In 2016, we deployed micro-environmental data logger arrays to monitor global change dynamics at very fine scales. We also structured measurements to ensure we can infer and link to a biotic interaction signal between common plants within this region.
This is very important region to study for at least two reasons ecologically.
(1) Water issues with people, plants, and agricultural are critical here.
(2) Cuyama Valley is an excellent set of sites or mesocosm for the San Joaquin Valley at large. The San Joaquin Valley is still sinking (NASA report). We need to understand temperature, precipitation, and soil moisture availability patterns at many scales within the region.
This season, 2017, is a relative boom year in terms of precipitation. Here are the immediate sampling goals for this season.