A5014071508- Rangeland and Wildlife Management
- Botany, Ecology, and Taxonomy Studies
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Seedling growth and survival studies
- Fire effects on ecosystems
- Turtle Biology and Conservation
- Coastal wetland ecosystem dynamics
- Atmospheric chemistry and aerosols
- Recreation, Leisure, Wilderness Management
- Grouting, Rheology, and Soil Mechanics
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Seismology and Earthquake Studies
- Rabies epidemiology and control
- Aeolian processes and effects
- Botanical Research and Applications
- Plant responses to elevated CO2
- Geophysical Methods and Applications
- Plant and animal studies
- Plant Water Relations and Carbon Dynamics
Western Ecological Research Center
2009-2023
United States Geological Survey
2009-2023
Extreme climate events are transforming plant communities in the desert Southwest of United States. Abundant precipitation 1998 associated with El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) stimulated exceptional alien annual production Mojave Desert that fueled wildfires 1999. Exacerbated by protracted drought, 80% burned Yucca brevifolia , a long‐lived arborescent monocot, and 26% unburned plants died at Joshua Tree National Park 2004. Many <1 m tall immediately, survival all but tallest, oldest...
ABSTRACT Wildfires burned 24,254 ha of critical habitat designated for the recovery threatened Mojave desert tortoise ( Gopherus agassizii ) in southern Nevada during 2005. The proliferation non‐native annual grasses has increased wildfire frequency and extent recent decades continues to accelerate conversion across Desert. Immediate changes vegetation are expected reduce quality habitat, yet whether tortoises will use recovering differently from intact unburned is unknown. We compared...
Human expansion into the Mojave Desert is a significant threat to rare desert plants. While immediate habitat loss often greatest concern, plants situated near areas where soil surfaces experience frequent disturbance may be indirectly impacted when fine particulate dust accumulates on leaf surfaces. Remaining populations of federally listed Astragalus jaegerianus (Lane Mountain milkvetch) occur land open expanding military activities and adjacent public with increasing recreational use....
Abstract Surface soil reclamation is used to increase the re-establishment of native vegetation following disturbance through preservation and eventual replacement indigenous seed reserves. Employed widely in mining industry, has had variable success re-establishing arid semi-arid regions. We tested whether could be due part a decrease reserves during process by measuring change abundance germinable when surface was mechanically collected, stored pile for 4 months, reapplied upon completion...
Post-fire recovery of arid shrublands is typically slow, and planting greenhouse-raised seedlings may be a means jump-starting this process. Recovery can further accelerated by understanding the factors controlling post-planting survival. In fall 2007 2009, we outplanted two contrasting native evergreen shrubs—fast-growing Nevada jointfir slow-growing blackbrush—across five burned sites in Mojave Desert. To increase soil moisture optimize seedling survival, experimentally applied evaluated...
First posted October 22, 2021 For additional information, contact: Director,Western Ecological Research CenterU.S. Geological Survey3020 State University Drive EastSacramento, California 95819 In the deserts of Southwestern United States, increased off-highway vehicle use can lead to widespread vehicular damage desert ecosystems. As popularity and intensity on public lands continues, Bureau Land Management (BLM) is challenged manage routes used by recreationists while minimizing activity...
Blue Diamond cholla (<i>Cylindropuntia multigeniculata</i> (Clokey) Blackb. [Cactaceae]) is a rare cactus of the Mojave Desert. We explored whether cultivation from joint cuttings viable method for supporting threatened populations. Terminal joints were collected adult plants at type locality and grown in shade house: tested 2 soil mixes that varied ratio inorganic organic components (50:50 compared to 85:15) watering frequencies (250 ml every 5 d 500 10 d) promote root growth important...