Forty Years of Change in a Serpentine Grassland

Serpentine grasslands support a relatively high proportion of California’ endemic plant diversity, providing a colorful display every spring. Which species – and which colors – we see every year are highly variable. Here Professor Hallett shares findings from 40+ years of annually observing species composition in a serpentine grassland at Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve ‘Ootchamin ‘Ooyakma. She describes how gopher disturbance and climate variability generating a shifting mosaic of species abundances over space and time. While serpentine grasslands have largely resisted invasion by non-native grasses due to their harsh soil conditions, she outlines how atmospheric nitrogen deposition, especially in conjunction with high rainfall years, can facilitate invasion into the system. She will close with a discussion of management options to maintain serpentine plant diversity into the future.

Lauren Hallett is an associate professor in the Biology Department and Environmental Studies Program at the University of Oregon. Her lab aims to produce “usable” science to improve ecosystems.

This talk will be live streamed on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@CNPSSantaClaraValley – registration NOT required) and Zoom (https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwuce2spz4qEtJfI-9iP1_BVneCmErf0Vdw – registration required)