Give talk on climate change issues specific to Sedgwick: This century, climate change will dramatically impact the conservation value of California's protected areas, including their capacity to support key species and habitats. My research evaluates the effectiveness of the University of California Natural Reserve System in providing suitable conditions for California's rich biodiversity under climate change. I focus on key plant species that occur within the reserve system: (1) narrowly distributed rare plant species that only occur within the state and (2) dominant plant species that define core habitats across the state, and a loss of which would fundamentally alter the environment of many other species. I will talk about the future effectiveness of the NRS 39-reserve network as a whole, highlighting at risk species and reserves under scenarios of future climate change. In addition, I'll discuss the potential impacts for habitats and species at Sedgwick reserve.

Approved