Ecological and Cultural Significance of Burning Beargrass Habitat on the Olympic Peninsula, Washington

Shebitz, Daniela; Reichard, Sarah; Dunwiddie, Peter W.

doi:10.3368/er.27.3.306

Cited by 20 publications

(69 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…Similarly, experimental manipulations of beargrass habitat by Shebitz et al (2009a) found that both flowering and vegetative reproduction (shoot production) increased in areas where vegetation and coarse woody debris were manually cleared. Low temperatures, particularly soil temperatures, also may inhibit flowering, even independent of light environment.…”

Section: Plant Growth and Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Rentz (2003) found that beargrass collected from burned areas exhibited reductions in support fibers along the adaxial and abaxial surfaces, making the leaves more pliable. Crane (1990) found that leaves can be harvested from a burned site within a year after a fire, but Anderson (2005), Shebitz et al (2009a), LaLande and Pullen (1999) and Rentz (2003) all noted that the best harvest is 3 to 7 years following a burn, with the timing likely related to fire severity. Today, anthropogenic burning by Native Americans for the management of cultural resources is limited (see Senos et al 2006: 394, fig.…”

Section: Seasonality and Location Of Native American Harvestmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…17.1-Hoopa Forestry), and, therefore, most beargrass is harvested following a wildfire (Heffner 1984). In one unreplicated field study, Shebitz et al (2009a) found that high-intensity rather than the mid-to-low-intensity fire better prepared the site for beargrass establishment.…”

Section: Seasonality and Location Of Native American Harvestmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…9). Brittle leaves or leaves with a yellowish tint are not suitable for weaving (Crane 1990, Hunter 1988, LaLande and Pullen 1999, Rentz 2003, Schlick 1994, Shebitz 2005, Shebitz et al 2009a, Thomas and Schumann 1993. Additionally, older larger, thicker leaves with the red-tinged leaf edges near base are avoided.…”

Section: Traditional Harvest Practicesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Beargrass is harvested primarily during spring and summer, after snowmelt, with special focus given to areas that have burned sometime over the last 1 to 3 years (Crane 1990, Hunter 1988, O'Neale 1930, Rentz 2003, Schlick 1994, Shebitz 2005, Shebitz et al 2009a, Vance et al 2001. High-elevation plants produce longer and stronger (less brittle) leaves (Hunter 1988, Rentz 2003, and beargrass plants Native Americans used fire to prepare beargrass habitat, probably because exposure to low-intensity fire increased leaf quality (Hunter 1988, LaLande and Pullen 1999, O'Neale 1930, Shebitz 2005.…”

Section: Seasonality and Location Of Native American Harvestmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Natural and cultural history of beargrass (<em>Xerophyllum tenax</em>)

Hummel¹,

Foltz-Jordan²,

Polasky³

2012

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Section: Plant Growth and Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Seasonality and Location Of Native American Harvestmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Seasonality and Location Of Native American Harvestmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Traditional Harvest Practicesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Seasonality and Location Of Native American Harvestmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Natural and cultural history of beargrass (<em>Xerophyllum tenax</em>)

Hummel¹,

Foltz-Jordan²,

Polasky³

2012

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Fire, leaf harvest, and abiotic factors drive demography of an ecologically and culturally important understory plant

Hart-Fredeluces

Ticktin

2019

Ecosphere

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Understanding how multiple simultaneous drivers interact to influence plant demography is critical for protecting plant diversity in the context of global change. Fire is a key disturbance in forested ecosystems, but the interactive effects of fire and other abiotic and management factors on understory plants are poorly understood. Beargrass (Xerophyllum tenax) is perennial herb that provides food, habitat, and nesting material for a wide range of animals. Beargrass populations are prescribe‐burned by Native American experts, and leaves are subsequently harvested at low‐intensity for use in weaving. Leaves for weaving are reportedly becoming harder to find due to lack of fire and competition with commercial harvesters. To elucidate the effects of fire and its interactions with leaf harvest and abiotic factors on beargrass populations, we collected demographic data on more than 1000 individuals over three years across fire severities in combination with individual‐level soil moisture and light measurements. We also conducted an experiment simulating low‐intensity leaf harvest. We built mixed‐effects models to test our predictions that fire would increase growth and reproduction, and that it would mediate the effects of soil moisture and leaf harvest on beargrass growth. Fire increased growth as well as sexual and vegetative reproduction, providing evidence that beargrass is fire‐adapted. Leaf harvest both reduced survival probability and increased the probability of vegetative reproduction. Individual growth increased with early growing season soil moisture in unburned and low‐severity fire areas but did not vary with soil moisture in high‐severity areas. In sum, fire is a key driver of beargrass demography and fire interacted with other factors to influence beargrass vital rates. Understanding the impacts of changes to management and abiotic factors on understory species such as beargrass, and the ecosystem services they provide, requires attention to interactions among multiple environmental factors.

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