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ARS Home » Plains Area » Las Cruces, New Mexico » Range Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #131473
Title: AN INTEGRATED APPROACH TO MANAGING LANDSCAPE PATTERN AND DYNAMICS IN SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO

Author
item Bestelmeyer, Brandon
item BROWN, JOEL - USDA-NRCS
item Havstad, Kris
item ALEXANDER, ROBERT - BLM
item CHAVEZ, GEORGE - USDA-NRCS
item Herrick, Jeffrey - Jeff

Submitted to: US-International Association for Landscape Ecology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/25/2001
Publication Date: 4/25/2001
Citation: BESTELMEYER, B.T., BROWN, J.R., HAVSTAD, K.M., ALEXANDER, R., CHAVEZ, G., HERRICK, J.E. AN INTEGRATED APPROACH TO MANAGING LANDSCAPE PATTERN AND DYNAMICS IN SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO. US-INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR LANDSCAPE ECOLOGY. 2001. ABSTRACT NO. 29.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The ecological site concept of USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service provides a hierarchical framework for classifying and distinguishing landscape units differing in the processes that determine plant and animal community dynamics within units and interactions among units. Ecological sites are based upon important differences in landscape position and inherent soil properties as defined by the responses of dominant plant species to variation in climate and management. Dominant plants, in turn, regulate several ecosystem attributes, including dynamic soil properties. State-and-transition models represent theories about the positive feedback between plants and ecosystems and the causes of irreversible changes in plant and animal composition. An understanding of these causes is needed to avoid ecosystem degradation, to fairly evaluate and manage instances of degradation, and to promote remediation. Here, we describe our ongoing efforts to improve the ecological site classification system for the Chihuahuan Desert of southern New Mexico by integrating current approaches to community and landscape ecology with the historical perspective and practical experiences of land managers and ranchers. Our approach emphasizes an increased understanding of patterns of dispersal, establishment, and growth of dominant plants along landscape and climatic gradients.