Burn severity and non-native species in Yosemite National Park, California, USA

Kristen M. Kaczynski; Susan W. Beatty; Jan W. van Wagtendonk; Kristin N. Marshall

doi:10.4996/fireecology.0702145

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Burn severity and non-native species in Yosemite National Park, California, USA

Kristen M. Kaczynski·Susan W. Beatty·Jan W. van Wagtendonk·Kristin N. Marshall

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Abstract

We examined non-native species density three years after the Tuolumne Fire, which burned 1540 ha in upper montane forest in California, USA. We sampled 60 plots, stratified by burn severity (low, moderate, or high severity) and landscape position (lowland or upland). We detected non-native species in 8 of 11 (73 %) of high severity lowland sites and in 5 of 10 (50 %) of moderate severity lowland sites but, overall, richness and abundance was low. We detected only five non-native species, of which bull thistle ( Cirsium vulgare [Savi] Ten.) was the most common. Although non-native abundance is currently low, we recommend continued low intensity monitoring, especially on high severity burned lowland sites.

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Fire Ecology Article

Source-reported bounding extent: 36.84006462037767° to 38.70694605159386° latitude; -120.16296386718749° to -118.63037109375° longitude. This indicates report coverage, not an exact sampling location. View area on OpenStreetMap.

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Kristen M. Kaczynski, Susan W. Beatty, Jan W. van Wagtendonk, Kristin N. Marshall. 2011-08-01. Burn severity and non-native species in Yosemite National Park, California, USA. https://doi.org/10.4996/fireecology.0702145

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