Extreme weather and climate change

We study the effects of extreme weather (and related events) on wildlife throughout Southern California. In particular, we are studying the movement patterns by mammals in response to drought, bird populations to climate change and weather extremes across decades in the Channel Islands National Park, and bird and butterfly diversity and abundance and their recovery from fire in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. Please see Brian Rawles’ page for more information on our current camera trapping and small mammal work in relation to drought.

Coyotes (Canis latrans) are commonly found in and around L.A. We are currently researching how the interplay of drought and above-average wet winters, which has been a consistent pattern in L.A., affects the movement of small mammals and mesocarnivores along an urban-to-rural gradient.