January 2004, Volume 5, Issue 1

Adina is a conservation biologist who joined the faculty in 1995 as a Cooperative Extension Specialist with the Integrated Hardwood Range Management Program (IHRMP) based at the Hopland Field Station (see http://hopland.uchrec.org). She is also Adjunct Associate Professor and her work with students brings her on campus for at least one day a week. Her particular interest is in the forces that influence loss of biodiversity at all levels from genes to ecosystems. This leads her to working on an amazing array of issues including single species management, cumulative impacts, ecosystem health, restoration ecology, ecological monitoring, and regional planning. Adina says: “My research and extension focus is on the associations between humans and natural systems – how people use land and water, how land use patterns change, and how this affects natural systems”. She says: “The great advantage of addressing these issues in ESPM is the interdisciplinary nature of the department and quality of faculty and students”.

Perhaps the major issue in California is water. Adina’s contribution is evaluating how to conserve stream health and enhance salmon recovery within California’s oak woodlands. In particular, her lab group is studying the impacts of agricultural expansion and exurban development on watershed process and function. Recently her student’s research has revealed the need to develop new extension materials that will encourage land owners to refrain from removing fallen trees from the creek. As a result they have developed a brochure explaining the importance of large woody debris for salmon recovery that will be distributed to oak woodland landowners.

A special strength of Adina’s program is the development of a Geographic Information System (GIS) that enables her to better integrate biodiversity research with conservation planning. This is done through integrating spatially explicit land use change models with environmental data. Adina and her students are focusing on habitat fragmentation due to urban and ranchette development and the conversion of woodlands into vineyards. This work enables Adina’s group to evaluate the associated changes to natural communities and the tendency for exotic species to invade native landscapes. The interesting perspective that Adina has developed is that biological impacts are not just the effects of that particular piece of land use change but are, to a larger extent, a result of the cumulative impacts that each increment of land use change has on the overall landscape. Changed use in one small area certainly affects the biodiversity in that area, but often more importantly affects the resilience of the animals and plants in the whole watershed. Adina uses GIS models to forecast likely changes associated with alternative land use policies and practices. “These tools allow the public and decision-makers to participate in scenario development and evaluate the expected outcomes of their actions”, says Adina, “they also help us assess the costs and benefits of conservation and restoration”.

In another application of GIS as a tool for spatial analysis, Adina’s group has developed an interactive mapping method by which Sonoma County open space planners can prioritize properties that contain agricultural and natural resources for conservation. They are also developing web-based interactive mapping for the Russian River Interactive Information System that will allow local watershed groups to develop their own resource maps and upload and share spatial and non-spatial information collected at the local level. This tool will encourage stakeholders to become more aware of biodiversity issues, communicate more knowledgeably, and think collaboratively about the region as an integrated ecosystem.

Another interesting biodiversity issue involves evaluating the effects of invasive species such as feral cats, red fox, and Argentine ants on native populations. In particular, feral cats are important because they may compete with bobcats and mountain lions, can transmit disease, and deplete native bird populations. Adina is developing the capacity to predict how additional fragmentation will impact the spread of non-native species and potentially reduce native animals and plants associated with California’s oak woodlands.

In addition to all this innovative research, Adina teaches graduate courses and seminars on campus and gives on average one presentation per week to boards of supervisors, special interest groups, or to the public. “I’m on the road a lot”, she says. It was stimulating to talk with her and to appreciate how effective she must be in promoting a balance between recognizing human needs while retaining the resilience and diversity of California’s oak woodland systems.