Conserving California Coastal Sage

Southern California has been identified as a one of the worlds richest biodiversity hotspots by the international conservation community.  Much of this diversity is found in a habitat known as coastal sage scrub, which historically occupied large areas of southern California. 

Today it is restricted to only 10% of its former range, and is subject to rapidly accelerating rates of loss due to urbanization, frequent wildfires, and exotic plant invasions. As stewards of a large tract of coastal sage scrub habitat in San Diego County, it is imperative that the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research takes a leadership role in local habitat preservation and management. 

Of the 1,800 acres that comprise the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, 900 are undeveloped, consisting largely of coastal sage scrub. 

In 2002, Institute researchers joined USGS scientists who have been monitoring native animal biodiversity in this imperiled habitat since the mid-1990s.The 2007 Witch Creek fire provided a unique opportunity to document habitat recovery. A new focus of our work includes monitoring the habitat regeneration and test different ways to restore coastal sage scrub habitat.

Reptiles, amphibians, and small mammals are monitored using a system of 20 pitfall trap arrays and mark-recapture techniques, and the plant community is described and monitored using belt-transects and line-intercept sampling at each of the 20 pitfall trap arrays. Half of the arrays are undergoing intensive restoration activity while the other 10 will serve as a control treatment. 

This long-term research will provide:

1)    computerized GIS-compatible database of information on the presence, location, and abundance of animal species, as well as associations with particular plant assemblages,
2)    comprehensive understanding of native wildlife movements across and through the Safari Park preserve,
3)    recommendations for appropriate methods for buffering the Safari Park and natural areas from human influences,
4)    evaluation on the importance of plant restoration to wildlife, and
5)    recommendations for improved methods of coastal sage scrub habitat restoration.

Please visit our partner in conservation, San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy.