Biodiversity of native species in Los Angeles
La Kretz Postdoc Dr. Joscha Beninde is conducting a comparative landscape genomics study to understand how species survive and thrive in urban environments.
Projects
California Ecosystem Futures: The Future of California Drought, Fire, and Forest Dieback
The Center for Climate Science is using climate, vegetation, and fire observations and models to answer critical questions for California's future: Under climate change, what will happen to forests? How will fire risk change? How will climate, forest, and fire changes interact with and exacerbate one another — and what can we do to prepare?
Characterizing lagoon biodiversity in southern California using environmental DNA
Awardee: Rachel Turba. Rachel is investigating shifts in community structure related to such impacts through exploration of environmental DNA from water samples and sediments from these lagoons, with the goal to address conservation efforts related to translocation of populations or local environment improvement.
Designing a Toolkit to Support Sustainable Small Island Economies
Balancing the needs of multiple stakeholders when making decisions about marine resources is challenging. A toolkit that is specific to the challenges small islands face -economically, socially, and environmentally- is…
Detection of incipient, invasive Ambrosia Beetles using species distribution models
Awardee: Monica Dimson, Ph.D. Student. Monica is interested in modeling the distribution of the invasive shot-hole borer (Euwallacea sp. nr.fornicatus), a beetle that threatens native trees, urban forests, and agricultural crops in California, in order to assess the utility of these models in conservation and planning.
Developing Genomic Resources to Inform Conservation and Management of the Tricolored Blackbird
Awardee: Kelly Barr, PhD Student. Kellys work surrounds using a massive genomic dataset to analyze these issues in Tricolored Blackbirds, a species that has undergone sharp declines and is under intense management throughout the state of California.
Developing Human Capital in Support of Islands’ Blue Economy
Islands often lack a capable workforce. Their small populations and sparse educational training opportunities make it hard to address workforce limitations. This project will conduct a critical evaluation of workforce…
Does wrack of an invasive alga provide a similar resource subsidy as giant kelp for supporting key ecosystem functions on sandy beaches?
Awardee: Lauren Smith, PhD Student. Lauren is researching invasive Sargassum horneri found in southern California.
Ensuring the Sustainability of Los Angeles Water Management Under Climate Change
In Fall 2018, the UCLA IoES Center for Climate Science kicked off a new five-year project aimed at improving the sustainability of water management operations and planning in Los Angeles County. Our researchers will work closely with key water agencies to ensure that water resources managers take cutting-edge climate science into account.
Improving the Administration of Finances as a Key to Economic Development
Many organizations or even government agencies in islands lack the rigorous financial administration processes that would allow them to be eligible to receive foreign funds. This project will provide recommendations…
Intestinal Pathogen Surveillance in Los Angeles Region Coyotes
Awardee: Sarah Helman, PhD Student. Sarah is working with wildlife and veterinary agencies to obtain coyote fecal samples from within and around urban Los Angeles, which I will use to test for intestinal pathogens and parasites.
Known and Emerging Risks to Islands
Islands are especially vulnerable to certain risks: particularly in the form of environmental risks from climate change and natural disasters. These risks can be especially hazardous to a small-scale island…