Natural History Wanderings

Phys.org reported

California’s native wildflowers are being smothered by layers of dead, invasive grasses. A new UC Riverside study shows that simply raking these layers can boost biodiversity and reduce fire danger.

The study, published this week in Restoration Ecology, tested whether removing thatch—dead leaves and debris—could allow native seeds to germinate and grow. Compared to other techniques for managing invasive grasses, such as controlled burns, hand weeding, and spraying herbicides, raking is decidedly less labor-intensive and more ecologically friendly

Read more  Research reveals an inexpensive fix for California’s struggling wildflowers