Christine M. Rodrigue

Enhancing Diversity in the Geosciences.

Abstract An innovative interdisciplinary project at California State University, Long Beach, was designed to increase the attractiveness of the geosciences (physical geography, geology, and archaeology) to underrepresented groups. The goal was to raise awareness of the geosciences by providing summer research opportunities for underrepresented high school and community college students and their faculty. A survey of a larger sample provided insight into strategies for enhancing geoscience awareness. A qualitative evaluation pointed to its success in meeting project goals. This unprecedented level of collaboration has set the groundwork for an institutional shift for inclusion of minorities in the geosciences and warrants replication.

Geography Diversity Initiatives at California State University, Long Beach: The Geoscience Diversity Enhancement Program

Introduction Geography enrollments nationally sank to their lowest levels in the last quarter century: approximately 3,000 bachelor degrees were awarded in 1988, a figure that rebounded to the highest levels ever (around 4,000 degress) in the mid-1990s before sagging back, though not quite as low, to approximately 3,500 in 2000 (Hardwick 2001). The trend in the California State University system (CSU) since 1992 is roughly similar to national trends. Geography peaked in the CSU in 1992 at not quite 1,200 bachelor’s degrees granted and then slumped to just over 825 by 2002, with a small rebound since then to 910 (Figure 1). Geography at California State University, Long Beach, seemed to reflect national and state trends, declining rather precipitously since its peak in the early 1990s until about 2000, with the department down to 60 majors in fall 2000 and only 50 by spring 2001. At that point, Geography began growing substantially and enrollment has reached a new high (Figure 2). Undergraduate Geography Majors in the California State Universities 1992–2005

Coyote Brush as Facilitator of Native California Plant Recovery in the Santa Monica Mountains

Abstract Exotic annual grasses now cover large areas of southern California that were once stands of native California sage scrub (CSS), or a mixture of native grasses, forbs, and CSS. Both CSS and California grasslands are threatened habitats, where restorations of type-converted landscapes are often burdened by the persistent dominance of non-native annual grasses. Research finds that once exotic grasses take hold in these areas, native plant communities are extremely slow to recover, if they recover at all. Coyote brush (Baccharis pilularis DC) is a native shrub common to CSS habitat and often appears in a complex mosaic with other vegetation types including grasslands. Coyote brush has been documented invading grasslands, resulting in a change of state from grassland to shrubland in northern California. This study investigates the long-term consequences of coyote brush invasion in a type-converted landscape of southern California. Stands of expanding coyote brush were transected to identify species composition along a spatial and temporal continuum. Results show that, following initial invasion, non-native species are gradually replaced by, not only coyote brush, but also several other noteworthy native species. This study finds that over the 37 yr timeframe, exotic grasses gradually decline while native plant cover increases in landscapes invaded by coyote brush. We conclude that in the Santa Monica Mountain areas studied, coyote brush invasion of type-converted landscapes leads to increased native plant diversity that includes native grasses and a variety of shrubs.