Sustainable Ebony Project
The goal of the program is to enhance ebony stocks through community engagement while collecting crucial data to refine techniques for production and management.
Projects
Toward a conservation physiology of Californian flora: assessing drought vulnerability across species and ecosystems
Awardee: Camila Medeiros, PhD Student. Camila's project aims to quantify the vulnerability of woody plant species to drought in key ecosystem types of California and model species’ relative sensitivities to drought under future climate change scenarios.
Urban ecology meets citizen science: monitoring reptile diversity and measuring landscape genetic connectivity in the Los Angeles area
Awardee: Erin Toffelmier, PhD Student. Erin is studying how some types of reptiles are able to live in urban environments while some are not and how we can help protect species that are negatively impacted by humans.
Using Pond Hydroperiod to Attenuate the Spread of Invasive Tiger Salamander Alleles
Awardee: Robert Cooper, PhD Student. Robert's research is focused on the recent hybridization between the threatened California tiger salamander and the non-native barred tiger salamander.
High school student mentored by UCLA La Kretz Center postdocs wins state science fair
Like many high schoolers, Tai Michaels has plenty of hobbies. He runs cross country. He’s on the speech and debate team. He struggles with Spanish class at times. His favorite…
Pangolin Trafficking Project
This project aims to answer key questions about the natural history and conservation requirements of giant pangolins, one of the world’s most trafficked animals.
An Institutional Guideline for Ecologically Sound and Aesthetic Landscaping
The Biodiversity and Landscaping Team is a group dedicated to enhancing the ecology of the UCLA campus. We believe that being ecologically sound and aesthetically pleasing are not mutually exclusive. UCLA was…
Assessing the strength of kelp and seagrass in mitigating ocean acidification
Team: Anna George, Noah Horvath, Destiny Johnson, Eileen Ly, Roajhaan Sakaki, Shang Shi Advisor: Rob Eagle Client: The Bay Foundation
Assessment and Revitalization of the Boneyard at Sage Hill for Mixed Use Purposes
The Boneyard at Sagehill The Urban Nature Laboratory team will be focusing on three main objectives this year. Firstly, we will be conducting research and reaching out to other institutions and facilities…
Making ebony production economically and environmentally sustainable in Cameroon
Team: Laryssa Bulbenko, Kamala Eyango, Kathleen Knight, Jamie Liu, Alexa Sheldon, Justin Wynne Advisor: Kevin Njabo Client: Taylor Guitars
Using native plant gardens to preserve pollinator diversity in L.A.
Team: David Cook, Tien Ha, Melissa Ikeda, Kayla Smith, Arianna Wolff Advisor: Peter Kareiva Client: Theodore Payne Foundation
Feeling the Squeeze: A GIS Analysis of Rocky Intertidal Habitats
Rocky intertidal habitat is located at the land sea interface and supports a unique variety of species. In southern California, often these habitats are closely backed by existing developments such…