Silty Ash Slopes Provisional Ecological Site Group
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
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Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
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Transition T1A
Beetle kill, fire
More details -
Restoration pathway R2A
Time and prevention of further disturbance
More details -
No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
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Description
Vegetation consists of mixed white spruce (Picea glauca) and paper birch (Betula papyrifera) forest. Balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera) may be present. The understory is dominated by bluejoint (Calamagrostis canadensis) and tall and medium herbs, often with a broken to nearly continuous layer of low shrubs. Common shrubs include highbush cranberry (Viburnum edule), prickly rose (Rosa acicularis), and red currant (Ribes triste).
Submodel
Description
With continued influence of Spruce beetle, the spruce decline significantly and the Birch will increase. The canopy cover tends to remain open because of the continual influence of the bark beetle and standing dead spruce.
Submodel
Mechanism
The high level of beetle infestation leaves canopy more open with standing dead spruce. The standing and downed timber increase the risk of fire following beetle infestations. White spruce are removed from the canopy and black spruce (if present) will maintain their composition.
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.