Document Type
Research Poster
Publication Date
4-15-2019
Abstract
After the Woolsey Fire, many fire adapted plants will resprout. However, increased fire frequency has negatively impacted the reproduction of many native species, while enhancing the survivorship of many invasive species. We compared the physiological performance of Ceanothus spinosus resprouters in areas that burned hotter compared to areas that burned cooler. We hypothesized that resprouters in hotter burn sites would have better physiological performance than resprouters in cooler burn sites. The resprouters in hotter burn sites would have better performance because of decreased competition from invasive species. We measured physiological performance using a Li-Cor LI-6400, specifically photosynthesis, transpiration, and stomatal conductance, as well as the height of the tallest resprout of each plant. We found no statistical differences between the resprouters in the cool and hot burn sites, contradicting our hypothesis. This could because that any benefits from decreased competition would be offset by increased damage to the plants from fire in a hot burn site.
Recommended Citation
Gattu, Rishi; Hill, Christian; and Kulpaca, Chris, "Physiological Performance of Ceanothus spinosus in Hot Burn and Cool Burn Sites" (2019). Pepperdine University, Featured Research. Paper 161.
https://digitalcommons.pepperdine.edu/sturesearch/161