The San Diego Zoo's Conservation and Research for Endangered Species: Divisions & Staff

Applied Plant Ecology

native seed collecting
Collecting native seeds for the Native Seed Gene Bank.

The Applied Plant Ecology Division of CRES focuses on the conservation, sustainable management and restoration of ecosystems worldwide. Projects will link applied research, conservation outreach, education and capacity building activities to support conservation of threatened habitats and promote sustainable management. Activities include applied research, data sharing, technology transfer, workshops, field demonstrations, and community-based conservation activities. Applied Plant Ecology focuses its energy in four broadly defined areas:

  • Native Seed Gene Bank
  • Plants and People Program
  • Sustainable Plant Populations Program
  • Sustainable Ecosystem Management

 

Projects

We are actively engaged in a wide range of projects in partnership with local communities, universities, conservation organizations, and government agencies. Some of the projects that we are involved in include:

Native Seed Gene Bank


Plants and People Program


Sustainable Plant Populations

  • Conservation and sustainable management of Chamaedorea palms in the Neotropics


Sustainable Ecosystem Management

  • Biodiversity monitoring and management of coastal sage scrub
  • Restoration of degraded semi-arid grasslands in Oregon
  • Ungulate grazing and fire management in coniferous forests

 

Staff

  • Bryan Endress, Ph.D., Associate Director of CRES/Applied Plant Ecology
  • Stacy Anderson, Research Technician
  • Matt Kedziora, Research Technician
  • Laurie Lippitt, Seed Specialist
  • Melanie Howe, Research Assistant
  • Ryan Ryder, Volunteer

    Would you like to help? Join the CRES Team!


 

 

 

 

 

Recent publications by Applied Plant Ecology staff

  • Endress, B., C. Parks, S.Radosevich, B. Naylor, and P. Cunningham. In press. Herbicide and native grass seeding effects on Potentilla recta infested grasslands. Invasive Plant Science and Management.
  • Bartuszevige, A., and B. Endress. In press. Do ungulates facilitate native and exotic plant spread? Seed dispersal by cattle, elk, and deer in northeastern Oregon. Journal of Arid Environments. Download pdf...
  • Wilsey, D. and B. Endress. 2007. Assessment of certification mechanisms for the sustainable harvest of Chamaedorea leaves. Sustainable Palm Initiative, Working Paper #1. Available at: http://www.wildshareintl.org/palms.htm
  • Berry, E., D. Gorchov, B. Endress, and M. Stevens. 2007. Source-sink dynamics within a plant population: the impact of substrate and herbivory on palm demography. Population Ecology.
  • Endress, B., B. Naylor, C. Parks, and S. Radosevich. 2007. Landscape factors influencing the abundance and dominance of the invasive plant Potentilla recta. Rangeland Ecology and Management 60: 218-224.
  • Endress, B., D. Gorchov, and E. Berry. 2006. Sustainability of a non-timber forest product: effects of alternative leaf harvest practices over six years on yield and demography of the palm Chamaedorea radicalis. Forest Ecology and Management. 234: 181-191.
  • Endress, B., S. Radosevich, B. Naylor, J. Wells, and C. Parks. 2006. Beyond inventory/survey and monitoring: risk assessment and management. In L. Rew and M. Porkorny (editors): Inventory and survey methods for nonindigenous plant species. Pp. 70-74. Center for Invasive Plant Management, Bozeman, Montana.
  • Gorchov, D. and B. Endress. 2005. Historia Natural de Chamaedorea radicalis. In: G. Sánchez-Ramos, P. Reyes-Castillo, and R. Dirzo (editors.), Historia Natural de la Reserva de la Biosfera El Cielo. Pages 273-279. Instituto de Ecología de Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City.
  • Radosevich, S., B. Endress, and C. Parks. 2005. Defining an approach for regional invasive species research and management. In K. Inderjet (editor): Ecological and agricultural aspects of invasive plants. Pages: 141-166. Birkhauser-Verlag Publishers, the Netherlands.