global change and southern california ecosystems rebecca aicher uci gk-12 march 7, 2009
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Global Change and Southern California Ecosystems
Rebecca AicherUCI GK-12 March 7, 2009
What is global change?
http://sudinglab.bio.uci.edu/
http://sudinglab.bio.uci.edu/Humans alterations of biological diversity, land cover, atmospheric composition, and the climate system.
Global Change Ecology
http://www.greenfacts.org/en/global-biodiversity-outlook/figtableboxes/figure-2.htm www.latimes.com
Study of how these alterations influence the complex web of interactions among species, ecosystem processes and the Earth as a whole.
Global Change in Southern California Ecosystems
Droughts Invasive Species
http://www.greenfacts.org/en/global-biodiversity-outlook/figtableboxes/figure-2.htm
Nitrogen fertilization Increased fire frequency
www.latimes.com
How Does Global Change Affect Coastal Sage Scrub Communities?
Across the state, only 10% of coastal sage scrub habitat remains
Animal species rely on CSS habitat
http://home.pacbell.net/wa4lrm/chollas/images/CA-Gnatcatcher_7158.jpghttp://jr055.k12.sd.us/states/birds/AR%20cactus%20wren.jpg
Coastal Sage Scrub Species Decline as Invasive Species
Increase Over Time
Talluto and Suding 2008
1930s 2005
Vegetation Cover in Annual Grassland Communities and Coastal Sage Scrub Communities
Coastal sage scrub
Annual grasses and forbs
Interactive Factors Facilitate Success of Non-native Annual
GrassesIncreases in fire frequency
Air pollution and nitrogen deposition
Talluto and Suding 2008
Studying Global Change Ecology in High School Biology Classes
How does nitrogen fertilization affect diversity in coastal sage scrub communities?
Does nitrogen fertilization increase the invasibility of coastal sage scrub communities?
What Global Change Factors Affect Native Perennial
Grasslands?Less than 1% of native grasslands remain and
hypothesized due to:– Extreme drought in the late 1800s– Cattle grazing– Introduction of invasive species from regions with
similar climates– Nitrogen deposition– Land use change– Interaction of all of these factors leads to non-
native annual dominated communities
Southern California Grasslands
Dominated by non-native annual grass species with relict native perennial grasses and native annual forbs
Non-native
NativeSite Burned in Fall 2007
Studying Global Change Ecology in the Field to Restore Native Grasslands
How Do Nitrogen Fertilization, Dispersal, and Dominant Species
Determine Grassland Composition? Dispersal
Nitrogen
Plots
Dispersal
Control
Plots
No Dispersal
Control
Plots
No Dispersal
Nitrogen
Plots
Lupine Dominant
Amsinckia Dominant
Pollination, Flower Morphology, and Abundance
Today in the field you will:• monitor pollinator visitation• use a dichotomous key to identify
pollinator syndromes• measure abundance and height of two
dominant species • extract nematodes from the soil• seed an experimental grassland
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