[projects] Nimble Action

Nimble Action to Address Emerging Issues

How is the CA-CESU taking action to respond to issues that affect our natural resources today? The natural environment and cultural/historic resources allow people to feel connected to nature and understand the past. Addressing emerging issues and protecting our natural resources is salient to practice being better stewards of the land, water, history, and culture. Learn more about projects taking nimble action below.

Molecular Bark Beetle Identification for Managing Novel Giant Sequoia Death

Years Active: 2021-2023

PI: Seth Davis (Colorado State University)

Giant sequoias have long been known for their immunity to fatal insect attack, but during the last seven years 33 large sequoias in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks have been killed through novel interactions. These novel interactions include hotter drought, fire, and Phloeosinus bark beetle. Options for controlling beetle populations, and thus reducing sequoia death, depend heavily upon species and/or host race of the beetle.

This project seeks to use molecular approaches to identify the beetle. Using molecular and behavioral approaches, the Phloeosinus beetle that attacks sequoias will be identified. Giant sequoia groves within the NPS Castle Fire perimeter will be surveyed to detect bark beetle attacks. If detected, planes will be developed to treat attacked trees with test beetle traps. This project's work will help strengthen forest management of forest pests which will improve the health of the giant sequoias. This project also supports training opportunities for students and biologists.

Increasing Resilience of Endangered Sierra Nevada Yellow-legged Frogs

Years Active: 2020-2025

PI: Thomas C. Smith (University of California, Santa Barbara)

Yellow-legged frogs were once the most abundant amphibian in the Sierra Nevada. The declines have escalated since the late-1970s leaving the species critically endangered. Causes of this decline in Yosemite, and across the Sierra Nevada, include the introduction of nonnative trout into naturally fishless lakes and streams and an emerging amphibian disease. Several types of recovery efforts are currently being implemented across the Sierra Nevada to reverse the decline of the Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog, including removal of nonnative trout, frog translocations and reintroductions, and treatments to reduce frog susceptibility to Bd - a prominent fungal pathogen that causes disease in amphibians.

The purpose of this continuing study is to: (1) use mark-recapture methods to describe the population sizes and trends of several naturally-occurring Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog populations that may serve as sources for future frog translocations; (2) use mark-recapture methods to describe the population sizes and trends of several translocated frog populations; (3) conduct additional translocations to continue the effort to expand the distribution of frogs in Yosemite; and (4) conduct amphibian visual encounter surveys at up to 20 additional sites to assess the status of particularly important populations.

Microbial Associations of Invaded and Uninvaded Coastal Dunes

Years Active: 2022-2023

PI: Rachel Gallery and Albert Barberán (University of Arizona)

Point Reyes National Seashore is proposing to continue collaborating with the University of Arizona, a member of the Desert Southwest CESU, on microbial studies related to coastal dunes at Point Reyes and the park’s efforts to effectively restore these systems after being invaded for decades by non-native invasive plant species. The Seashore contains some of the highest quality remaining coastal dune habitat in the nation. Park legislation mandates protection of diminishing coastline and specifically calls for the preservation of declining coastal dune habitat. However, this habitat has been seriously threatened by the encroachment of European beachgrass and iceplant since being planted in the early 1900s. As of the late 1990s, these species accounted for 60% of the Seashore’s 2,200 acres of coastal bluff, dune, and scrub habitat.

The park has used a combination of manual and mechanical removal and herbicide treatment to remove 271 acres of invasive European beachgrass and ice plant from 525 acres of dune habitat. In this particular project, DNA will be extracted from soil samples collected and processed in early 2022 to evaluate how varying levels of applied native soil inoculum may have influenced these communities and how changes in communities may have affected decomposition of litter in litter bags.

Understanding Regional Genetics to Sustain Whitebark Pine at Lassen Volcanic National Park

Years Active: 2022-2024

PI: Amanda De La Torre (Northern Arizona University)

Whitebark pine is a keystone species in high elevation ecosystems, regulating snowmelt and providing food for 20 seed predators across its range. At present, whitebark pine has been proposed for listing as threatened by USFWS under the Endangered Species Act. This project proposes to provide a genome-wide assessment of whitebark pine population genetics to address declining populations at Lassen Volcanic National Park and support long-term management of the species. This project will provide a genome-wide assessment of genetic diversity levels, population structure, gene flow patterns, and inbreeding across the natural whitebark pine range including identifying populations/genotypes that are genetically different/unique, and with higher frequency of alleles associated with BR resistance or adaptation to warmer climates.

Archaeological Data Recovery Program for the Fort Barry Rifle Range

Years Active: 2021-2022

PI: Thomas Whitney (Sonoma State University)

Previous archeological reports from Sonoma State University on Fort Barry recommend an additional phase of research on three additional site: the 100-and 200-yard berms and the area between the 100-yard berm and backstop at the pistol firing line. This project conducts and reports on the historic archeological research and field investigations of the above-mentioned portions of the Fort Barry Rifle Range.