Sedgwick Reserve

23 Nov, 04 AM - 30 Dec, 04 PM

The purpose of this research project is to assess the effects of interannual rainfall variability on soil moisture competition between Coast Oak (Quercus agrifolia) seedlings and exotic annual grasses. It replaces my former application, "Effects of fluctuations in nitrogen and water availability on grassland community structure." During the 2011-2012 growing season, 14 treatment "blocks," each 7x3 meters, will be established in an open grassland dominated by Avena barbata, next to the 1st water trough (past the big black spring water tank) on upper lisque (open to other location if so preferred. The 14 treatment blocks will each be enclosed by a 7x3m fence (material and height TBD) that excludes both small herbivores and cattle. Each treatment block will receive a different amount of rainfall over the course of the rain season. To impose these treatments, water will be either added from the nearby water trough, or rainfall will be reduced by covering each block with Tyvek HomeWrap tarp during rain events. In each "block", I will establish 3 "plots," each measuring 1x1 meters. Each of these plots, along with their 1.5x1.5m perimeters, will be cleared of all aboveground biomass prior to seeding with acorns, with the exception of a certain density of Avena that are left standing. The 3 plots in each block correpond to the following treatments: 1) no avena (bare soil), 2) 25% Avena, 3) 100% avena. 14 blocks (rainfall treatments) x 3 plots each (crossed Avena treatments) x 1 rep each (regression analysis) = 42 experimental plots. 10 acorns will be added to each plot in late November 2011. During the growing season, soil moisture measurements will be taken using a handheld TDR, and one continuous Hobo data logger will be installed in a single control block. At the end of the growing season, the number of surviving oak germinants/seedlings will be recorded, and Avena biomass will be harvested, dried, and weighed back in the lab. In November 2012, at the onset of the next growing season, the number of surviving oak seedlings will be recorded in each plot. The experiment will then be disassembled. No site restoration will be needed at the outset of this experiment. This project will help several Quercus agrifolia seedlings to establish in a local open exotic grassland area. Any fencing, equipment and plot markers will be removed by me at the outset of my project.

Visit #26780 @Sedgwick Reserve

Approved

Under Project # 24464 | Research

Effects of interannual rainfall variability on oak seedling recruitment in exotic annual grasslands

graduate_student - University of California, Santa Barbara

Reservation Members(s)

Christian Balzer Nov 23 - Dec 30, 2011 (38 days)

Reserve Resources(s) | Create Invoice

Day Use Only 1 Nov 23 - Dec 31, 2011