As someone long interested in latitudinal gradient in forest diversity and dynamics it’s been really gratifying to see this paper come together over time- looking forward to the new research on forest dynamics I think this will inspire!

Simplification of woody plant trait networks among communities along a climatic aridity gradient - Camila Medeiros, Santiago Trueba, Chris Henry, Leila Fletcher, Jim Lutz, Rodrigo Méndez Alonzo, Nathan Kraft, Lawren Sack - Journal of Ecology t.co/F6VWVLJ6xl @nathanjbkraft.bsky.social

Excited to see this paper from Mary Van Dyke out in press- she measures how rainfall manipulations alter the timing of the life cycles of California annual plants, and explore implications for species coexistence. Thanks to Sedgwick UCNRS Reserve for facilitating her research! #AJB

Evacuating our home in Santa Monica for the first time in 7 years due to the Palisades fire- it’s shocking how quickly so much has burned in the Palisades neighborhoods to our north. This fire has totally reset my sense what fire risk looks like. Sending best wishes to everyone in the region.

It’s planting week in the lab, and lovely to see all the green on the hills at Sedgwick after the Lake fire this July.

Joshua Tree National Park is looking for a new Vegetation Ecologist, a great chance to take on an important hands-on role in conservation of Mojave Desert plant communities 🌿

The Santa Monica mountains never disappoint as a source of quick, sweaty, spectacular bike escapes. But looking forward to some more green soon from the winter rains!

Starter Packs are great, but they favor well established individuals (understandably so). To help prop up new voices, here is a set of early career ecologists (self defined) who are, or would like to become, active on BlueSky Please reply if you would like to be included! go.bsky.app/Di74bDy

Planning winter fieldwork in coastal California means short days but the promise of spectacular sunsets…

There are two open faculty searches in our department: an Endowed Chair in Vert. Bio. (recruit.apo.ucla.edu/JPF09874) and another in Conservation Genomics (recruit.apo.ucla.edu/JPF09875). Both are open at the assistant professor or higher (tenured) levels, and both close on Nov 29th. Join us!