My long-term project is to analyze vegetation dynamics on Santa Cruz Island (SCI), California over a 32 year period (1991 – 2023). The island has experienced two major animal grazing events (sheep and pigs) that had a large effect on vegetation dynamics. Subsequent removal of these herbivores resulted in a recovery period for native species, and an expansion of the invasive plants. Along with historical disturbances, the island is also expected to be subjected to longer term changes in climate. There are going to be pronounced as well as subtle changes in the vegetation. In the 1990s one hundred plots were established to monitor changes in vegetation cover over time. My research will resample these 100 plots in 2022-2023. With these data, I will look at changes in diversity, composition and structure of the plant communities. Beyond SCI, I anticipate that my approach can be used as a model for assessing vegetation dynamics and management strategies in island systems in many parts of the world as well as mainland areas where vegetation has undergone alteration from overgrazing.

Approved