Center for Conservation Biology

The Shipley-Skinner Reserve - Riverside County Endowment is designed to fund various projects based around the Shipley Skinner Reserve.

• About the Shipley - Skinner Reserve

  The Center for Conservation Biology (CCB) and the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences (CNAS) of the University of California at Riverside announce a Call for Proposals for faculty desiring to perform research on the Shipley-Skinner Reserve or relating to Multiple Species Preserve design or management in Riverside County. Situated between the urbanizing areas of Temecula and Murrieta to the southwest, Hemet and San Jacinto to the northeast, and bounded by Lake Skinner on the south and Diamond Valley Lake on the north, the Shipley-Skinner lands comprise an important habitat for a variety of coastal sage shrub, chaparral, oak woodlands, non-native grasslands, riparian, and freshwater lake species. This area provides habitat for many rare, threatened, and endangered species.

  In 1991, the Metropolitan Water District (MWD) of Southern California initiated a management plan to recognize and govern habitat values on lands acquired to mitigate the projected impacts of MWD's water development projects in Western Riverside County. Asked to provide research in habitat protection, monitoring, and restoration, CNAS instituted this call to address these issues at the Shipley-Skinner Reserve. In 2001, the area of research expanded to other reserves in the county as the County of Riverside established an endowment to the CCB for the study of conservation issues affecting Riverside County.

• Application Details

  2023 Call for Proposals

  Shipley-Skinner Reserve – Riverside County Endowment

   

  Background

  The Center for Conservation Biology (CCB) and the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences (CNAS) of the University of California at Riverside announce a Call for Proposals for Graduate Students and Postdocs desiring to perform research on the Shipley-Skinner Reserve in Riverside County or in lands broadly adjacent to the reserve. In 1991, the Metropolitan Water District (MWD) of Southern California initiated a management plan to recognize and govern habitat values on lands acquired to mitigate the projected impacts of MWD's water development projects in Western Riverside County. Asked to provide research in habitat protection, monitoring, and restoration, CNAS instituted this call to address these issues in the region. In 2001, the area of research expanded to other reserves in the county as the County of Riverside established an endowment to the CCB for the study of conservation issues affecting Riverside County.

  Proposals Scope

  Proposed research can include the monitoring of the status and dynamics of landscapes, ecosystems, or species of conservation concern. Both applications and theoretically oriented research is encouraged. Research activities may include experimental, observational, or modeling approaches. Any regional species or ecosystem spanning to wildland to urban interface in Riverside County, or directly affecting Riverside County is acceptable. Project duration is expected to be of one year; July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024.

  Submission of Proposals

  Proposals are limited to three pages in length (Minimum 11 pt font, single spaced, 3 page limit excludes cited references and budget). A proposal includes the following information:

  ● PI name, name, title, total budget requested
  ● Justification and Rationale - a brief statement on the need for the research
  ● Research Plan - including plans for data collection, analysis, and data management

   

  Not included in the three pages maximum but required on separate pages:

  ● References

  ● Budget and Budget Narrative - provide details regarding the use of funds for each line item of the budget. These can include graduate student summer or up to one quarter stipends and benefits. The budget should reflect the costs needed to conduct the proposed research during the project duration. Indirect costs will not be funded. Proposals should not exceed $26,000.

   

  Proposal Evaluation Criteria

  Proposals will be evaluated by UCR faculty based on their scientific merit and their potential to address regional conservation problems that span the urban to wildland continuum. Preference will be given to graduate student research and projects that can provide critical results for future extramural support.

  Final Report

  A final report will be required at the end of the project period. This report must include specific recommendations for maintenance and enhancement of the habitat and/or species or regional conservation issues. All data and other products must be submitted to the CCB or publicly available repository. The report will be posted on the CCB website (ccb.ucr.edu). The plan for the use of the products for future extramural funding should be described. Previous reports may be used in consideration of funding.

  Proposal Submission

  Responses to this Call must be submitted before 4:00 p.m (PDT) on 15 May 2022. Award announcements are planned for 26 May 2022.

  Send as a single pdf to: debbie.brown@ucr.edu

  Center for Conservation Biology
  Attn: Debbie Brown
  Debbie.Brown@ucr.edu

  University of California, Riverside, CA 92521-0334

  For additional information contact:
  Debbie Brown, Center for Conservation Biology
  Tel.: 951.827.5494; email: Debbie.Brown@ucr.edu

   

   

• Final Reports and Reward Recognition

  2019 Funded Projects

  Unseen changes over time: quantifying the dynamics of viruses and insect vectors affecting drought tolerant perennial squash
  Tessa Shates
  Dr. Kerry Mauck
  Final Report

  Monitoring pathogen transmission dynamics across pollinator networks driven by invasive social insects and migratory hummingbirds
  Christopher Allen
  Dr. Erin Wilson-Rankin
  Final Report

  The Impact of Atmospheric Nitrogen Deposition on the Microbial Nitrogen Cycle in Desert Soils
  Hannah Shulman
  Dr. Emma Aronson
  Final Report

   

  2018 Funded Projects

  A conservation & evolutionary genomic study of the endangered Stephen’s kangaroo rat

  Cui Yuwei
  Dr. Leonard Nunney
  Final Report

   

  Erika Bucior
  Dr. Louis Santiago

  Final Report

   

  Effects of novel spatial and temporal heterogeneity on benthic macroinvertebrate and diatom communities in an urbanized watershed

  Parsa Saffarinia
  Dr. Kurt Anderson

  Final Report

   

  2017 Funded Projects

  Bacterial dispersal by way of invasive terrestrial slugs: a microbiome and microcosm experiment
  Denise Jackson
  Dr. Emma Aronson
  Final Report

  Do crop-associated viruses threaten California native plants?
  Tessa Shates
  Dr. Kerry Mauck
  Final Report

  Effects of Invasion on Soil Fungal Communities and Soil-Water Status Serving as Possible Barriers to Chaparral Restoration
  Michala Phillips
  Dr. Edith Allen
  Final Report

  Comparing Soil Nematode Diversity Across Different Habitats in the Shipley-Skinner Reserve
  Tiago Pereira
  Dr. Holly Bik
  Final Report

   

  2016 Funded Projects

  Does conversion of shurblands to grasslands affect soil nitrogen trace gas emissions?
  Holly Andrews
  Dr. Darrel Jenerette
  Final Report

  A Gut Feeling: Do Gut Microbiomes Help Invasive Species Rapidly Acclimate?
  Amanda Hale
  Dr. Jessica Purcell
  Final Report

  Effects of Invasion on Soil Fungal Communities and Soil-Water Status Serving as Possible Barriers to Chaparral Restoration
  Michala Phillips
  Dr. Edith Allen
  Final Report

  Diet analyses of pollinator predators in sage scrub and chaparral ecosystems
  Paul Masonick
  Dr. Christiane Weirauch
  Final Report

  Effects of ant invasion on pollinator communities along an urbanization gradient
  Michelle C. Miner
  Jacob M. Cecala
  Dr. Erin E. Wilson-Rankin
  Final Report

  
  2015 Funded Projects

  Changes in above- and below-ground phenological relations across type-converted invaded grasslands in southern California
  Michala Phillips
  Dr. Edith Allen
  Final Report 

  Modelling the effects of space on community stability in Western Riverside County
  Sean M. Hayes
  Dr. Kurt E. Anderson
  Final Report

  Success of Plant Restorations by Comparing Soil Microbial Composition among Restored and Intact Native Systems
  Brooke Pickett
  Dr. Emma Aronson
  Final Report

  Temporal variation and effects of drought in coastal sage scrub plant-pollinator mutualisms
  C. Sheena Sidhu
  Dr. Erin E. Wilson Rankin
  Final Report

  
  2014 Funded Projects

  Soil biota in abandoned agricultural fields limits restoration of native forbs in southern California
  Bridget E. Hilbig
  Dr. Edith Allen
  Final Report

  Identifying plant-pollinator relationships of the Riverside coastal sage scrub ecosystem for habitat and plant conservation
  C. Sheena Sidhu
  Dr. Erin E. Wilson Rankin
  Final Annual Report

  Arthropods as the Missing Link to Understanding the Ecological Impact of an Invasive Plant, Brassica tournefortii
  Sarah O'Neill
  Dr. M. P. Daugherty
  Final Report

  Growth rates of  three competitor minnow species (Gambusia affinis, Notemigonus cryoleucas, and Pimephales promelas) at varying productivity levels and implications for coexistence
  Danielle Pitt
  Dr. Kurt Anderson
  Final Report

  Contributions of arbuscular mycorrhizal communities to the invasive habit of Bromus rubens: sources, patterns and mechanisms
  Matthew R. O'Neill
  Dr. Michael F. Allen
  Final Report

  
  2011 Funded Projects

  Predator-free habitat in southern California's threatened ephermeral ponds
  Ashkaan K. Fahimipour
  Dr. Kurt Anderson
  2011 Abstract

  Evaluating Nitrogen Deposition to Coastal Sage Srub Communities
  Amanda Cobbs-Russell
  Dr. James O. Sickman
  2011 Abstract

  The Relationship of Giant Reed Control to the Long-term Success of Riparian Restoration
  Kai T. Palenscar
  Dr. Jodie S. Holt
  2011 Abstract

   

  
  2009 Funded Projects

   

  Thresholds for exotic forb control to restore coastal sage scrub vegetation
  Kristin Weathers
  Dr. Edith Allen
  2009 Abstract

  Evaluating Wildlife Corridor Linkages: Do Underpasses Connect the Peninsular and Traverse Mountain Ranges?
  Michelle Murphy
  2009 Abstract

  Community Factors Affecting Giant Reed (Arundo donax) Establishment within the Riparian Plant Community of Southern California
  Kai Palenscar
  2009 Abstract

  Environmental and Community Factors Influencing the Distribution of Pennisetum setaceum in California
  Lynn (Wihbey) Sweet
  Dr. Jodie S. Holt
  2009 Abstract

   

  2006 Funded Projects

  Prescribed burn and non-native plant density effects on soil characteristics in a California grassland
  Sara Jo Dickens
  Dr. Edith Allen
  Final Report

  Long term effects of nitrogen fertilizer on coastal sage scrub vegetation at Lake Skinner
  Dr. Edith Allen
   

  Studying the genetics benefits of a wildlife crossing as part of the Western Riverside County Multi-species Habitat Conservation Plan
  Laramy Enders
  Senanu Pearson
  Byron Weckworth
  Dr. Leonard Nunney

  Incorporating Larval Host Plant Plantago erecta Niche Models into Quino Checkerspot (Euphydryas editha quino) Niche Models to Improve Performance
  Kristine Preston
  Dr. Rick Redak

  
  2005 Funded Projects

  Testing techniques for weed control at the Shipley Reserve
  Dr. Edith Allen

  Testing ecological niche models for sensitive coastal sage scrub species
  Kristine Preston
  Dr. John Rotenberry

  
  2004 Funded Projects

  Testing techniques for weed control at the Shipley Reserve
  Dr. Edith Allen
  Final Report (PDF)

  
  2003 Funded Projects

  Testing techniques for weed control at the Shipley Reserve
  Dr. Edith Allen
  Final Report (PDF)

  Seedbanks and native species emergence on the Shipley Reserve
  Robert Cox
  Dr. Edith Allen
  Final Report (PDF)

  Environmental factors affecting establishment of Arundo donax in Southern California
  Lauren Quinn
  Dr. Jodie Holt
  Final Report (PDF)

  The influence of urban land use on edge effects in California coastal sage scrub
  Shannon Kirshtner
  Dr. Rick Redak

  Effects of habitat disturbance on stress and reproduction in desert iguanas
  Jessica Bunkers
  Ted Garland
  Abstract (PDF)
  Comprehensive Power Point Presentation (PDF)

  
  2002 Funded Projects

  Testing techniques for weed control at the Shipley Reserve
  Dr. Edith Allen
  Final Report (PDF)

  Understanding competitive relationships as a strategy for restoring Crown Valley: Using the rare Forb, Erodium macrophyllum, as a model species
  Ian Gillespie
  Dr. Edith Allen
  Final Report (PDF)

  Integrating conservation science in Southern California
  Dr. Thomas Scott

  Non-local transportation of Lotus scoparius: Testing the home-site advantage hypothesis for pollination and floral form
  Paul Aigner
  Arlee Montalvo
  Nickolas Waser

  The role of hydraulic loft during the establishment of Quercus agrifolia seedlings at the Shipley-Skinner Reserve
  Jose Querejeta
  Dr. Michael Allen
  Final Report (PDF)

  Management and restoration of California Riparian ecosystems
  Lauren Quinn
  Dr. Jodie Holt
  Final Report (PDF)