Thanks to a generous grant from the Ellen Browning Scripps Foundation, we will be even better equipped to track animal movement patterns through space and time with a new Spatial Ecology Lab. This cutting-edge facility will enable scientists to digitally map endangered habitats such as bamboo forests and coastal sage scrub across entire landscapes in explicit detail. Matching this information with the movement of animals through the landscape will build a complete picture of wildlife habitat requirements and identify sources of disturbance and threat. Such information can benefit species conservation for the giant panda, mountain lion, and polar bear, among others. Flying species like the California condor will also benefit from three-dimensional mapping for the first time. These valuable new data will improve conservation management strategies, including the design and management of habitat reserves and wildlife corridors.
