Saddleback Journal of Biology - Saddleback College

Fall 2009 Biology 3B Paper
integrifolia (Lemonade Berry) was the one shrub in
that Keely et al. (2006) found exhibited substantial
seeding recruitment the first year after the fire; but in
years 2 and 5 much less than other facultative-seeding
shrubs. Thanos, C. and Rundel, P. (1995) found the
germination rate of Salvia mellifera (Black Sage)
increseased in the burned area when the canopy was
completely burned through. The increased germination
rate of Black Sage was due to additional light
penetrating through the canopy and allowing the Black
Sage to grow. Phacelia cicutaria (Caterpillar Phacelia)
is a fire-seeder, which means that after a fire its rate of
germination increases (Keeley, 1991). O’leary and
Westman (1988) found that Caterpillar Phacelia
covered more than 10% of the burned area two years
after the fire. All of these species of plants are in the
area being investigated and all the past research will be
taken into consideration when analyzing the data.
The Orange County Fire Authority Board of
Directors, Freeway Complex Fire After Action Report
(2009) detailed about the fire being investigated. The
Freeway Complex Fire which started on November 15,
2008 and was contained on November 19, 2008. The
Fire affected the following cities of Southern
California: Anaheim, Brea, Corona, Chino Hills,
Diamond Bar, and Yorba Linda. The hypothesis being
tested is there will be diversity in the number of species
found in the burned and unburned area. The other
hypothesis being testes is to determine the difference in
Importance Values when comparing to a burned and
unburned area.
Methods and Materials
The area selected to collect data was for this
experiment was a location in Diamond Bar, California
along the Brea Ridge Motorway; along a 400 meter
portion of the Freeway Complex Fire. The data was
collected on October 9, 2009 starting at 10:00 am till
2:00pm and October 23, 2009 at 9:30 am till 4:30 pm.
The method used to collect the data was point-quarter
sampling. There were a total of ten transect. Five
transects which went into the burn area and another
five transects into the unburned area. Each transect
was 100 meter and measured with a 100 meter transect
tape. Data was then collected in 20 meter points along
the transect tape. Each point represented the center of
the measurement area. Then from the center, a compass
was used to define four quadrants (Northwest,
Northeast, Southwest, and Southeast). In each quadrant
the closest plant’s stem or clump of stem’s to the center
of the point was measured (point to plant) and recorded
using a 30 meter transect tape. The diameter of the
plant was then measured using a 30 meter transect tape.
Finally the species of the plant was recorded. This
process was repeated for each transect.
All data was then transferred to MS Excel
(Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, Washington). The
data was first statistically analyzed using the Simpson’s
Diversity Index:
∑ 1
1
1
Where n equals the total number of a particular species,
and N equals the total number of all species. The value
D ranges between 0 and 1; 1 represents infinite
diversity and 0 represents no diversity.
The data was then manipulated algebraically
to determine Importance Value (IV) as referenced by
Krebs (2001). Importance Value is the sum of the
Relative Density, Relative Frequency, and Relative
Coverage. Then all IV were analyzed using an
ANOVA: Single Factor to determine significant
difference in IV.
Results
The following plants were found in both the
burned and unburned area: Lotus scoparius
(Deerweed), Rhus integrifolia (Lemonade Berry),
Phacelia cicutaria (Caterpillar Phacelia), Salvia
mellifera (Black Sage), Toxicodendron diversilobum
(Poisonoak), and Gnaphalium canescens (Fragrant
Everlasting), Adenostoma fasciculatum (Chamise),
Malosma laurina (Laurel Sumac), Wyethia ovate
(Southern Mule Ears), Eremocarpus setigerus (Turkey
Mullein), Baccharis salicifolia (Mule's Fat). The study
found there was a significant difference in plant species
and their population when compared to an area that had
burned approximately one year ago to date (D =
0.89968, Simpsons Diversity Index). Figure-1 shows
the Diversity of plant populations in the burned area
compared to the unburned area.
Number of Species
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Lemonade Berry
Deerweed
Laural Sumac
Turkey Mullen
Fragrant …
Burned
Black Sage
Mule's Fat
Caterpillar Phacelia
Poison Oak
Souther Mules Ear
Chamise
Unburned
Figure 1. There is a significant difference in number of
plant species when compared to an area that had
burned approximately one year ago to date (D =
0.89968, Simpsons Diversity Index).
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Saddleback Journal of Biology
Spring 2010