Science and the MSHCPs (Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plans)

One of the primary emphases of the Center is to address science-based questions regarding multiple species habitat conservation plans, especially those of western Riverside County and the Coachella Valley. We look at questions of spatial and temporal scale and identifying important ecological relationships. Crucial to successful community level approaches are scale‐sensitive nested sampling designs, and simultaneous sampling of important taxonomic assemblages (usually vertebrates, arthropods and plants) to detect interspecific relationships. Identification of important ecological relationships will require data collected over several years and will likely move beyond the conceptual stage next year.

Current projects

Implementation of the science and monitoring tasks for the Coachella Valley MSHCP 
Project PI: Cameron W. Barrows
Funding Agency: Coachella Valley Association of Governments (2013-2014)

Assessing climate related changes to water sources in the Santa Rosa – San Jacinto Mountains National Monument
Project PI: Cameron W. Barrows
Funding Agency: US Bureau of Land Management (2013-2014)

Reducing uncertainty regarding the effects of change on biodiversity in the California Desert 
Project PI: Cameron W. Barrows
Funding Agency: US Fish and Wildlife Service (2013-2014)

Managing species in transition zones in the face of climate change in Joshua Tree National Park (NPS) 
Project PI: Cameron W. 
Funding Agency: National Park Service

Desert Tortoise Habitat Modeling 29 Palms Marine Base 
Project PI: Cameron W. Barrows
Funding Agency: Department of Defense (2013-2014)

Rare plant distribution Modeling in the California Desert
Project PI: Cameron W. Barrows 
Funding Agency: ECorp and US Bureau of Land Management (2013-2014)

Past projects

Coachella Valley Wildlife Corridor Analysis
Project PI: Cameron W. Barrows
Funding Agency: Coachella Valley Conservation Commission, Friends of the Desert Mountains (2011-2012)

Assessment of oak die-off in southern California.
Project PIs: Akif Eskalen & Tom Scott
Funding Agency: USDA Forest Service – CA CESU (2009-2011)

Integrating bioenergetics, spatial scales, and population dynamics for environmental flow assessments
Project PIs: Kurt Anderson & Roger Nisbet (UC Santa Barbara)
Funding Agency: UCSB/UC Instream Flow Assessment Program (2009-2010)

Career opportunities and exploration in the natural and agricultural sciences
Project PIs: Cameron W. Barrows & Kurt Leuschner (College of the Desert)
Funding Agency: College of the Desert/USDA CSREES Hispanic Serving Institution

Alien invasion: Effects of atmospheric nitrogen deposition on sagebrush steppe vegetation dynamics at Upper Columbia Basin Network Parks.
Project PIs: Edith B. Allen, James Sickman, G. Darrel Jenerette
Funding Agency: USDI National Park Service - CESU (2010-2013)

Riverside County Vegetation Sampling Research Project – Lake Matthews.
Project PI: Edith B. Allen 
Funding Agency: County of Riverside (2010)

Development of Fire Management Tools to Maximize Training Days and Minimize Habitat Conversion at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.
Project PIs: Helen Regan, Janet Franklin (ASU) 
Funding Agency: Dept of Defense SPAWAR (2010-2012)

Evaluating Wildlife Corridor Linkages: Do Underpasses Connect the Peninsular and Transverse Mountain Ranges at Stubbe, Cottonwood, and Whitewater Canyons?
Project PIs: Michael F. Allen & Michelle Murphy (Graduate student researcher)
Funding Agency: Friends of the Desert Mountains

Evaluating Wildlife Corridor Linkages: Do Underpasses Connect the San Bernardino and Little San Bernardino Mountain Ranges?
Project PIs: Michael F. Allen & Michelle Murphy (Graduate student researcher)
Funding Agency: Community Foundation Serving Riverside and San Bernardino Counties

Coachella Valley MSHCP Monitoring Framework Priorities.
Project PI: Michael F. Allen
Funding Agency: Coachella Valley Association of Governments (2007-2008).

The utility of habitat corridors for providing connectivity for Palm Springs Pocket Mouse populations in the Coachella Valley.
Project PI: Michael F. Allen
Funding Agency: Coachella Valley Association of Governments (2007-2008)

Removal of exotic weed species in Riverside County.
Project PIs: Cameron W. Barrows & Edith B. Allen
Funding Agency: UC Integrative Pest Management (2006-2009)

Incorporating Larval Host Plant Plantago erecta Niche Models into Quino Checkerspot (Euphydryas editha quino) Niche Models to Improve Performance
Project PIs: Richard A. Redak & Kristine L. Preston
Funding Agency: UCR CNAS Shipley-Skinner & Riverside County Reserves (2006-2008)

Coachella Valley MSHCP Monitoring Program Administrator (Years 1-3)
Project PIs: Michael F. Allen, Cameron W. Barrows, Edith B. Allen, Richard A. Redak, John T. Rotenberry, William Walton, G. Darrel Jenerette
Funding Agency: ICF Jones & Stokes/CVCC (2008-2011)

Inventory and Monitoring Western Burrowing Owls throughout the Coachella Valley Multispecies Habitat Conservation Plan/NCCP Area.
Project PI: John T. Rotenberry
Funding Agency: Coachella Valley Association of Governments (2009)