Shallow Granitic Hills 7-9" p.z.
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
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Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
- Transition T1 More details
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No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
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Description
The Blackbrush - California Buckwheat State represents the plant community and ecological dynamics. This state includes the biotic communities that become established on the ecological site if all successional sequences are completed under the natural disturbance regimes. The reference state is generally dominated by blackbrush, however depending on disturbance history, native grasses, forbs, or other shrubs may occupy significant composition in the plant community. Primary disturbance mechanisms include climate fluctuations and native herbivore grazing. Timing of these natural disturbances dictates the ecological dynamics that occur. The reference state is self sustaining and resistant to change due to high resistance to natural disturbances and high resilience following natural disturbances. Once invasive plants establish, return to the reference state may not be possible.
Reference State: Plant community resistant to fluctuations in climate.
Indicators: A community dominated by blackbrush where native perennial grasses and forbs may or may not be present.
Feedbacks: Natural fluctuations in climate that allow for a self sustaining blackbrush and native grass community. Any disturbance that may allow for the establishment of invasive species.
At-risk Community Phase: All communities are at risk when native plants are stressed and nutrients become available for invasive plants to establish.
Trigger: The establishment of invasive plant species.
Submodel
Description
The Current Potential State is similar to the reference state, however invasive species are present. This state is generally dominated by blackbrush. Primary disturbance mechanisms include climate fluctuations, native herbivore grazing, domestic livestock grazing, and surface disturbances such as road and pipeline development and off road vehicle (OHV) use. Due to lack of disturbed areas, the community responses to such disturbances are not documented, and are not currently included in the state and transition model. The current potential state is still self sustaining; but is losing resistance to change due to lower resistance to disturbances and lower resilience following disturbances, and new drastic disturbances such as fire being more likely to occur.
Current Potential State: Plant communities resistant to climate fluctuations, herbivore grazing, and surface disturbance.
Indicators: A community dominated by blackbrush where native perennial grasses and forbs may or may not be present. Invasive grasses and forbs are present.
Feedbacks: Natural fluctuations in climate that allow for a self sustaining blackbrush and grass community.
Submodel
Mechanism
This transition is from the native perennial warm and cool season grass understory in the reference state to a state that contains some invasive species. Events may include season long continuous grazing of perennial grasses, prolonged drought, and surface disturbances, etc. Invasive species such as cheatgrass have been known to invade intact perennial plant communities with little to no disturbances. Once invasive plants are found in the plant community a threshold has been crossed.
Model keys
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Ecological sites
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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.