One of California’s most remarkable wetlands, Suisun Marsh is the largest tidal marsh on the West Coast and a major feature of the San Francisco Estuary. This productive and unique habitat supports endemic species, is a nursery for native fishes, and is a vital link for migratory waterfowl. The 6,000-year-old marsh has been affected by […]
Blog Post
Connecting the Dots
Linking UC resources to better understand future climatic change by Erin C. Riordan Over the next century, climate change is expected to significantly impact California’s environment, threatening biodiversity, ecosystem services, and human systems across the state. Protected areas, such as those maintained by the University of California Natural Reserve System (NRS), are essential for conserving […]
Mojave Desert Yields Two New Poppies
Who said only sand is found in the desert? Two new species of desert poppies from North America prove this statement wrong with their simple beauty.The newly described plants were found in the Mojave Desert of California and Arizona. Their vibrant yellow inflorescences are typical of all desert dwellers from the Eschscholzia genus of the […]
Drought, Fire, and Flood in Mediterranean Climates
Drought is the word on every Californian’s mind this year. After a winter with nary a raindrop in sight, which follows two previous years of scarce snowfall, reservoir levels are disturbingly low and communities concerned about keeping taps flowing. Now spring storms are triggering community evacuations due to the risk of mudslides. Extremely wet and […]
Floristic Discovery in the California Desert
A case study at the Mojave National Preserve by James Andre, Director, Sweeney Granite Mountains Reserve California is celebrated widely among biologists for its unparalleled diversity and high degree of endemism. And no other state in the United States can rival California’s vascular plant diversity. While deserts are commonly portrayed as barren and lifeless, the […]
Observing Climate Change in Class
UC Santa Barbara students use real climate monitoring data to study the environment Climate monitoring stations take climate change beyond the anecdotal. These remote monitoring sites, which collect measurements on such data as temperature, wind speed, precipitation, fog and soil moisture offer more solid evidence of climate change. “I’m very proud of our site,” said […]
Central California’s Treasure Island
With its perfect combination of remoteness and proximity, Santa Cruz Island Reserve offers both researchers and visitors an experience they’ll never forget Island foxes. The world’s largest sea cave. Thousands of years of ancient Chumash civilization preserved in pristine condition, and a sense of how Southern California might have been before all the freeways and […]
Paper Published on Mediterranean Exchange
In 2011, the NRS awarded a $5,000 Mediterranean Reserve Managers International Cooperative Fellowship to Fiorenza Micheli, a Stanford University professor of biology. Micheli planned to use the funds to develop science-based conservation measures for a Tyrrenian Sea marine sanctuary and a proposed marine sanctuary in the Adriatic Sea. With the grant, Micheli invited her collaborators […]