Abstract

The Decline of an Endemic Southern California Tree Species
Track: Forestry and Wildlife Management
Authors: Jennifer Hooper

Pseudotsuga macrocarpa is an endemic tree species unique to the Southern California National Forests. Historic attention to this tree species and other tree species within chaparral communities has been limited due to its inaccessiblity for timber purposes. More recently this tree's value has been recognized for its conservation value due to its function for wildlife and its potential application for use in restoration across southern California, to address climate change. We utilized the 1920-1930's Wieslander Vegetation Type Maps to delineate the extents of this species (pre-suppression) to compare with the current extent after the Station Fire in 2009. The decline of this species is currently being analyzed for correlations to various environmental factors across the landscape. Our understanding of possible causes of this species' decline through time will inevitably provide management with the best information to address this conservation challenge, and direction with which to move forward in the future.