OLD-GROWTH CHARACTERISTICS ON A COAST REDWOOD (SEQUOIA SEMPERVIRENS (D. DON) ENDL.) PYGMY FOREST ECOTONE

Madroño ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 14
Author(s):  
Will Russell ◽  
Zuhayl Lambert ◽  
Suzie Woolhouse
Keyword(s):  
Growth Characteristics ◽  
Sequoia Sempervirens ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Coast Redwood ◽  
Forest Ecotone

Genotypic diversity and clone size in old-growth populations of coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens)

2000 ◽  
Vol 78 (11) ◽  
pp. 1408-1419 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deborah L Rogers
Keyword(s):  
Asexual Reproduction ◽  
Genotypic Diversity ◽  
Visual Assessment ◽  
Sequoia Sempervirens ◽  
Allozyme Diversity ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Clone Size ◽  
Coast Redwood ◽  
Ring Structures ◽  
Individual Trees

Coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens (D. Don) Endl.) has long-lived individual trees that can reproduce both sexually and asexually. Allozyme markers indicate that, in old-growth populations in northern California, 15-34% of clones are multistemmed. Of those, they have few stems per clone, and none are very spatially pervasive. There is much variety in the clonal configurations observed, including circular, linear, and (or) disjunct arrangements. Visual assessment is a poor predictor of clonal identity and fairy ring structures more often than not contain multiple genotypes. In this first allozyme study of coast redwood, high levels of genetic variation are observed, higher than those observed for most other western conifers. These levels are perhaps related to the species' hexaploid condition, ancient phylogenetic lineage, and historically broader natural range. There are also generally high levels of genotypic diversity. Upland sites, with more frequent and intense fires, do not differ significantly in genotypic diversity from the more mesic lowland sites. Population structure in coast redwood seems to resemble the classic pattern for many open-pollinated conifers: much diversity within and little among populations. However, this is not a rangewide study. The current levels and structure of genetic and genotypic diversity in old-growth populations suggests episodic recruitment. The long-lived nature of individual stems and the capacity for asexual reproduction may allow clones to exist indefinitely, thus challenging some of the generalizations in evolutionary theory that are based on sexually reproducing species.Key words: clones, asexual reproduction, allozyme diversity, conifer, gymnosperm, polyploid.

scholarly journals Fuel load, stand structure, and understory species composition following prescribed fire in an old-growth coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) forest

Fire Ecology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
David Cowman ◽  
Will Russell
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Prescribed Burning ◽  
Sequoia Sempervirens ◽  
Anthropogenic Sources ◽  
Fuel Load ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Understory Species ◽  
Coast Redwood ◽  
Understory Species Composition ◽  
Redwood Forests

Abstract Background With the prevalence of catastrophic wildfire increasing in response to widespread fire suppression and climate change, land managers have sought methods to increase the resiliency of landscapes to fire. The application of prescribed burning in ecosystems adapted to fire can reduce fuel load and fire potential while minimizing impacts to the ecosystem as a whole. Coast redwood forests have historically experienced fire from both natural and anthropogenic sources, and are likely to respond favorably to its reintroduction. Results Random sampling was conducted in three burned sites and in three unburned sites, in an old-growth coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens [D. Don] Endl.) forest. Data were collected on fuel, forest structure, and understory species composition and compared between treatments. Downed woody fuel, duff depth, litter depth, and density of live woody fuels were found to be significantly lower on sites treated with fire compared to unburned sites. Density of the dominant overstory canopy species, coast redwood and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii [Mirb.] Franco), remained consistent between treatments, and the abundance of herbaceous understory plant species was not significantly altered by burning. In addition, both downed woody fuel and live fuel measures were positively correlated with time since last burn, with the lowest measures on the most recently burned sites. Conclusions Our results indicated that the use of prescribed burning in old-growth redwood forests can provide beneficial reductions in live and dead surface fuels with minimal impacts to overstory trees and understory herbaceous species.

scholarly journals Initial Floristic Response to High Severity Wildfire in an Old-Growth Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens (D. Don) Endl.) Forest

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 1135
Author(s):  
Mojgan Mahdizadeh ◽  
Will Russell
Keyword(s):  
Vegetation Type ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Tree Height ◽  
Fire Frequency ◽  
Sequoia Sempervirens ◽  
Type Conversion ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Fire Event ◽  
Coast Redwood ◽  
High Severity

Climate driven increases in fire frequency and severity are predicted for Mediterranean climatic zones, including the Pacific coast of California. A recent high severity wildfire that burned in the Santa Cruz Mountains affected a variety of vegetation types, including ancient coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens (D. Don) Endl.) stands. The purpose of this study was to characterize the survival and initial recovery of vegetation approximately six months after the fire. We sampled thirty randomly selected points in an old-growth coast redwood forest to examine and compare survival, crown retention, and post fire regeneration of trees by species, and the recovery of associated understory plant species. Sequoia sempervirens exhibited the highest post-fire survival (95%), with lower survival rates for subcanopy hardwood associates including tanoak (Notholithocarpus densiflorus (Hook. & Arn.) Manos) (88%), coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia Nee.) (93%), Pacific wax myrtle (Myrica californica (Cham. & Schltdl.) Wilbur) (75%), Pacific madrone (Arbutus menziesii Pursh) (71%), and the lowest survival recorded for the canopy codominant Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) (15%). Canopy retention and post fire regeneration were also highest for S. sempervirens and lowest for P. menziesii, indicating that S. sempervirens had a competitive advantage over P. menziesii following high severity crown fire. Both canopy survival and regeneration were greater for larger height and diameter trees; and basal sprouting was positively associated with tree height and diameter for S. sempervirens and N. densiflorus. Observed recovery of understory species was modest but included the reemergence of coast redwood associated herbaceous species. The robust nature of survival and recovery of S. sempervirens following this extreme fire event suggest that the removal of scorched, and the seeding or planting of trees, following this type of fire is contraindicated. The decline of P. menziesii is of concern, however, and suggests that repeated high severity fires driven by climate change could eventually lead to vegetation type conversion.

Response of forest soil Acari to prescribed fire following stand structure manipulation in the southern Cascade RangeThis article is one of a selection of papers from the Special Forum on Ecological Studies in Interior Ponderosa Pine — First Findings from Blacks Mountain Interdisciplinary Research.

2008 ◽  
Vol 38 (5) ◽  
pp. 956-968 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael A. Camann ◽  
Nancy E. Gillette ◽  
Karen L. Lamoncha ◽  
Sylvia R. Mori
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Forest Soil ◽  
Prescribed Fire ◽  
Ponderosa Pine ◽  
Growth Characteristics ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
Organic Layer ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Low Intensity ◽  
Dominance Relationships

We studied responses of Acari, especially oribatid mites, to prescribed low-intensity fire in an east side pine site in the southern Cascade Range in California. We compared oribatid population and assemblage responses to prescribed fire in stands that had been selectively logged to enhance old growth characteristics, in logged stands to minimize old growth characteristics, and in undisturbed forest reference stands. Low-intensity prescribed fire altered habitat characteristics within the organic layer of forest soil. Acarine populations declined following prescribed fire, and oribatid losses accounted for two thirds of that decline. Individual oribatid species responded differently to prescribed fire, with a few populations increasing after fire but most declining. The prescribed fire also altered oribatid assemblages, reducing species richness and species diversity and modifying assemblage dominance relationships. We also identified several oribatid taxa that were potential indicator species of fire effects upon forest soil fauna. Finally, our results suggested that oribatid responses to fire were intensified by stand alteration and especially by removal of old growth structural characteristics. Decline in oribatid abundance, species richness and diversity, and loss of equilibrium dominance relationships was greatest in the low structural diversity plots.

Calicium sequoiae, a new lichen species from north-western California, USA

2008 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 185-194 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cameron B. WILLIAMS ◽  
Leif TIBELL
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
New Species ◽  
Pacific Northwest ◽  
Its Region ◽  
Sequoia Sempervirens ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Secondary Substance ◽  
North Western ◽  
A New Species

Abstract:We describe Calicium sequoiae as a new species of lichenized Ascomycota from north-western California, USA. The species is distinguished morphologically from other known members of Calicium by its stalks that react I+ blue, mature ascospores that are ornamented with spiral ridges, and apothecia that produce prominent white pruina. It is also the only Calicium known to produce thamnolic acid as a major secondary substance. Sequences from the ITS-region showed C. sequoiae to be unique among calicioid Physciaceae, and phylogenetic analysis positioned it close to C. adspersum, C. chlorosporum, C. lenticulare, Cyphelium notarisii, and C. tigillare. Thus far, Calicium sequoiae has been collected only from old-growth redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) forests, where it occurred on thick, fibrous bark of large redwood trees. A key to the 12 species of Calicium known from the Pacific Northwest is provided.

scholarly journals Vesicular–Arbuscular Mycorrhizae Colonization of Redwood and Incense Cedar Seedlings following Storage

HortScience ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 29 (11) ◽  
pp. 1362-1365 ◽  
Author(s):  
U. Afek ◽  
L.A. Lippet ◽  
D. Adams ◽  
J.A. Menge ◽  
E. Pond
Keyword(s):  
Glomus Mosseae ◽  
Arbuscular Mycorrhizae ◽  
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal ◽  
Sequoia Sempervirens ◽  
Fresh Weight ◽  
Coast Redwood ◽  
Moisture Contents ◽  
Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhizae ◽  
Vesicular Arbuscular

Vesicular–arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculum consisting of a mixture of roots of coast redwood [Sequoia sempervirens (D. Don)], soil, and spores of Glomus mosseae (Nicol. and Gerd.) Gerdemann and Trappe was tested for viability and efficacy following storage for 4 or 8 weeks at 4, 9, 15, or 24C and moisture contents of 0%, 6%, 12%, or 17%. Storage regimes did not have any effect on the number of spores of Glomus mosseae recovered after storage. However, germinability of the spores decreased from 35% before storage to 10% to 31% during storage, especially under typical ambient room conditions (17% moisture at 24C). Maximum colonization of coast redwood, sierra redwood [Sequoiadendrom giganteum (Lindl.) Buchh.], and incense cedar (Libocedrous decurrens Torr.) was achieved after inoculation with 1 inoculum: 1 potting mix dilution (w/w). However, plant fresh weight was highest following inoculation with a 1 inoculum: 5 potting mix dilution (w/w). Dried inoculum was effective when stored at 24C, or below 10C when moist.

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