Isohyperthermic Torric Naturalized Grassland
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
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Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
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Transition T1A
The Reference State (1) transitions to the Kiawe-Invaded State (2) with lack of brush management practices or absence of wildfire.
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Restoration pathway R1A
The Reference State (1) can be restored to a facsimile of the Native Savanna State (3). Domestic and feral ungulates and fire must be excluded from the site. Buffelgrass and other non-native vegetation must be eliminated, followed by plantings of native trees, shrubs, grasses, forbs, and vines. Supplemental irrigation may be necessary in the early stages of restoration.
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Restoration pathway R2A
The Kiawe-Invaded State (2) can be restored to the Reference State (1) by applying brush management. Fire will kill kiawe; prescribed burning is typically not done in Hawaii due to the level of risk.
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Transition T3A
The Native Savanna State (3) transitions to the Reference State (1) when cleared by fire, long-term ungulate disturbance, or mechanical means. Desired forage species are then re-established.
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No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
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Description
This state consists of three community phases dominated by introduced grasses with less than 25 percent canopy cover of introduced trees. With lack of brush control or absence of wildfire, this state will transition to the Kiawe-Invaded State (2), in which production and cover of buffelgrass and other forages is reduced. Accumulation of fine fuels under light or no grazing pressure increases the risk of fire. This can produce an open grassland with little tree overstory but presents a fire threat to developed areas nearby and likelihood of eroded soil entering the nearby ocean.
With continuous heavy grazing, particularly by cattle, buffelgrass will decrease. White leadtree or koa haole (Leucaena leucocephala) and anil de pasto or bush indigo (Indigofera suffruticosa) also will decrease under heavy grazing pressure. Increasers include windmill grass or fingergrasses (Chloris spp.), Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon), southern sandbur (Cenchrus echinatus), Egyptian grass (Dactyloctenium aegyptium), and Indian goosegrass (Eleusine indica), along with weedy forbs such as tropical whiteweed (Ageratum conyzoides), spiny amaranth (Amaranthus spinosus), hairy beggarticks or Spanish needle (Bidens pilosa), and lilac tasselflower (Emilia sonchifolia). With severe deterioration, shrubby species such as lantana (Lantana camara), rattlebox (Crotalaria spp.), and castorbean (Ricinus communis) increase.
Native Florida hopbush or aalii (Dodonaea viscosa) can increase with exclusion of livestock grazing or lack of fire. The forage potential of the site is reduced by the increased canopy cover of this native shrub.
Submodel
Description
The Kiawe Invaded State (2) consists of one community phase. It occurs when brush management has not been practiced or if fire has not occurred for a long time, allowing kiawe to increase in density and stature to a level at which understory production is significantly reduced.
Submodel
Description
The Native Savanna State (3) consists of one historical community phase. Intact examples of this community no longer exist. This historical description is compiled from field observations of remnant vegetation, isolated plants on disturbed sites, a similar ecological site on the Island of Hawaii, and historical accounts of the islands before human influences disturbed these native plant communities.
Submodel
Mechanism
The Reference State (1) transitions to the Kiawe-Invaded State (2) with lack of brush management practices or absence of wildfire.
Mechanism
The Reference State (1) can be restored to a facsimile of the Native Savanna State (3). Domestic and feral ungulates and fire must be excluded from the site. Buffelgrass and other non-native vegetation must be eliminated, followed by plantings of native trees, shrubs, grasses, forbs, and vines. Supplemental irrigation may be necessary in the early stages of restoration.
Mechanism
The Kiawe-Invaded State (2) can be restored to the Reference State (1) by applying brush management. Fire will kill kiawe; prescribed burning is typically not done in Hawaii due to the level of risk.
Model keys
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