Effects of Substrate Disturbance on Secondary Plant Succession; Mojave Desert, California
Prose DV, Metzger SK, Wilshire HG. 1987. Effects of Substrate Disturbance on Secondary Plant Succession; Mojave Desert, California. Journal of Applied Ecology. 24(1):305-313
The effects of substrate disturbance on perennial plant succession in the Mojave Desert were assessed at three military camps that had been abandoned for 40 years. Significant changes in perennial plant cover, density, and relative species composition were present in disturbed areas. Larrea tridentata was the dominant long-lived species in control areas. Pioneer species such as Ambrosia dumosa and Hymenoclea salsola had percentage cover values similar to, or greater than, controls in most areas where substrate alterations were significant, and these species were dominant in the majority of disturbed areas.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Prose, D; Metzger, Susan; Wilshire, H
- Units
- DEVA , JOTR , MOJA
- Keywords
- Absence (Biodiversity), Abundance (Biodiversity), Alluvial Fans, Death Valley National Park CA NV, Distribution (Biodiversity), Iron Mountain, Mojave Desert, Plant Succession, Presence (Biodiversity), Soil Compaction, Soil Disturbance, soil trampling, successional trends, Taxa Links To Datasets, Taxa Links To References, Vegetation Communities