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ecotone - ē-kə-ˌtōn
a transition area between two adjacent ecological communities
Project ECOTONE (Energetic Connectivity Of Terrestrial and Oceanic Nearshore Ecosystems) uses camera trapping to address the role of land-based consumers in connecting coastal terrestrial habitats and adjacent marine systems on the iconic Gaviota Coast in California.
CONSERVATION, CONNECTIVITY, AND CAMERA TRAPS
The Gaviota Coast is one of the only remaining undeveloped parts of the Southern California coastline, where some aspect of uninterrupted connectivity remains between the land and sea. Some parts of the Gaviota Coast remain somewhat untouched by humans, and could represent the last “pristine” Southern California coastal habitat. Human access to much of the Gaviota Coast is restricted, representing a unique environment in which to study the natural movements and resource use of terrestrial consumers. Preliminary photo evidence suggests that, in this rural area, typically terrestrial consumers are accessing and utilizing marine resources.
The primary objectives of this research are to understand the role of animals in providing energetic connectivity across ecosystems along the Gaviota Coast of California, with a focus on marine to inland terrestrial resource subsidies. We are conducting a camera trapping study to capture further evidence of terrestrial animals foraging in the land-sea ecotone. Our questions are as follows:
Preliminary findings concerning the use of coastal resources by Gaviota Coast coyotes were published in summer 2023 in Food Webs (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fooweb.2023.e00311)! We were also featured in a short publication in Hakai Magazine.
The primary objectives of this research are to understand the role of animals in providing energetic connectivity across ecosystems along the Gaviota Coast of California, with a focus on marine to inland terrestrial resource subsidies. We are conducting a camera trapping study to capture further evidence of terrestrial animals foraging in the land-sea ecotone. Our questions are as follows:
- Are terrestrial consumers regularly visiting intertidal habitats such as beaches, splash zones, rocky intertidal shelves, or boulder fields?
- What species use intertidal habitats for foraging and at what frequency?
- Does time of year affect the visitation of and frequency of foraging in intertidal habitats by these species?
- Does proximity to human activity affect the visitation of and frequency of foraging in intertidal habitats by these species?
Preliminary findings concerning the use of coastal resources by Gaviota Coast coyotes were published in summer 2023 in Food Webs (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fooweb.2023.e00311)! We were also featured in a short publication in Hakai Magazine.
Check out some images from our trail cams
This research is generously supported by the Nature Conservancy, the Jack and Laura Dangermond Preserve, Vandenberg Space Force Base, and the Coastal Ranches Conservancy.
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