The Tree Environmental Acclimation Monitoring Network does meaningful, dispersed redwood science, while creating research opportunities for California Community College students participating in the MESA program. After transferring to Humboldt, TEAMnet students can continue their involvement, taking on leadership roles and more advanced research. Our sampling is intentionally well-suited for working students and those with other responsibilities outside of school, which can be a large barrier for participation in traditional undergraduate research. We focus on doing serious, publishable science that addresses important gaps in our knowledge of how trees are acclimating to climate change. Not only does this network allow us to broadly disperse our monitoring of climatic sensitivities, it also gives us access to a pool of highly talented and motivated students, the cream of the crop at their respective institutions. Together we can do great things for tree conservation.
Our 2024/2025 project looks at the functional traits that cause variation in how much fog and rainwater redwood leaves can absorb. We are measuring these key traits, surface wax coverage and the size and density of stomata, all over California. We will relate these traits to the local climate to understand how factors such as heat and relative humidity influence the capacity of redwoods to use fog.
TEAMnet is only possible thanks to our collaboration with dedicated MESA program directors who go above and beyond to connect their students with opportunities.
Partner MESA programs:
American River College Mendocino College San Diego City College West Valley College Woodland Community College Yuba College |
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