title: Post-Fire Recovery in Coastal Sage Scrub: Seed Rain and Community Trajectory.
abstract: Disturbance is a primary mechanism structuring ecological communities. However, human activity has the potential to alter the frequency and intensity of natural disturbance regimes, with subsequent effects on ecosystem processes. In Southern California, human development has led to increased fire frequency close to urban areas that can form a positive feedback with invasive plant spread. Understanding how abiotic and biotic factors structure post-fire plant communities is a critical component of post-fire management and restoration. In this study we considered a variety of mechanisms affecting post-fire vegetation recovery in Riversidean sage scrub. Comparing recently burned plots to unburned plots, we found that burning significantly reduced species richness and percent cover of exotic vegetation the first two years following a 100-hectare wildfire. Seed rain was higher in burned plots, with more native forb seeds, while unburned plots had more exotic grass seeds. Moreover, there were significant correlations between seed rain composition and plant cover composition the year prior and the year after. Collectively, this case study suggests that fire can alter community composition, but there was not compelling evidence of a vegetation-type conversion. Instead, the changes in the community composition were temporary and convergence in community composition was apparent within two years post-fire.
authors.affiliation: San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Dr, San Diego, CA 92182, United States of America.
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Conlisk
authors.affiliation: The Wilds, 14000 International Dr, Cumberland, OH 43732, United States of America.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Swab
authors.affiliation: University of California, Davis, Department of Evolution and Ecology, One Shields Ave, Davis, CA 95616, United States of America.
authors.forename: Alejandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martínez-Berdeja
authors.affiliation: University of California, Riverside, Department of Entomology, 900 University Ave, Riverside, CA 92521, United States of America.
authors.forename: Matthew P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Daugherty
mesh_terms: D019659:Asteraceae / Q000254:growth & development*; D002140:California; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000379:methods*; D017753:Ecosystem; D005390:Fires; D005843:Geography; D006802:Human Activities; D006801:Humans; D058865:Introduced Species; D063245:Plant Development; D006109:Poaceae / Q000254:growth & development; D019664:Polygonaceae / Q000254:growth & development*; D027544:Salvia / Q000254:growth & development*; D012639:Seeds / Q000254:growth & development; D013045:Species Specificity; D013997:Time Factors