The research on climate change affecting Coastal Sage Scrub plants will be presented at the 2024 Ecological Society of America (ESA) annual conference.

Maddye Ta, a senior majoring in environmental science and policy at Chapman University, measures leaf temperature in Saddleback Wilderness.

Irvine Ranch Conservancy (IRC) has partnered with students from Chapman University’s Schmid College of Science and Technology for a research project designed to determine the highest temperatures that can be withstood by the region’s native plant species. Their findings are set to be presented at the Ecological Society of America (ESA) annual conference in Long Beach this August.

The collaboration was initiated when Gregory Goldsmith, associate professor of biological sciences at Chapman University, reached out to IRC’s Monitoring and Research team Program Manager, Eliza Hernandez, for assistance with this research project. Students visited various sites within Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks with help from Program Coordinators Chris Eljenholm and Catherine Le, including along Hicks Haul Road and within Saddleback Wilderness, to practice identifying species, contribute to a restoration project, and ultimately collect their own research data. The students measured 12 different plant species, including Coastal Goldenbush, Black Sage, Sagebrush, Toyon and Coyote Brush. They determined the thermal tolerance of leaves from each species and then sampled various traits to explore which traits may confer higher heat tolerance.

“It was very rewarding to help Chapman University students with this data collection,” says IRC Program Manager Eliza Hernandez. “At IRC, we are always thinking about how we can engage students to foster environmental stewardship, so working with Professor Goldsmith and his class on this research project was a great opportunity to inspire future generations. Additionally, the student-led research furthers our understanding of climate change effects on coastal sage scrub and can inform IRC’s management of this threatened plant community into the future.”

The results provide insights into the traits that contribute to plant species’ response to temperature and which species are most likely to be affected by climate change. For example, students found that average leaf thermal tolerance was 48.8 °C but ranged considerably among species from 46.1 to 54.1 °C. Leaf thermal tolerance indicates the temperature at which the photosynthetic machinery in the leaf begins to break down. Students also made observations using NASA’s ECOSTRESS satellite that show surface temperatures in the area already occasionally exceed 50 °C.

In turn, such information can be used during conservation efforts to restore resilient plant communities for the future. These significant findings will be presented by the Schmid College Chapman University students, with IRC as co-authors, at this year’s ESA annual conference. The conference is the world’s largest meeting of professional ecologists and is expected to attract more than 3,500 participants this year.

“It was an incredible opportunity for our students to be able to explore their own backyard, to be able to contribute to our understanding of the planet and to be able to recognize themselves as scientists. We are excited to build an ongoing collaboration,” notes Professor Goldsmith.

IRC will also present its own findings at the ESA conference, including the IRC Monitoring and Research Program’s case study on the impact of large fires during the COVID-19 pandemic on local habitats and wildlife in OC Parks’ Limestone Canyon Nature Preserve. Additionally, the IRC Plant Materials Program will highlight the Native Seed Farm as a model for seed production for restoration and community engagement. The organization is looking forward to sharing its successes and learning with like-minded organizations at the conference.

Working in collaboration with ESA to further engage with students and the ecology community at large, IRC will also sponsor two events at the conference – early career networking coffee and a luncheon for early career scientists from diverse backgrounds – and will also host a field tour for those interested in learning about grazing legacies, climate change, and increasing fire frequency in the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks. The goal is to inspire creativity and foster interest and growth in land management and ecological restoration.

For more information on IRC, as well as various community engagement and education programs enacted by the organization, please visit irconservancy.org.

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Irvine Ranch Conservancy is a non-profit, non-advocacy organization created in 2005 to help preserve and support the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks, enhancing the public’s connection to the land while helping partners and landowners with all aspects of stewardship. The Conservancy offers a variety of free, guided outdoor activities for all nature enthusiasts including hiking, mountain biking, horse-back riding and much more. For more information, visit www.letsgooutside.org.

Chapman University

Founded in 1861, Chapman University is a nationally ranked private university in Orange, California, about 30 miles south of Los Angeles. Chapman serves nearly 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students, with a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Students can choose from 123 areas of study within 11 colleges for a personalized education. Chapman is categorized by the Carnegie Classification as an R2 “high research activity” institution. Students at Chapman learn directly from distinguished world-class faculty, including Nobel Prize winners, MacArthur fellows, published authors, and Academy Award winners. The campus has produced a Rhodes Scholar, been named a top producer of Fulbright Scholars, and hosts a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious honor society. Chapman also includes the Harry and Diane Rinker Health Science Campus in Irvine. The university features the No. 4 film school and No. 60 business school in the U.S. Learn more about Chapman University: www.chapman.edu.