Comparative Growth of the Spiked Fescue on a Northwest and a
Southwest Facing Slope By Sam Humphrey July 18, 2013 Vegetation
Ecology CU Mountain Research Center
Slide 2
Background to Hypothesis NW slopes are usually more moist than
SW slopes NW slopes are usually more moist than SW slopes Ervin and
Koski (1998), in Colorado, concluded that water could be conserved
on tall fescue while maintaining acceptable turfgrass quality
(Brown, et. al) Ervin and Koski (1998), in Colorado, concluded that
water could be conserved on tall fescue while maintaining
acceptable turfgrass quality (Brown, et. al) Spiked Fescue can
still grow at a normal rate with less water than normal (Brown, et
al) Spiked Fescue can still grow at a normal rate with less water
than normal (Brown, et al) With more moisture, the Spiked Fescue
should do better With more moisture, the Spiked Fescue should do
better However, it should still do well on the dryer slope However,
it should still do well on the dryer slope
Slide 3
My Hypothesis Does the Spiked Fescue ( Leucopoa kingii ) prefer
a Northwest or Southwest facing slope? Does the Spiked Fescue (
Leucopoa kingii ) prefer a Northwest or Southwest facing slope? How
prevalent is the Spiked Fescue throughout each community, as
compared to other species? How prevalent is the Spiked Fescue
throughout each community, as compared to other species?
Slide 4
Background about Betasso Site Foothills/Lower Montane Region
Some dead trees and wood in site Grids were about 50 meters
off-trail Site #1 NW facing slope had no trees Site #2 Shown in
Picture SW facing slopes are usually more moist than NW facing
slopes
Slide 5
Setup Pseudo-replication (only tested in one specific area)
Pseudo-replication (only tested in one specific area) Set up
100x100 meter grid on both slopes Set up 100x100 meter grid on both
slopes Got 15 random coordinates for both grids Got 15 random
coordinates for both grids Plot out each Daubenmire Plot out each
Daubenmire Recorded Species, % Cover, # of Individuals, Height,
Moisture Content, Litter Layer, and Soil Quality Recorded Species,
% Cover, # of Individuals, Height, Moisture Content, Litter Layer,
and Soil Quality
Slide 6
Site #1 and Site #2 Findings and Results Spiked Fescue is most
frequent and dominant species Spiked Fescue is most frequent and
dominant species Average Height of Spiked Fescue: 35 cm Average
Height of Spiked Fescue: 35 cm Needle & Thread Grass (
Hesperostipa comata ) is slightly more common than Spiked Fescue
Needle & Thread Grass ( Hesperostipa comata ) is slightly more
common than Spiked Fescue Average Height of Spiked Fescue: 39 cm
Average Height of Spiked Fescue: 39 cm
Slide 7
Data Spiked Fescue most dense species, then Needle & Thread
Grass, and third White Sage Spiked Fescue most dense species, then
Needle & Thread Grass, and third White Sage
Slide 8
Even More Data Site #1 vs. Site #2 # of IndividualsJaccard
Index Common:11 Total:1764.70% Site #2:Shannon Wiener Index
Evenness 1.879774479 0.7564769 Site #1:Shannon Wiener Index
Evenness 1.8925928170.717147292 These slopes had very similar
communities These slopes had very similar communities This site was
pretty even, besides the large amount of Fescue This site was
pretty even, besides the large amount of Fescue This site had a
more even distribution, not weighted on Fescue This site had a more
even distribution, not weighted on Fescue
Slide 9
More Data Site #1 was covered mostly with Spiked Fescue Site #1
was covered mostly with Spiked Fescue Site #2 seemed to have a more
even distribution of vegetation Site #2 seemed to have a more even
distribution of vegetation ANOVA Source of VariationSSdfMSFP-valueF
crit Sites 0.011111 1111 0.463957 1570.497653 3.954568 256 Species
0.148526 6672 0.074263 333 3.100950 4490.050196 3.105156 608
Interaction 0.072482 2222 0.036241 111 1.513289 0590.226125
3.105156 608 Within2.0116884 0.023948 571 Total2.243889 P-Value for
Interaction of.0226125 means the pattern is not significant P-Value
for Interaction of.0226125 means the pattern is not
significant
Slide 10
Results The Spiked Fescue had similar average height on both
slopes The Spiked Fescue had similar average height on both slopes
Spiked Fescue had a higher frequency and density on the Northwest
facing slope Spiked Fescue had a higher frequency and density on
the Northwest facing slope The Southwest facing slope had fewer
species, but the present species were more evenly distributed than
on the Northwest facing slope The Southwest facing slope had fewer
species, but the present species were more evenly distributed than
on the Northwest facing slope
Slide 11
Conclusion The pattern of species on either slopes was not
significant. The pattern of species on either slopes was not
significant. A pattern seemed to be emerging A pattern seemed to be
emerging With more tests and data, there may actually be one With
more tests and data, there may actually be one More in-depth data
about the Spiked Fescue is required to understand how it relates to
the community and surrounding species More in-depth data about the
Spiked Fescue is required to understand how it relates to the
community and surrounding species Deficit Irrigation Study Deficit
Irrigation Study Other studies about the Fescues growth and success
in the montane community Other studies about the Fescues growth and
success in the montane community
Slide 12
Reference Brown, C.A., D.A. Devitt, and R.L. Morris. "Water Use
and Physiological Response of Tall Fescue Turf to Water Deficit
Irrigation in an Arid Environment." HortScience 39.2 (2004):
388-93. Web.. Brown, C.A., D.A. Devitt, and R.L. Morris. "Water Use
and Physiological Response of Tall Fescue Turf to Water Deficit
Irrigation in an Arid Environment." HortScience 39.2 (2004):
388-93. Web..