| Abstract Detail
Human Transformation of California: Botany, History, and Sociology Gevirtz, Elihu [1], Carroll, Mary [1], Burton, Katrina [2], Collins, Paul [3], Holmgren, Mark [4], Spanne, Larry [5], Nelson, Anthony [6]. Management Plan for the Burton Mesa Ecological Reserve, Santa Barbara County, California, USA. BURTON Mesa Chaparral is a unique form of maritime chaparral that is restricted to the aeolian sands of the Orcutt Formation, approximately ten miles from the Pacific Ocean, north of the City of Lompoc, California. This chaparral is characterized by endemic manzanitas (Arctostaphylos rudis and A. purissima), varieties of Lompoc and Santa Barbara ceanothus (Ceanothus cuneatus var. fascicularis and C. impressus var. impressus), local varieties of a widespread monkey flower and suffrutescent wallflower, and numerous flowering annuals and other taxa. Many of the species unique to the Burton Mesa chaparral are narrowly restricted in distribution. Unusual, low-growing, multi-trunked coast live oaks are found interspersed throughout the chaparral which may be indicative of genetic differences, or may be reflective of response to previous large scale disturbance, such as fire. The Reserve supports at least 326 native plant taxa including 14 endemics, and more than 235 documented or expected animal taxa.
Because of the number of endemic taxa, the unusual oaks, a rich herbaceous understory, and high animal diversity the Burton Mesa has been recognized since at least the mid 1980s as valuable and worthy of preservation. The Burton Mesa Ecological Reserve was acquired by the State in 1991 and is comprised of more than 5,000 acres of maritime chaparral and other communities.
The Reserve's configuration wraps around and shares boundaries with three suburban communities, thus human interface is a primary issue. The management plan was prepared by Condor Environmental Planning Services, Inc. for the California Department of Fish and Game in 2005. In addition to establishing a GIS and an inventory of the plant and animal diversity on the Reserve,it lays out detailed strategies for preservation of biodiversity,and plans for public access, fire and fuel management, neighbor relations, non-native species, wildlife corridors, habitat restoration,public use, archaeological resources, and other elements.
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Related Links:
Condor Environmental Planning Services web site
1 - Condor Environmental Planning Services, Inc., 3944 State Street, Suite 310, Santa Barbara, California, 93105, USA
2 - Unit 32, 30 Ijong Street, Braddon ACT, 2612, Australia
3 - Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, Vertebrate Zoology, 2559 Puesta del Sol, Santa Barbara, California, 93105, USA
4 - University of California Santa Barbara, Cheadle Center for Biological Diversity and Restoration, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, 93106, USA
5 - 4639 Royal Oak Road, Santa Maria, California, 93455, USA
6 - 1670 Kronen Way, Solvang, California, 93463, USA
Keywords:
Management Plan
Maritime Chaparral
Fire Planning
Endemics
Wildland/Urban Interface
Biodiversity Preservation
Burton Mesa.
Presentation Type: Symposium or Colloquium Presentation
Session: 41-5
Location: 106/Ayres
Date: Tuesday, August 1st, 2006
Time: 11:00 AM
Abstract ID:88 |
