Landels-Hill Big Creek Reserve

21 Feb, 04 AM - 22 Feb, 04 AM

Many of the regions of California affected by Sudden Oak Death (SOD) are prone to fire. SOD may increase the fire risk or severity in these areas by causing high numbers of dead trees. However, the impacts of wildfire on the pathogen that causes SOD, Phytophthora ramorum, are unknown. Prescribed burns have been used in Oregon and in Humboldt County in attempts to stop disease spread, but the effects of these treatments on the pathogen are mixed and likely to be distinct from those of natural forest fires. Wildfires may impact pathogen survival and re-colonization, and the effects might differ with fire intensity as well. The 2008 forest fires in Big Sur, one of the regions most affected by SOD, allow for the unprecedented opportunity to study how wildfires impact P. ramorum survival. I propose to examine survival of P. ramorum in areas of differing burn severity and disease prevalence in Big Sur for my Master?s thesis in the Department of Plant Pathology at UC Davis. Pathogen survival will be assessed in two different manners: 1) collection of plant material and soil samples from previously established forest monitoring plots, and 2) stream sampling from watersheds. I will use a large network of forest monitoring plots previously established in Big Sur by Dr. David Rizzo (UC Davis) and Dr. Ross Meentemeyer (UNC-Charlotte). I will use pre-fire data on disease prevalence and post-fire data on burn severity to choose sampling sites that cover a range of SOD impacts and burn severity. Thus, I will be able to compare pathogen survival in known P. ramorum infected plots that burned at varying degrees of severity to those plots that did not burn at all. P. ramorum is often detectable in streams before symptoms are seen on vegetation in the watershed. By monitoring streams from watersheds with differential burn severity ratings, I will be able to assess P. ramorum survival on a landscape scale. The information gained from this study will provide valuable insight into what role fire, one of California?s most influential and frequent natural events, plays in the life of P. ramorum. Because of the extensive pre-fire Big Sur data, the proposed research is a unique and time-sensitive opportunity to learn from last summer?s events. The findings will serve to better understand the ecology of this invasive pathogen species in California?s forests.

Visit #17200 @Landels-Hill Big Creek Reserve

Approved

Under Project # 19507 | Research

The impacts of wildfire on Phytophthora ramorum survival

graduate_student - University of California, Davis

Reservation Members(s)

Maia Beh Feb 21 - 22, 2009 (2 days)
Maia Beh Feb 21 - 22, 2009 (2 days)

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Whale Point Researcher Cabin 2 Feb 21 - 22, 2009