Elliott Chaparral Reserve

28 Mar, 12 AM - 30 Jun, 01 PM

Little is known about how pollination mutualisms are disrupted by, and reassembled following fires. Here, we propose to study the early effects of fire on the obligate mutualism between the monocarpic yucca Hesperoyucca whipplei and its pollinator, the yucca moth Tegeticula maculata. We have been monitoring the flowering ecology of Hesperoyucca at two sights for several years. One of these sites, the Elliot Chaparral Reserve (ECR) near San Diego, was burned in the Cedar Fire in October 2003. The unburned site, on the Santa Margarita Ecological Reserve (SMER), is approximately 50km N and is physiographically similar. Comparisons pre- and post-fire and between the burned and unburned site will allow us to address a number of important questions about the demographic response of the mutualism to fire. From 2004 to 2006, we plan to: (1) monitore flowering yuccas at both sites throughout the flowering season, obtaining periodic estimates of inflorescence sizes, floral phenology, and pollinator abundance, (2) obtain estimates of reproductive success for both yuccas (number of fruits, fruit size, seed number and size) and yucca moths (number of larvae or larval exit holes in yucca fruits), and (3) establish permanent quadrats at both sites to monitor yucca population sizes, survivorship, growth and reproduction. This involves spending 2-3 days per week at the Elliot Reserve during the spring (March-June), plus vistis of 2-3 days two other times during the year. We will be bringing vehicles onto the reserve, but it is difficult to specify, since they will often be rental cars. One car that will frequently be used is Udovic's Subaru Forester (Oregon plates - license number will be provided later). During the period of this activity, we will be monitoring flowering yucca populations on the eastern portion of the Elliot Reserve, censusing insect populations associated with flowering yuccas, and censusing and measuring all yuccas within our permanent quadrats.

Visit #6907 @Elliott Chaparral Reserve

Approved

Under Project # 5122 | Research

Effects of Fire on the Flowering Biology of Hesperoyucca whipplei

faculty - University of Oregon

Reservation Members(s)

Daniel Udovic Mar 28 - Jun 30, 2005 (95 days)
Group of 2 Faculty Mar 28 - Jun 30, 2005 (95 days)
Group of 3 Undergraduate Student Mar 28 - Jun 30, 2005 (95 days)

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