Abstract Detail

Recent Topics Posters

Wilson, Natalie [1], Norman, Laura [1].

Vegetation Response to Watershed Restoration in Southeastern Arizona.

Vegetation communities are increasingly affected by interactions of climate change, land use change, and local alterations of ecological processes. Restoration practitioners in many regions seek to mitigate these changes and conserve landscapes. In southeast Arizona, threats to the landscape include changes in precipitation patterns, increased wildfire interval and intensity, and increased use of ground and surface water resources by a growing human population. In this region, vegetation dynamics are primarily driven by water availability and in response a suite of restoration techniques have been developed to restore watershed function. These techniques affect the hydrology of the landscape, increasing water availability and decreasing damaging flows, but the effect of these techniques on vegetation dynamics have not been adequately documented. To evaluate the effect of restoration structures on vegetation, field data was collected for four growing seasons (August – September) from 2015 to 2018. We measured and documented overall vegetation response, changes in species composition and abundance, occurrence of wetland species, and native/non-native species dynamics. Preliminary results show higher frequencies of perennial vegetation at treatment sites after four years for all sites and site specific dynamics will be discussed.

Related Links:
Aridland Water Harvesting Project

1 - US Geological Survey, Western Geographic Science Center, 520 N Park Ave, Tucson, AZ, 85719, USA

Keywords:
Restoration Ecology
Riparian Vegetation
Aridlands
Vegetation Monitoring.

Presentation Type:
Session: P, Recent Topics Posters
Location: Arizona Ballroom/Starr Pass
Date: Monday, July 29th, 2019
Time: 5:30 PM
Number: PRT005
Abstract ID:1350
Candidate for Awards:None