California chaparral case study

Abstract

Chaparral is the dominant vegetation type on dry steep slopes of the national forests in southern California. Chaparral ecosystems are dominated by evergreen fire-adapted shrubs with the ability to recover after fire through fire-stimulated seed germination from a large dormant seed bank or resprouting from unburned root crowns. Despite the resilience of chaparral ecosystems to periodic fire, their integrity is challenged by high frequencies of human-ignited fires, which can occur before resprouting species renew their carbohydrate reserves or regenerating individuals (from seed) reach reproductive size (Syphard et al. 2018). Degradation associated with frequent disturbance is compounded by other stressors, such as nonnative species, prolonged drought, and potential nitrogen deposition (Eliason and Allen 1997, Fenn et al. 2003, Pratt et al. 2014).

Parent Publication

• Postfire restoration framework for national forests in California

Citation

Molinari, Nicole A.; Underwood, Emma C.; Sawyer, Sarah C.; Butz, Ramona J. 2021. California chaparral case study. In: Meyer, M.D.; Long, J.W.; Safford, H.D., eds. Postfire restoration framework for national forests in California. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-270. Albany, CA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station: 99-122. Chapter 5.