaded State (State 3). Grazing repeatedly in the early growing season can expedite this shift by causing mechanical disturbance due to trampling.
Mechanism
Tillage will cause a shift over a threshold leading to the 4.1 Annual Crops Plant Community Phase within the Crop Production State (State 4).
Mechanism
Long-term prescribed grazing (moderate stocking levels coupled with adequate recovery periods, or other grazing systems such as high-density, low-frequency intended to treat specific species dominance, or periodic light to moderate stocking levels possibly including periodic rest) coupled with prescribed burning may lead this 3.1 Smooth Bromegrass-Kentucky Bluegrass-Little Bluestem Plant Community Phase within the Invaded State (State 3) over a threshold to the Native/Invaded State (State 2). Seeding followed by Long-term prescribed grazing (moderate stocking levels coupled with adequate recovery periods, or other grazing systems such as high-density, low-frequency intended to treat specific species dominance, or periodic light to moderate stocking levels possibly including periodic rest) may lead this Invaded State (State 3) over a threshold to the Native/Invaded State (State 2).
Mechanism
Tillage will cause a shift over a threshold leading to the 4.1 Annual Crops Community Phase within the Crop Production State (State 4).
Mechanism
Seeding may lead this Crop Production State (State 4) over a threshold to the Native/Invaded State (State 2).
Mechanism
Seeding may lead this Crop Production State (State 4) over a threshold to the Invaded State (State 3). Cropping followed by abandonment may lead this plant community phase over a threshold to the 3.3 Annual Pioneer- Perennial Pioneer Plant Community Phase within the Invaded State (State 3).
Model keys
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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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