Eric A. Graham UCLA Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Ecological Applications of CENS Technologies at the James Reserve Summer interns: Caitlin Hamilton Geoff Robertson Marina Sharifi

Ecological Projects Development of multi-scale methods for ecological research Micrometeorological variation Sap flow Phenology New and expanded projects

Micrometeorological Variation – Temperature * * * * P < 0.05 Multiple networked micrometeorological stations at the James Reserve allow for short and long-range comparisons of ecologically important variables. Temperature Relative Humidity Light Soil moisture

Micrometeorological Variation – Light Biological responses to some stochastic meteorological variables can be readily modeled Photosynthetic light response curve.

Micrometeorological Variation – Soil Moisture water potential at which certain plants will experience drought Biological responses to some non-predictable meteorological variables can be readily modeled. Soil water availability Rainfall event Aug 14, 2004

Sap flow in Manzanita and Pine Small-scale meteorological measurements can be used to explain sap flow data. Sap flow is driven by differences in water vapor concentration and is thus affected by leaf temperatures and relative humidity and requires local micrometeorological measurements.

Sap flow in Manzanita and Pine

Water moving from the soil through plants into the atmosphere (sap flow) can indicate water use strategies and water sources. Inexpensive sap flow probes can be used for continuous long-term monitoring of water movement and signs of stress. Bark beetle damage to the xylem system of pines can be monitored

Phenology June 4 – 4.2 cm 2 June 21 – 20.5 cm 2 June 30 – 21.1 cm 2 July 21 – 21.5 cm 2 Timing of leaf flushes and leaf longevity can be used to determine how species may be responding to disturbance and to climate change. Leaf flushes influence herbivore abundance and distribution and have long-range impacts on food webs.

Phenology Leaves expanded quickly in Rhododendron in the spring of Leaf flush began later for individuals closer to the stream and continued longer into the summer. Additionally, final leaf size was greater in individuals near the stream. Microclimate affects could be responsible for such variation even over such a short distance (10 meters).

Phenology Bracken fern fronds emerged at different dates along an exposure gradient.

New and Expanded Projects Microdendrometers will be used to measure changes in tree girth. sensors based on strain gauges are available with signal outputs within the range of CMS inputs. Transpiration estimation by “Energy Balance” methods remote measurements of radiation, temperature and wind speed can be used to calculate latent heat loss.

New and Expanded Projects Sharp transitions from primary forest to open areas provide a means of understanding the ecological effects of forest fragmentation La Selva Biological station, Costa Rica Microclimate Dynamics Across Forest Edges

New and Expanded Projects Mobility in a high resolution camera will allow remote measurements of plant distribution and growth dynamics Temporally and spatially dense measurements of understory light environments can help understand complex forest patterns of biodiversity