Coastal Sage Scrub Succession1
نویسنده
چکیده
Professor of Geography, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90024 USA Abstract: Unlike chaparral, shrubs of coastal sage are capable of continual seedling reproduction. As a result, mixed-aged stands form which show little senescence. Litter turnover is twice as rapid. The more open sage scrub canopy permits persistence of a diverse herb layer into mature communities. Crown sprouting potential is greater, but heat tolerance of root crowns may be more variable. Higher volatile oil contents compensate for lower fuel loads so that fire frequencies in sage scrub and coastal chaparral are comparable (once per 20 y). Seasonal dimorphism, poikilohydric behavior and leaf deciduousness permit sage species to survive in drier habitats and occupy dry chaparral sites in the early years following fire.
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