Recovery and Growth of Vegetation Pre and Post Wildland Fire in the Chaparral of Southern

Recovery and Growth of Vegetation Pre and Post Wildland Fire in the Chaparral of Southern California

Timothy Schang and Vanessa Haber

Department of Biological Science

SaddlebackCollege

Mission Viejo, California92692

The chaparral of Southern California is constantly affected by wild fire with urbanization expanding into the chaparral. Fire affects the diversity and the populations of plants by allowing certain species of plants to germinate at higher rates than others. In this project, an area of chaparral that had burned approximately one year prior was compared to another portion in the same area that did not burn. Data was collected using the point quarter method. Five transects in each portion of burned and unburned area(Incomplete sentence). The following plants were found in both the burned area and unburned area were(You used ‘were’ twice here, I think only one is necessary.): Lotus scoparius (Deerweed), Rhus integrifolia (Lemonade Berry), Phacelia cicutaria (Caterpillar Phacelia), Salvia mellifera (Black Sage), Toxicodendron diversilobum (Poisonoak), and Gnaphalium canescens (Fragrant Everlasting), Adenostoma fasciculatum (Chamise), Malosma laurina (Laurel Sumac), Wyethia ovate (Southern Mule Ears), Eremocarpus setigerus (Turkey Mullein), Baccharis salicifolia (Mule's Fat). The study found there was a significant difference in plant species and their population when compared to an area that had burned approximately one year ago to date; using the Simpsons Diversity Index (D = 0.89968)(The sentence after the semicolon is not a complete sentence.). There also was a statistical difference in IV’s of the plants found area being investigated in the burned area compared to the species found in the unburned area (p=8.677x10-9, ANOVA).

(What was the purpose and hypothesis for this experiment? Also, you might want to state the significance of your results. You are pushing the word limit for your abstract so you might have to compress the results more, i.e. listing each species may be excessive detail. I think the title of your paper, abstract, and title of each section should be font 12, all other text in font 10.)

Introduction

Pausas et al. (2009)said that wildfires have shaped plants and their defenses against fire before humans emerged. With that said, wildfires play a key role in ecosystem conservation. (The effects of fire on biodiversity…) The effects of fires biodiversity have not been as completely studied as many believe. Some species of plants in the Southern California Chaparral depend on fire to increase the rate of germination in a burned area. Other plants in the Southern California Chaparral rely on the wind or animals to bring their seeds into a burned area to germinate. The Orange County Fire Authority Board of Directors, Freeway Complex Fire After Action Report (2009) detailed about the fire being investigated. The fire which is being investigated is the Freeway Complex Fire which started on November 15, 2008 and was contained on November 19, 2008. The Fire affected the following cities of Southern California: Anaheim, Brea, Corona, Chino Hills, Diamond Bar, and Yorba Linda. The hypothesis being tested is(The hypothesis being tested was that there…) there will be a statistical difference in the number of specific plant species and there Importance Value when compared to a burned and unburned area.(What was the objective of your experiment, specific purpose? Why was this study performed? What is the experimental design? What were the predicted results? How does this experiment have scientific interest? Try to elaborate more on how fire affects biodiversity and germination of certain plants. More references are needed, should have at least three.)

Methods and Materials

The area selected to collect data was for this experiment was a location in Diamond Bar, California along the Brea Ridge Motorway; along a 400 meter portion of the Freeway Complex Fire(The sentence after the semicolon is not a complete sentence.). The data was collected on October 9, 2009starting at 10:00 am till 2:00pmand October 23, 2009 at 9:30 am till 4:30 pm. The method used to collect the data was point-quarter sampling. There were a total of ten transect. Five at 100 meter intervals, measured with a 100 meter transect tape, which went into the burn area. Then another five at 100 meter intervals, measured with a 100 meter transect tape, which went into the unburned area. Each transect was 100 meter and measured with a 100 meter transect tape. Data was then collected in 20 meter points along the transect tape. Each point represented the center of the measurement area. Then from the center, a compass was used to define four quadrants (Northwest, Northeast, Southwest, and Southeast). In each quadrant the closest plant’s stem or clump of stem’s to the center of the point was measured (point to plant) and recorded using a 30 meter transect tape. The diameter of the plant was then measured using a 30 meter transect tape. Finally the species of the plant was recorded. This process was repeated for each transect.

All data was then transferred to MS Excel (Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, Washington). The data was first statistically analyzed using the Simpson’s Diversity Index:

Where n equals the total number of a particular species, and N equals the total number of all species. The value D ranges between 0 and 1; 1 represents infinite diversity and 0 represents no diversity.

The data was then manipulated algebraically to determine Importance Value (IV) as referenced by Krebs. (2001) IV (Is the period in the right place? Also, you should only begin a sentence with an acronym only if there is no reasonable way to rewrite it.)is the sum of the Relative Density, Relative Frequency, and Relative Coverage. Then all IV were analyzed using an ANOVA: Single Factor to determine significant difference in IV.

Results

The following plants were found in both the burned area and unburned area were (Again, you used the word ‘were’ twice.): Lotus scoparius (Deerweed), Rhus integrifolia (Lemonade Berry), Phacelia cicutaria (Caterpillar Phacelia), Salvia mellifera (Black Sage), Toxicodendron diversilobum (Poisonoak), and Gnaphalium canescens (Fragrant Everlasting), Adenostoma fasciculatum (Chamise), Malosma laurina (Laurel Sumac), Wyethia ovate (Southern Mule Ears), Eremocarpus setigerus (Turkey Mullein), Baccharis salicifolia (Mule's Fat). The study found there was a significant difference in plant species and their population when compared to an area that had burned approximately one year ago to date; using the Simpsons Diversity Index (D = 0.89968). Figure-1 shows the Diversity of plant populations in the burned area compared to the unburned area.

Figure-1: There is a significant difference in number of plant species when compared to an area that had burned approximately one year ago to date; using the Simpsons Diversity Index (D = 0.89968)

(Figure needs a title.)

The six species of plants that had the highest frequency were: Deerweed, Lemonade Berry, Caterpillar Phacelia, Black Sage, Poison Oak, and Fragrant Everlasting. The mean Importance Value (IV) for Deerweed in the burned area was 1.055 ± 0.203 (±SEM, N=5) compared to the mean IV of Deerweed in the unburned areas was 0.035 ±0.035 (±SEM, N=5). The mean IV for Lemonade Berry in the burned area was 0.161 ±0.068 (±SEM, N=5), compared to the mean IV of Lemonade Berry in the unburned area was 1.204 ± 0.291 (±SEM, N=5). The mean IV of Caterpillar Phacelia found in the burned area was 0.285 ± 0.153 (±SEM, N=5), compared to the mean IV of Caterpillar Phacelia in the unburned area was 0.0464 ± 0.046 (±SEM, N=5). The mean IV of Black sage found in the burn area was 0.550 ± 0.155 (±SEM, N=5), compared to the mean IV of Black Sage found in the unburned area was 0.055 ± 0.034 (±SEM, N=5). The mean IV for Poison Oak in the Burned area was 0.084 ± 0.053 (±SEM, N=5), compared to the mean IV of Poison Oak found in the unburned area was 0.245 ± 0.181 (±SEM, N=5). The mean IV of Fragrant Everlasting found in the burned area was 0.210 ± 0.183 (±SEM, N=5), compared to the mean IV of Fragrant Everlasting found in the unburned area was 0.710 ± 0.219 (±SEM, N=5). (Perhaps a table would be more appropriate in listing the Importance Values of each species.)

There was a statistical difference in IV’s of all the species of plants found in the burned area compared to the same species of plants found in the unburned area (p=8.677x10-9, ANOVA). Upon running the Bonferroni correction, the difference was between the IV of Lemonade Berry in the burned versus the unburned area (5.24%). There was also a difference in IV of Deerweed in the burned versus the unburned area (5.13%). Figure-2 represents the difference in IV of the six most frequently found plants in the burned area when compared to the plants found in the unburned area.

Figure-2: Mean Importance Values (IV) with standard error of species found in a burned area compared to species found in an unburned area (N=5).There was a statistical difference in IV’s of the all species found in the burned area compared to the all species found in the unburned area (p=8.677x10-9, ANOVA).

(Figure needs a title.)

Discussion

Lloret et al. (1991) researched Rhus integrifolia (Lemonade Berry) and found that the majority of the recovery of this plant in the burned chaparral was due to Peromyscus californicus and Neotoma fuscipes. The animals would eat the fruit of the Lemonade Berry and then while in the burned chaparral would release the fecal waste, transporting the seeds of the Lemonade Berry into the burned area so it has the possibility of germinating. Lemonade Berry bares its fruit in spring and well into summer. This could account for the relatively low Importance Value of Lemonade Berry plants found in the burned area; considering they have had one growing season to recover.

Montalvo and Ellstrand (2000) researched how to advance the growth and spread of Lotus scoparius (Deerweed). There data suggest that success rates will be higher if genetically or environmentally similar populations are used to supply seeds for restoration and post-fire seeding of specific sites. With their research this may account for the Deerweed having the highest IV, when ranked, in the burned area when compared to the rest of the species found in the Burned area.

Keeley (1991) found that heat plus charred wood had a synergistic effect on percentage of germination of Phacelia cicutaria (Caterpillar Phacelia) over charred wood alone. Although there was not a statistical difference in IV of Caterpillar Phacelia; this may account for why there was more Caterpillar Phacelia found in the burned than unburned area(This sentence with the semicolon is a little awkward.). This was also the case with another research project. Monroe et al. (1991) researched two shrub species native to Southern California which showed different germination patterns in relation to fire intensity. Adenostoma had enhanced germination in the control burn; however, as fire intensity increased, germination decreased. In contrast, while Ceanothus was also stimulated by the heat of the control burn, it had a significantly much greater germination as fire intensity increased in the treatment, decreasing only in the most intense treatment (controlled burn).

(You should also explain how your results relate to your objectives. I assume your hypothesis was supported? You should explain why and how. What is the significance of your conclusions? What are your speculations on why the other plants had no significant difference? Opinion is allowed in the discussion, so what is your opinion on the outcome, and the implications of the experiment? Can any improvements be made in the future, ideas on future research?)

Acknowledgments

A special thanks to Nicole Barret who assisted in collecting data and entering data into MS Excel.

Literature Cited

Charles J. Krebs. 2001. Ecology 5th Ed. San Francisco.

Keeley, J. (1991). Seed Germination and Life History Syndromes in the California Chaparral. Botanical Review, 57 (2), 81-116. Retrieved from:

Lloret, F. and Zedler P. (1991). Recruitment Pattern of Rhus integrifolia Populations in Periods between Fire in Chaparral . Journal of Vegetation Science, 2(2), 217-230. Retrieved from:

Monroe, J. and Oechel, W. (1991). Fire Intensitys Effects on Germination of Shrubs and Herbs in

Southern California Chaparral. Ecological Society of America, 72(6), 1993-2004. Retrieved from

Montalvo, A. and Ellstrand, N. (2000). Transplantation of the Subshrub Lotus scoparius: Testing the Home-Site Advantage Hypothesis. Conservation Biology, 14(4), 1034-1045. Retrieved from:

Orange CountyFire Authority Board of Directors (2009). Freeway Complex Fire After Action Report.

26-40. Retrieved from

Pausas, Juli G., Keeley, Jon E. (2009). A Burning Story: The Role of Fire in the History of Life.Bioscience. 59(7), 593-601, 9. Retrieved from

Review Form

Department of Biological Sciences

SaddlebackCollege, Mission Viejo, CA92692

Author (s): Timothy Schang and Vanessa Haber

Title: Recovery and Growth of Vegetation Pre and Post Wildland Fire in the Chaparral of Southern California

Summary

Summarize the paper succinctly and dispassionately. Do not criticize here, just show that you understood the paper.

Fire plays an important role in the ecosystem of the chaparral of Southern California. In order to further understand this role, the biodiversity was determined between burned and unburned areas of the chaparral. This was done by point-quarter sampling of ten plots, five in burned, and five in unburned areas. Calculating Simpson’s diversity index showed a significant difference in the diversity of plant species between burned and unburned areas (D=0.89968). There was a significant difference in importance values for all species between burned and unburned areas (p=8.677x10-9). Running a Bonferroni correction reduced the number of significant differences in IV’s between burned and unburned areas to two species: Lemonade Berry and Deerweed. In comparing the importance values from unburned to burned, Lemonade Berry had a significant decrease while Deerweed had a significant increase.Based off Lloret’s research, Lemonade Berry’s decrease in population after the fire may be due to mode of germination and lack of time to repopulate. As for Deerweed’s increase in population after the fire, Montalvo and Ellstrand’s studygives insight finding that genetically or environmentally similar populations have better success at repopulating post-fire environments.

General Comments

Generally explain the paper’s strengths and weaknesses and whether they are serious, or important to our current state of knowledge.

The motives and objectives did not seem present anywhere in the paper. Also, a more comprehensive background explanation would give the reader a better understanding of what the purpose and interest is in this project. The discussion could be a little morethorough; only three sets of results were discussed. However, comparing those results with the results of other studies was good.

The methods were explained well, along with the results. The methods and results were presented clearly and concisely. Furthermore, the techniques used and the data analyses seemed appropriate to the experiment. This paper does shed some light on the fire’s effects on biodiversity, at least for two species in a short time span. It also seems to show which species have faster recovery after a fire and which might benefit from fire in utilizing it for germination.

Technical Criticism

Review technical issues, organization and clarity. Provide a table of typographical errors, grammatical errors, and minor textual problems. It's not the reviewer's job to copy Edit the paper, mark the manuscript.

Abstract: comma in third sentence, fifth sentence incomplete, sixth sentence is awkward, seventh sentence has incorrect use of semicolon.

Introduction: comma in second sentence, third sentence grammar, ninth is awkward.

Methods: first paragraph-first sentence incorrect use of semicolon, third paragraph-first sentence misplaced period, second begins with an acronym.

Results: first paragraph-first sentence awkward, figures need titles.

Discussion: third paragraph-second sentence awkward.

This paper was a final version This paper was a rough draft