Abstract Title: Restoring California’s Native Coastal Scrublands: Understanding limitations to the growth and distribution of Artemisia californica

Abstract Submitted to: BIOGEOSCIENCES

Abstract Text:

Restoration projects aim to reestablish native plant communities and support the growth of biodiverse ecosystems although the variability of the natural environment presents challenges to those goals. At the University of California Santa Barbara’s North Campus Open Space (NCOS), the success of coastal sage scrub restoration relies on the strong establishment of keystone species, including California sagebrush (Artemisia californica). While the variability in sagebrush growth and productivity impedes management efforts to restore this native plant community, the cause of these differences is not well understood. Specifically, this study investigates the correlation between California sagebrush growth and soil bulk density. We explored the relationship between plant size and soil bulk density by gathering soil samples and longest branch lengths across two distinct zones. Results from our T-test analysis indicate that the mean bulk density of the two zones is not significantly different. However, results from further statistical analysis indicate a moderate correlation between soil bulk density and longest branch length across both zones (R2 = 0.3, r = -0.568). A linear relationship between these variables provides a potential explanation for approximately 56.8% of the decrease in branch length as bulk density increases. While bulk density does not fully explain the differences in California sagebrush growth, our results indicate that it may be an important contributing factor to differential growth in restoration sites. Understanding this relationship may help land managers improve the success of California sagebrush establishment at NCOS and similar restoration sites across the state.

What Winning This Award Means to Me:

This is definitely one of those "pinch-me" moments! Receiving a Student Travel Grant to attend AGU’s 2022 Fall Meeting, the most influential event in the world for the advancement of Earth and space sciences, is nothing short of a dream come true! Participating in the poster session on “Integrating and Advancing Understanding of the Impacts of Climate Change and Disturbance on Coastal Ecosystem Structure, Function, and Dynamics” will provide me with an opportunity like no other to share my research findings, network with other students and scientists in my field, as well as celebrate everyone's collective achievements. Thank you so much for this life-changing opportunity to showcase what I love doing!