Angelo Coast Range Reserve

02 Apr, 02 AM - 04 Apr, 03 AM

Phytophthora ramorum, causal agent of Sudden Oak Death is well established over approximately 450 km of coastal forests along the California coast. In the course of research on this emerging pathogen, at least two other aerial Phytophthoras, P. nemorosa and P. pseudosyringae, have been discovered. Little is known about the ecology and biology of these other Phytophthoras and how they interact with P. ramorum. Preliminary research has found that P. nemorosa and P. pseudosyringae have similar host ranges and cause similar disease symptoms as P. ramorum, however do not appear to cause landscape level mortality of oaks and tanoak as does P. ramorum. Beginning in 2001, a collaborative group of researchers from UC Davis, established field plots to determine the distribution and incidence of P. ramorum, P. nemorosa and P. pseudosyringae in coastal forest and woodland plant communities, and relate pathogen presence to community and site variables. Originally, these plots were established as separate research projects (three Masters Degree projects, and one Post-Doctoral Research project) and are currently being combined for a meta-analysis. Thus far four hundred sixty circular 500 m2 plots have been established within the known and potential range of Phytophthora ramorum in central and northern California extending south from Monterey County, north to Del Norte County, and East to Contra Costa County. The field plot locations are on combination of public lands in state, county and regional parks, on UC Reserves, and private properties. Three types of native forest communities are surveyed: coast redwood, and two associations of the mixed evergreen forest, oak-bay-madrone and tanoak-madrone-live oak-Douglas-fir forests. Plot selection is based on aspect, plant community type, and areas with minimal human disturbance, rather than presence of Phytophthora species. Each plot is evaluated for plant species composition, tree density, tree basal area, site variables, soil/litter depth, and incidence of aerial Phytophthora species. In the course of combining these research projects and due to the focus of several of the projects on a specific forest type, we have recognized the need to survey additional plots in a particular forest type that is not adequately represented both in quantity and in its geographical distribution. The forest type in particular is the mixed evergreen forest: tanoak-madrone-live oak-Douglas-fir association type. The Angelo Coast Reserve is ideal for providing us access to surveys in this forest community in a location where we currently do not have field plots established. Ten plots at the Angelo Coast Reserve were set up in 2005. Five of these plots have been selected as part of a long term plot network throughout California to monitor aerial Phytophthora species in these forests. Those five plots will be revisited and minimally sampled for Phytophthora symptoms. No destructive sampling methods are used. A small amount of symptomatic plant tissue (leaves, twigs, or bleeding bole cankers) will be collected for laboratory analysis. These long term plots are expected to be resampled in perpetuity with visits approximately every three years.

Visit #14894 @Angelo Coast Range Reserve

Approved

Under Project # 5565 | Research

A Survey of aerial Phytophthora Species in Native California Forest Communities: Relating Pathogen Presence to Plant Community and Site Variables

faculty - California Polytechnic State University (CSU), San Luis Obispo

Reservation Members(s)

Group of 3 Research Scientist/Post Doc Apr 2 - 4, 2008 (3 days)

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HQ House 3 Apr 2 - 4, 2008