Natural Resources
Conservation Service
INTERMEDIATE Fluid MARSH
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
- Transition 1 More details
- Transition 2 More details
- Transition 4 More details
- Restoration pathway 1 More details
- Transition 1 More details
- Transition 2 More details
- Restoration pathway 1 More details
- Transition 1 More details
- Transition 1 More details
- Restoration pathway 1 More details
- Restoration pathway 2 More details
- Transition 2 More details
- Restoration pathway 3 More details
- Transition 3 More details
- Restoration pathway 1 More details
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No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
Select a state
Description
Intermediate marsh—Typical vegetation is frequently dominated by:
Leptochloa fusca,
Panicum virgatum,
Paspalum vaginatum,
Phragmites australis, or
Schoenoplectus americanus.
Both intermediate and brackish marshes can be dominated by Spartina patens, but intermediate marshes dominated by Spartina patens have a higher species richness often including Sagittaria lancifolia, Schoenoplectus americanus, Eleocharis spp., and (or) Cyperus spp.
Submodel
Description
Fresh marsh—Typical vegetation is frequently dominated by Panicum hemitomon, Sagittaria lancifolia, Eleocharis baldwinii, or Cladium jamaicense. Other than these dominant plants, the following species primarily occur in fresh marsh: Boehmeria cylindrica, Cephalanthus occidentalis, Colocasia esculenta, Decodon verticillatus, Nymphaea odorata, Sagittaria latifolia, Sagittaria platyphylla, Schoenoplectus deltarum, and Triadenum virginicum.
Submodel
Description
Brackish marsh—Typical vegetation is often dominated by Spartina patens but is occasionally dominated by Spartina cynosuroides, Spartina spartinae, or Bolboschoenus robustus. Both intermediate and brackish marshes can be dominated by Spartina patens, but brackish marshes dominated by Spartina patens typically have a small number of other species such as Spartina alterniflora, Distichlis spicata, Juncus roemerianus, or Bolboschoenus robustus.
Submodel
Description
Marsh plants exist in a delicate balance with water depth and salinity levels. When this balance is altered, the plant community adapts to the new regime. The Vegetated/Open Water community is dominated by Species best suited to conditions where the system is breaking up or where open areas have been planted as part of a restoration effort. This phase requires knowledge of the landscape to determine whether it has been planted or is breaking up.
Submodel
Description
Marsh plants exist in a delicate balance with water depth and salinity levels. When this balance is altered, the plant community adapts to the new regime. The Open Water community is where the system is breaking up or where open water ponds exist within the landscape. This phase requires knowledge of the landscape to determine whether it is breaking up. The open water areas within a planning unit are beneficial for wildlife, but require monitoring to insure that they are not enlarging due to erosion of the shorelines which can be a symptom of a marsh unit that it deteriorating.
Submodel
Mechanism
Salinity levels decrease, species numbers increase (more diversity), Fresh Species increase.
Mechanism
Increased water Depth or Salinity, reduces number of plants in an area. Open water area increases.
Mechanism
Increased water Depth or Salinity, reduces number of plants in an area. Open water area increases.
Mechanism
Increased water Depth or Salinity, reduces number of plants in an area. Open water area increases.
Mechanism
Reduced water Depth, plants increase or planted and colonizing site. Open water area decrease.
Mechanism
Reduced water Depth, plants increase or planted and colonizing site. Open water area decrease.
Mechanism
Reduced water Depth or Salinity, plants increase or planted and colonizing site. Open water area decrease.
Mechanism
Reduced water Depth or Salinity, plants increase or planted and colonizing site. Open water area decrease.
Mechanism
Reduced water Depth, plants increase or planted and colonizing site. Open water area decrease.
Mechanism
Reduced water Depth, plants increase or planted and colonizing site. Open water area decrease.
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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