Landscape & Vegetation Change
Research opportunities in Long-term landscape and vegetation are greatest at the Santa Rita Experimental Range near Tucson. The available data include repeat photography since 1902, permanent transects since 1953, and long-term livestock exclosures maintained since 1916. These resources are available on the Santa Rita web site https://cals.arizona.edu/srer/. Long-term geomorphic landscape change resources include the soil survey (see Spatial Data at https://cals.arizona.edu/srer/data.html) and geomorphic classification (see https://cals.arizona.edu/SRER/proceedings/Batchily.pdf).
Example of repeat photography documenting long-term vegetation change at photo-station 81 between 1919 and 2017 on the Santa Rita Experimental Range.
Highlighted Research Projects
Bagchi, S., Singh, N.J., Briske, D.D., Bestelmeyer, B.T., McClaran, M.P. and Murthy, K. 2017. Quantifying long-term plant community dynamics with movement models: implications for ecological resilience. Ecological Applications 27:1514-1528.
McClaran, M.P., Browning, D.M., and Huang, C. 2010. Temporal dynamics and spatial variability in desert grassland vegetation. In R.H. Webb, D.E. Boyer, and R.M. Turner (eds.). Repeat Photography: Methods and Applications in the Natural Sciences. Island Press. Pages 145-166.
Throop, H.L., S.A. Archer, and M.P. McClaran. 2020. Soil organic carbon in drylands: shrub encroachment and vegetation management effects dwarf those of livestock grazing. Ecological Applications. 30(7), 2020, e02150, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/eap.2150
Centers & Locations
Related Majors
Agricultural Technology Management & Education
Learn how to use technology and modern production techniques to enhance food safety and security, while building management and business skills. Students who want to inspire future generations can pursue an agricultural education certification.
Learn moreEnvironmental Science
Turn your passion for the environment into a career focused on improving the quality of our air, water, and land. You will choose one of the following areas for in-depth study: biosphere; soil, air, and water; leadership, sustainability and communications; or physical and chemical dynamics.
Learn moreNatural Resources
Seek out new ways to overcome environmental and human pressures that affect our natural resources. You may specialize in conservation biology; ecology, management and restoration of rangelands; fisheries conservation and management; global change ecology and management, watershed management and ecohydrology; or wildlife conservation and management.
Learn morePlant Sciences
Advance discoveries that enable the world's population to grow more with fewer resources. You'll gain a comprehensive understanding of biology, chemistry, physics, and math that you can apply to cutting-edge plant science research including biotechnology and plant breeding.
Learn moreSustainable Plant Systems
Discover innovative plant systems that maximize production, conserve resources, and minimize environmental damage. You may specialize in controlled environment agriculture, environmental horticulture, agronomy, or fresh produce safety, as you focus on creating plant-based solution to feed, clothe and fuel the world's population.
Learn more