Document Type
Thesis
Date of Degree Completion
Spring 2023
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Biology
Committee Chair
Mary Poulson
Second Committee Member
Eric Graham
Third Committee Member
Alison Scoville
Abstract
Cacti are iconic, conspicuous, and important contributors to arid ecosystems. They stabilize soil and provide essential food and habitat to wildlife. Pediocactus nigrispinus is a species of cactus endemic to the Pacific Northwest and has been listed as a sensitive species due to its vulnerability to habitat loss. Pediocactus nigrispinus is being threatened by habitat fragmentation, poaching, and a changing climate. Best conservation methods for this species are poorly understood, due in part to a limited understanding of its demography and associations that may help define its occurrence.
A demographic study in Washington State was implemented in 2016 to give a baseline understanding of the population dynamics for P. nigrispinus. Five years of size, fecundity, and survival information were recorded. A stochastic analysis was performed to assess survival and fecundity rates for climatic variables. Biotic and abiotic associations were assessed in an additional 16 plots throughout Washington and Oregon through in situ assessment of vegetation and ground cover associations. These variables were compared with population density, overall size of the individuals, and number of fruits to assess how changes in associations may correlate with changes in these population traits. The demography study found no juvenile recruitment and a declining population over the four years of analysis regardless of annual precipitation levels. The association analysis found no correlation in population metrics with the associations but indicated higher fruit production in Oregon compared to Washington.
Recommended Citation
Dillon-Zuppelli, Zarha, "DEMOGRAPHY AND HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS OF THE BASALT CACTUS: PEDIOCACTUS NIGRISPINUS" (2023). All Master's Theses. 1895.
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/etd/1895