Science

The Preserve, a private working cattle ranch for over 200 years, is now being explored as biodiversity hotspot and as a site rich with evolutionary potential. This portion of California is one of five Mediterranean climate regions globally, which encompass only 2% of the world’s land area but 20% of the world’s plant species. We are partnering with a number of institutions to document and monitor the flora, fauna, and rich ecologically complex landscapes of the Preserve. The adjoining marine-terrestrial protection makes this coastline and intertidal zone immensely productive; work with UCSB and UCSC are showing this region has the highest density and diversity of a number of biological important species, including the surf perch. This unique geography of the Preserve also makes it a site where species reach their northern or southern range limits, making it an especially important region to monitor the effects of changing climates on biodiversity.

Freshwater ecosystems are under threat from land-use change, drought, and climate change. Together with researchers at University of California Santa Barbara, we are conducting research to better understand groundwater recharge in a fractured rock system. Using stable isotope measurements, we have found that groundwater takes more than 70 years to reach Jalama Creek in the Jalama watershed. TNC stewardship and restoration staff are also at early stages of removing steelhead passage barriers and fencing riparian areas to create habitat for endangered steelhead trout, which have not been seen on the property since 1994.

The area presently known as the Jack and Laura Dangermond Preserve was stewarded by the Chumash peoples and their ancestors for thousands of years. The Preserve has a deep cultural history; to learn more about the occupation of this land, see our story map. We are working with the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians and partners at the Smithsonian Natural History Museum to better understand the history of occupation in the areas near Point Conception and how such an occupation was influenced by environmental variability. This work can help inform our restoration work and identify best practices for protecting important archaeological resources.

The marine area surrounding Point Conception is one of the most important marine biogeographic boundaries on the West Coast, where the Northern and Southern currents meet. On land, a similar pattern can be seen, where two ecoregions meet. It is also the largest coastal protected area in Southern California, providing important connectivity for terrestrial and marine species. There is evidence that carnivores are using marine subsidies from the beaches at the Preserve. Our work with several partners, including Point Conception Institute Fellow Rae Wynn-Grant, aims to understand the role of this land-sea connectivity to supporting large carnivores across the region.

The Preserve aims to be a leader in the science around large-scale management interventions. Through our restoration work, we have planted over 6,000 oak seedlings and saplings, are removing 300 acres of iceplant, restoring a headland dune bypass system, and bringing back steelhead. We are developing a prescribed fire program through TNC’s Prescribed Fire Training Exchange Program with local and regional stakeholders. Through this work we will study the ecological and traditional role of fire in coastal California ecosystems and the responses following exposure to low-level burns. We are leveraging these large-scale management projects as learning opportunities and conducting research to understand what management interventions can efficiently increase the ecological function, biodiversity, and resilience on the preserve.