Height and canopy measurements of native shrubs in southern California
Data files
Dec 05, 2024 version files 2.07 MB
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README.md
9.38 KB
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SoCal_biomass_upload.xlsx
2.06 MB
Abstract
The drivers of shrubland biomass in the Mediterranean-Climate Region of southern California are not well understood. This is an issue for resource managers of shrub-dominated landscapes who need to estimate shrub recovery post-fire; track and monitor carbon storage and sequestration; and determine the tradeoff in restoration goals between prioritizing carbon storage and species richness. We collected field data from 143 field plots located in 11 fire scars (ranging from 1 to 12 years old) and used Linear Mixed Models to assess the contribution of temporal and environmental variables, along with post-fire regeneration strategies of shrub species to explain patterns of aboveground shrub biomass. We identified four key findings: (1) shrub biomass increased with time since last fire and the proportion of resprouting species, and decreased with distance to coast and solar radiation; (2) species with the ability to resprout (obligate resprouter and facultative seeders) contributed greater biomass at all post-fire time periods and locations when compared with obligate seeders; (3) we found higher average biomass contributed by both obligate seeder and obligate resprouter species in plots closer to the coast than interior plots; and (4) fourth, we found a significant positive relationship between woody shrub richness and biomass. The findings of this study can help support natural resource management decision making for shrub-dominated landscapes – including estimating biomass recovery post-fire, quantifying carbon storage, and setting goals for shrubland restoration. This Dryad submission provides the shrubland biomass field data.
README: Height and canopy measurements of native shrubs in southern California
Description of the Data and file structure
This dataset consists of a single Microsoft Excel file (named: SoCal_Biomass.xls) reporting measurements for 143 vegetation plots measured in Southern California in 2020 and 2021. Measurements include:
• Species = first 3 letters of genus and first 3 letters of species (see list below)
• LH_code = Life History code, OS = obligate seeder, OR = obligate resprouter, F = facultative seeder
• Height (m) = height in meters
• Canopy 1 (m) = 1st measurement of canopy (meters)
• Canopy 2 (m) = 2nd measurement of canopy (meters), perpendicular to Canopy 1 measurement
• Cover (%) = % cover of the individual in the plot
• Dead (%) = % dead material on individual
• Age_class = adult (=>0.5 m) or young (<0.5 m)
• Count = number of young individuals
• Height 1 = measurement of 1st representative young individual
• Height 2= measurement of 2nd representative young individual
• Height 3= measurement of 3rd representative young individual
• Diameter 1 (1) = measurement of 1st representative young individual
• Diameter 1 (2) = measurement of 1st representative young individual, perpendicular to Diameter 1 (1) measurement
• Diameter 2 (1) = measurement of 2nd representative young individual
• Diameter 2 (2) = measurement of 2nd representative young individual, perpendicular to Diameter 1 (1) measurement
• Diameter 3 (1) = measurement of 3rd representative young individual
• Diameter 3 (2) = measurement of 3rd representative young individual, perpendicular to Diameter 1 (1) measurement
• UTM Zone = UTM zone
• Easting (Begin) = easting coordinate for beginning of transect
• Northing (Begin) = northing coordinate for beginning of transect
• Easting (Middle) = easting coordinate for middle of transect
• Northing (Middle) = northing coordinate for middle of transect
• Easting (End) = easting coordinate for end of transect
• Northing (End) = northing coordinate for end of transect
A recording of 'NA' in the xls cells indicates no data.
The size of the xls file is 3KB
These data provide a key input into calculating biomass and carbon storage of shrublands in southern California and prioritizing post-fire restoration by US Department of Agriculture Forest Service resource managers.
Species codes
Species code | Genus | Species |
---|---|---|
ACMGLA | Acmispon | glaber |
ADEFAS | Adenostoma | fasciculatum |
AMOCAL | Arctostaphylos | glandulosa ssp. glandulosa |
ARC * | Arctostaphylos unknown | -- |
ARCGLAG | Arctostaphylos | glandulosa ssp. cushingiana |
ARCGLAM | Arctostaphylos | glandulosa ssp. mollis |
ARCGLAN | Arctostaphylos | glandulosa |
ARCGLAU | Arctostaphylos | glauca |
ARTCAL | Artemisia | californica |
BACPLUP | Baccharis | plummerae ssp. plummerae |
BRICAL | Brickellia | californica |
CEACRA | Ceanothus | crassifolius |
CEACRAC | Ceanothus | crassifolius var. crassifolius |
CEACRAP | Ceanothus | crassifolius var. planus |
CEACUN | Ceanothus | cuneatus |
CEALEU | Ceanothus | leucodermis |
CEAMEG | Ceanothus | megacarpus |
CEAOLI | Ceanothus | oliganthus |
CEAPAU | Ceanothus | pauciflorus |
CEASPI | Ceanothus | spinosus |
CERBET | Cercocarpus | betuloides |
CROSCO | Crocanthemum | scoparium |
DENRIG | Dendromecon | rigida |
DIP SP. | Diplacus unknown | -- |
DIPLON | Diplacus | longiflorus |
ERICON | Eriophyllum | confertiflorum |
ERICON? | Eriophyllum | confertiflorum uncertain |
ERICPAR | Ericameria | parryi |
ERICRA | Eriodictyon | eriodictyon crassifolium |
ERICRAC | Eriodictyon | crassifolium var. crassifolium |
ERICRAN | Eriodictyon | crassifolium var. nigrescens |
ERIFAS | Eriogonum | fasciculatum |
ERIODICTYON | Eriodictyon unknown | -- |
ERIPAR | Eriodictyon | parryi |
ERITRA | Eriodictyon | traskiae |
FRACAL | Frangula | californica |
FRADIP | Fraxinus | dipetala |
GALANG | Galium | angustifolium |
GALANGA | Galium | angustifolium ssp. Angustifolium |
GARFLA | Garrya | flavescens |
GARVEA | Garrya | veatchii |
HAZSQU | Hazardia | squarrosa |
HESWHI | Hesperoyucca | whipplei |
HETARB | Heteromeles | arbutifolia |
KECBRE | Keckiella | breviflora |
KECCOR | Keckiella | cordifolia |
KECTER | Keckiella | ternata |
LEPCAL | Lepechinia | calycina |
LONINT | Lonicera | interrupta |
LONSUB | Lonicera | subspicata |
LONSUBD | Lonicera | subspicata var. denudata |
LONSUBS | Lonicera | subspicata var. subspicata |
LUPALB | Lupinus | albifrons |
MALDAV | Malacothamnus | davidsonii |
MALFAS | Malacothamnus | fasciculatus |
MALLAU | Malosma | laurina |
MALORB | Malacothamnus | orbiculatus |
NONE | No shrubs present | -- |
PICMON | Pickeringia | montana |
PRUILI | Prunus | ilicifolia |
QUEAGR | Quercus | agrifolia |
QUEBER | Quercus | berberidifolia |
QUECHR | Quercus | chrysolepis |
QUEWIS | Quercus | wislizeni |
QUEWISF | Quercus | wislizenii var. fructescens |
RHACRO | Rhamnus | crocea |
RHAILI | Rhamnus | ilicifolia |
RHUARO | Rhus | ovata |
RHUINT | Rhus | integrifolia |
RHUOVA | Rhus | ovata |
RIBMAL | Ribes | malvaceum |
RIBQUE | Ribes | quercetorum |
RIBSPE | Ribes | speciosum |
SALAPI | Salvia | apiana |
SALLEU | Salvia | leucophylla |
SALMEL | Salvia | mellifera |
SAMNIGC | Sambucus | nigra ssp. caerulea |
SOLUMB | Solanum | umbelliferum |
SOLXAN | Solanum | xantii |
SYMMOL | Symphoricarpos | mollis |
TOXDIV | Toxicodendron | diversilobum |
TRILAN | Trichostema | lanatum |
UK CEA | Unknown Ceanothus | -- |
UK LONICERA | Unknown Lonicera | -- |
UNKN SHRB | Unknown Shrub | -- |
VENCAR | Venegasia | carpesioides |
Sharing/access Information
Intended users of this dataset include resource managers and researchers who are interested in quantifying shrubland biomass post-fire. This dataset is made available under a CC0 license.
Methods
We measured a total of 143 field plots; 51 in July-September 2020 and 92 in June-August 2021on the Angeles, Los Padres, and San Bernardino National Forests. Fires sampled in 2020 included the Cave, Thomas (divided into Thomas East and Thomas West owing to the fire size), White, Whittier, Rey, and in 2021 we sampled the Lake, Thomas West, Rey, Sand, White, Powerhouse, Jesusita, La Brea, and Station fires. The time since last fire ranged from 1-12 years.
Plots consisted of a 30 m x 3 m transect (90 m2) to allow data to be cross-referenced to Landsat imagery, and were located perpendicular to the slope. Plot locations were stratified pre-field work using available spatial data relating to: (1) National Forest lands; (2) mixed chaparral vegetation type which was pre-determined using GIS data (FRAP 2015) and confirmed in the field; (3) only burned once in 40 years (USDA 2021); and (4) burned with high burn severity using USDA Forest Service’s Rapid Assessment of Vegetation Condition after Wildfire (RAVG) data for specific fires. We also used high resolution aerial imagery available in Google Earth to ensure that candidate plots were not affected by roads, trails, excessive herbivory, and were homogenous, i.e. were not bisected by a riparian area, landslide, or large exposed rock. We sought to distribute the plots to achieve adequate representation of all stand ages as determined by the time since fire. Finally, field crews could modify the location of a field plot if it did not meet the composition (homogenous mixed chaparral) or disturbance criteria described above.
The modified plot location was recorded using a GPS receiver and added to the database of plots. We prioritized measuring the variation within a single shrub type (mixed chaparral), since it was the most extensive of all shrub types in the ecoregion and because we did not have adequate representation of the other common chaparral types (e.g., chamise-redshank chaparral and coastal sage scrub) within our sample space.
Within the 90 m2 monitoring plot, measurements of larger shrubs (>0.5 m in height) included: species identity; canopy width (a single measurement where the canopy was symmetrical or two perpendicular measurements which were averaged where asymmetrical); and height (central base of the shrub downslope to the tallest part of the shrub). For small shrubs or seedlings (<0.5 m in height), we counted the number of individuals in the plot and measured the height and canopy width of the first three individuals identified from each species. We assigned shrub species to one of three post-fire regeneration strategies: obligate resprouting species (OR), obligate seeding species (OS) and facultative seeding species (FS) using available literature (Gordon and White 1994, Borchert et al. 2004, CNPS 2021, FEIS 2021).
REFERENCES
Borchert, M., A. Lopez, C. Bauer, and T. Knowd. 2004. Field Guide to Coastal Sage Scrub and Chaparral Alliances of Los Padres National Forest.” USDA Forest Service Region 5, Ecological Field Guide
CNPS (California Native Plant Society). (2021). A Manual of California Vegetation, online edition. Sacramento, CA: California Native Plant Society http://www.cnps.org/cnps/vegetation/
FEIS (Fire Effects Information System). https://www.feis-crs.org/feis/
Flint, L. E., A. L. Flint, J. H. Thorne, and R. Boynton. 2013. Fine-scale hydrologic modeling for regional landscape applications: the California Basin Characterization Model development and performance. Ecological Processes 2:25.
Gordon, H., and T. C. White. 1994. Ecological Guide to Southern California Chaparral Plant series. Transverse and Peninsular Ranges: Angeles, Cleveland, and San Bernardino National Forests. Report R5-ECOL-TF-005. Albany WA: USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region.
USDA [US Department of Agriculture]. 2021. Fire-return interval departure (FRID) geodatabase, calendar year 2021.
http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r5/landmanagement/gis/?cid=STELPRDB5327836