A project funded by a CA Climate Action grant will help coastal communities forecast climate change impacts by utilizing environmental data collected by a network of UC Natural Reserves and nearby monitored sites.
Main Content
Research
Scientists from around the world conduct field research in the protected landscapes of the Natural Reserve System on topics ranging from climate change to endangered species to habitat restoration.
Teaching
Visiting a reserve brings textbook lessons about the natural world to life. Students and teachers flock to reserves from the University of California and institutions around the globe.
Public Service
From hosting school field trips, to organizing scientific lecture series, to welcoming the public for weekend classes, NRS reserves benefit California communities.
News and Highlights
Even Sonoran Desert plants aren’t immune to climate change
Supposedly drought-tolerant Sonoran Desert species hit their breaking points.
Elephant seals sleep while diving far below the ocean surface
Brainwave patterns show elephant seals sleep 2 hours per day while diving for months at sea, rivaling the record for the least sleep among mammals.