Document Type
Article
Publication Date
3-15-2019
Abstract
Background: Wildfire is a large part of the chaparral biome, where seedlings from sclerophyllous plants need fire to crack the seed coat. When shrubs reach maturity they produce seeds, allowing for greater genetic diversity and variation. We visually, noticed that the coastal chaparral appeared to be in distress and suspected climate extremes of drought and frequent fire were the cause.
Method: Following the Woolsey Fire (2018) we quadrat sampled three chaparral sites on the Pepperdine Campus in Malibu, CA. All three experienced fire and drought. One site had been subjected to five fires in less than 35 years. Another experienced long fire return. We quantified the post fire facultative seeding success of Malosma laurina and Ceanothus spinosus, and obligate seeding success of Ceanothus megacarpus. We compared findings to a 1986 study when chaparral was thriving with an abundant water supply. We sampled a site where Botryosphaeria dothidea was infecting the M. laurina pre-fire.
Results: We discovered that all three species had diminished by 86-100% since 1986. C. megacarpus was no longer existent at the site of frequent fire return. M. laurina repopulated the fungal infected site at a rate of 4-5 seedlings/m2 . Conclusion: Our findings indicate that drought and frequent fire return have implications towards chaparral type conversion to a non indigenous grassland.
Recommended Citation
Kruse, Alden; Kruse, Hudson; and Kruse, Naomi, "Where has all the Ceanothus megacarpu s gone?" (2019). Pepperdine University, Biology. Paper 17.
https://digitalcommons.pepperdine.edu/usr_biology/17
