Landels-Hill Big Creek Reserve

02 Jun, 04 AM - 05 Jun, 10 AM

Redwood Mortality and Sprouting Response to Summer 2008 Fires The series of fires ignited by lightning strikes and humans in the summer of 2008 have created a unique opportunity to study sprout response following burning. We propose a range-wide assessment of sprouting response to determine critical variables affecting sprouting and mortality. This information will provide valuable insights into redwood response to fire, particularly the surface fires that dominated much of the redwood fires in 2008. We will establish transects in burned stands in Monterey, Santa Cruz, Sonoma, Mendocino, and Humboldt Counties. Previous work with redwood stump sprouts indicate prolific sprouting following cutting or following cutting and fire. A tree experiencing only fire, particularly a surface fire, will have much of its crown intact and the balance of hormones moving from crown to roots will largely be unaffected. Hence we expect to see fundamentally different relationships following burning than logging. Transects will be established in burned areas and all trees within 2.5 m of the transect line will be sampled. Measurements will include diameter at breast height, height, crown length, sapwood and bark thickness, several basal sprouting metrics, bole char, crown scorch, health status, borer activity, slope, aspect, and slope position.

Visit #18041 @Landels-Hill Big Creek Reserve

Approved

Under Project # 9994 | Research

Redwood Mortality and Sprouting Response to Summer 2008 Fires

graduate_student - University of California, Berkeley

Reservation Members(s)

Group of 2 Graduate Student Jun 2 - 5, 2009 (4 days)
Ben Ramage Jun 2 - 5, 2009 (4 days)

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