PARENT SESSION
Poster Session # 7: Restoration, Resource Management, and Conservation.
Monday, August 4 Presentation from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM. SITCC Exhibit Hall B.
Prescribed fire effects on a California annual grassland.
Moyes, Andrew*,1, 2, Gamon, John1, 2, 1 California State University, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA2 CEA-CREST, Los Angeles, CA
ABSTRACT- This project was designed to assess the effects of a prescribed April burn on efforts to restore a California annual grassland dominated by the introduced annual grass Bromus diandrus. The fire reduced the number of viable B. diandrus seeds by around 96%, but did not significantly affect forb seed abundance or composition. The destruction of grass seed led to replacement of B. diandrus by introduced forbs, especially black mustard (Brassica nigra), which corresponded with delayed productivity and altered microclimate variables, including soil moisture and air and soil temperature. A second study is being conducted to determine how these burn effects and nutrient mineralization by the burn impact the reintroduction of native species (the perennial grass Nassella pulchra and the shrub Artemisia californica). Results from this second study will also be included in the poster.
Key words: fire, Bromus diandrus, grassland, restoration