Post-fire recovery in Weir Canyon
Irvine Ranch Conservancy conducts a variety of science-based programs to help protect, restore, and enhance the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks. Using comprehensive ecological knowledge and educational expertise, IRC staff is dedicated to ensuring native wildlands remain healthy and resilient. Living in Southern California, we are all too familiar with wildfires and how they can impact our lives, but what happens to the Landmarks when a wildfire event occurs?
Through the study of fire ecology, IRC staff seek to better understand the impact of wildfires on local plant and animal communities. Historically, wildfires have played an important role in the structure of Southern Californian ecosystems, likely occurring every 40-100 years, and many native plants have developed adaptations that allow them to survive these events. Unfortunately, wildfire occurrences have become more frequent, primarily due to ignitions from roadways and utility infrastructure among other human causes. Toofrequent fires hinder native plant populations from rebounding following a fire, creating conditions for invasive species to move in.
Through the study of fire ecology, IRC staff seek to better understand the impact of wildfires on local plant and animal communities. Historically, wildfires have played an important role in the structure of Southern Californian ecosystems, likely occurring every 40-100 years, and many native plants have developed adaptations that allow them to survive these events. Unfortunately, wildfire occurrences have become more frequent, primarily due to ignitions from roadways and utility infrastructure among other human causes. Toofrequent fires hinder native plant populations from rebounding following a fire, creating conditions for invasive species to move in.
In the face of ecological disturbance, native habitats on the Landmarks are composed of resistant and resilient species. Resistant species, such as shrubs and oak trees, invest energy into their roots and rely on reserves below the soil to resprouter thick branches and bark to survive wildfires, respectively. In contrast, the populations of resilient species, such as native annual grasses and flowers, can quickly recover from seeds that already exist in the soil, called the seed bank.
IRC staff continue to study fire ecology and how native species on the Landmarks are impacted by wildfire events. The number of wildfire occurrences and other natural disturbances on the land, such as drought conditions, are some of the factors that help IRC understand how to best approach restoration efforts. IRC staff and partners at UCI are currently studying active restoration sites and how the 2020 Silverado and Bond fires affected those areas as well as their recovery process over time.
For more information about Irvine Ranch Conservancy and fire prevention on the Landmarks, visit IRConservancy.org or follow the Landmarks on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
IRC staff continue to study fire ecology and how native species on the Landmarks are impacted by wildfire events. The number of wildfire occurrences and other natural disturbances on the land, such as drought conditions, are some of the factors that help IRC understand how to best approach restoration efforts. IRC staff and partners at UCI are currently studying active restoration sites and how the 2020 Silverado and Bond fires affected those areas as well as their recovery process over time.
For more information about Irvine Ranch Conservancy and fire prevention on the Landmarks, visit IRConservancy.org or follow the Landmarks on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
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