A habitat suitability framework for the preservation of the California endemic and endangered species Dirca occidentalis
Category: Research Poster
Author(s): Ava Tolbert
Presenter(s): Ava Tolbert
Mentors(s): Sandra Duran Mancipe
Dirca occidentalis populations are decreasing, and are only found in a select number of areas in the San Francisco Bay Area. This deciduous shrub is an endemic species that has been classified as rare, threatened, or endangered in California and elsewhere. Population declines are due to habitat loss and fragmentation, slow growth rate, and poor seed dispersal and germination. Humans also pose threats to the species populations through trail use and off-trail trampling. Most community observations show very small, isolated populations. It is important to identify potential habitat areas for D. occidentalis to increase its population size. In order to determine these areas, suitability criteria for the growth of D. occidentalis must be established. This criteria will be used to create a habitat suitability framework, through the assistance of spatial analysis. The identified habitat areas will determine where D. occidentalis can be planted in the future, and monitored over time. The preservation of D. occidentalis is the first step in preserving the many diverse and unique ecosystem types within the Bay Area.