It is believed that plant communities on the Big Island of Hawaii are less likely to return to a native-dominated state after fire when invasive grass cover is high at the time of burning, In collaboration with the National Park Service and US Geological Survey, my collaborators and I are testing that theory by studying the Keahou Ranch Fire that burned in Hawaii Volcanoes National park in 2018.

 

Referencing oblique aerial imagery acquired before the fire, we will analyze the relationship between pre-fire cover of exotic grasses and post-fire measurements that we take in the field-- including scorch height, mortality,  and regeneration of native plants. This will inform managers as they work to restore invaded ecosystems to be resilient against future fires.