Growth Sequence of Post-fire Chaparral Resprouts in California’s Santa Monica Mountains

The post-fire resprout succession of California Chaparral was surveyed in Corral Canyon of the Santa Monica Mountains. The primary objective of this investigation was to determine the sequence of Chaparral post-fire resprouts and possible correlations to the life histories of those species. Over a three month period, four designated study sites were visited every two weeks, surveying the number of adults, the number of resprouts and the height of the resprouts. It was found that both the facultative and the obligate typed species were successful in post-fire resprout. Facultative species were the first to resprout and obligate species displayed the most rapid growth rate upon resprouting. It is concluded that the life histories of these Chaparral species is directly related to their time of regrowth as well as their rate of regrowth. Also, that facultative sprouters, specifically Adenostoma fasiculatum and Ceanothus spinosus, are the first to resprout followed by the remaining facultative species, the obligate species, and lastly the non-sprouting species