1. Ecology and Conservation Status of Morro Manzanita Arctostaphylos morroensis: A Threatened Plant Endemic to Los Osos, San Luis Obispo County, California.
- Author
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Tyler, Claudia M. and Kofron, Christopher P.
- Subjects
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ENDANGERED plants , *PLANT conservation , *ENDEMIC plants , *PUBLIC land management , *ENDANGERED species , *WILDLIFE conservation , *POPULATION viability analysis , *PLANT ecology - Abstract
Morro manzanita Arctostaphyos morroensis (Ericaceae) is a long-lived, shrub endemic to San Luis Obispo County, southern California, USA. It was listed as threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act in 1994, with identified threats being residential and urban development, including lack of protection on private land and lack of management on public lands, competition with invasive non-native plants, and risks of extinction associated with small and isolated populations. Our goal in this paper is to summarize and supplement the current knowledge of Morro manzanita. We review the literature on the species' description, reproductive ecology, germination cues, short-term response to fire. and distribution. We conducted field surveys to report on long-term response to fire, resampling the previously studied prescribed burn site 25 yr post-fire. Finally, we summarize the current land management of sites that support Morro manzanita and threats faced by this species. We conclude with specific recommendations for management and future study towards supporting conservation of this species and its maritime chaparral community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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