Drought and Change in Invasive Grass Fuels during an 18-Year Period in Rare Plant Habitat in the Mojave Desert
/Edaphic habitat islands formed by special soils with extreme chemical or physical properties frequently contain rare species and unique biotic communities that are priorities for conservation. However, uncertainty in the degree of stability or change that can be expected in these communities as environmental conditions change (e.g., shifting precipitation patterns) complicates the development of management strategies, including for invasive grasses as potential threats to native habitats. This paper reports the results of an 18-year study (2008 to 2025) of vegetation change on gypsum-associated habitats supporting rare native species on protected lands administered by the National Park Service (Lake Mead National Recreation Area) and the Bureau of Land Management (Southern Nevada District) in the Mojave Desert.
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Abella, S.R., and L.P. Chiquoine. 2026. Stability and turnover in gypsum-associated plant communities during an 18-year period. Drylands 3:e11. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/cambridge-prisms-drylands/article/stability-and-turnover-in-gypsumassociated-plant-communities-during-an-18year-period/985088B6DA4983074BCAA9E34263DB36
