Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2013
Abstract
Invasive plants such as Castor bean (Ricinus communis) are known to threaten ecosystems due to their competition for resources. The Ballona Wetlands and Temescal Canyon managers employ different techniques to manage the spread of R. communis, potentially resulting in differences in plant survivorship. To investigate this possibility, height of the stems of individual R. communis plants at each site were recorded in order to assign them to cohort groups. Based on the hypothesis predicted that R. communis would have a similar cohort structure at both sites but would exhibit higher survivorship at Temescal Canyon, where R. communis are removed less frequently than at the Ballona Wetlands. However, results indicate that management does not affect cohort structure or stability at either site, but rather, it may have contributed to the significantly higher overall survivorship of R. communis at Temescal Canyon.
Publisher Statement
Copyright Beta Beta Beta Biological Society
Recommended Citation
Hinton-Hardin, J.D., J. Kagihara, M.R. Pascua, and V. Carmona-Galindo (2013). A preliminary study of Ricinus communis survivorship at Ballona Wetlands and Temescal Canyon, Los Angeles, California. BIOS 84(4): 237–240.
