Cooperative Extension Specialist, Adjunct Professor
Cooperative Extension Specialist, Adjunct Professor
- PhD Biology University of Rochester, 1993
- M.S. Biology University of California, San Diego, 1986
- B.S. Biology University of California, San Diego, 1985
Conservation biology
Community Science
Current Projects
My research program covers a diverse suite of projects that involve mapping, monitoring, and modeling natural resources and human land-use patterns. I have developed an applied research program that integrates biodiversity research and conservation planning mostly in California. This is done through integrating spatially explicit land use change models with environmental data. Our current focus is on habitat connectivity and climate change resilience of protected area networks and vineyard landscape ecology. The students and staff who work with me study wildlife in the agricultural matrix, watershed restoration, and sustainable land use.
To assess the effects of land-use conversion on biodiversity, my research group is measuring biological community integrity and diversity found in different land use types such as suburban developments, small ranches, vineyards and undeveloped areas within similar oak woodland habitat. This data in combination with a development and agricultural build out models gives a full picture of the future threats to the biological resources in the region. Most recently, we have launched a study of bats in North Coast redwood forests to examine the influece of fog and forest management on the distribution and behavior of bats and explore vulnerabilities to future spread of White-Nose Syndrome.
For more information please see our lab web site.
Most Recent Publications
ELSEN, P.R., MONAHAN, W.B., DOUGHERTY, E.R. and A.M. MERENLENDER Keeping pace with climate change in global terrestrial protected areas. Submitted to Nature Climate Change
KREMEN, C. and MERENLENDER, A.M. Making landscapes that work for biodiversity and people in the Anthropocene, Science 362 304 eaau6020.
KEELEY, A. T., BASSON, G. , CAMERON, D. R., HELLER, N. E., HUBER, P. R., SCHLOSS, C. A., THORNE, J. H. and MERENLENDER, A. M. 2018 Making habitat connectivity a reality. Conservation Biology. 32(6): 1221-1232
KEELEY, A., ACKERLY, D., CAMERON, D.R., HELLER, N., HUBER, P., SCHLOSS, C., THORNE, J., and MERENLENDER, A. 2018 New concepts, models, and assessments of climate-wise connectivity Environmental Research Lette 13 073002
ELSEN, P.R., MONAHAN, W.B., and A.M. MERENLENDER 2018 Global patterns of protection of elevational gradients in mountain ranges. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Jun 2018, 115 (23) 6004-6009
LARSON, C.L. REED, S.E., MERENLENDER, A.M. and K.R. CROOKS 2018 Accessibility drives species exposure to recreation in a fragmented urban reserve network. Landscape and Urban Planning 175:62-71
LARSON, C.L. REED, S.E., MERENLENDER, A.M. and K.R. CROOKS 2017 Effects of Recreation on Animals Revealed as Widespread through a Global Systematic Review PLoS ONE 11(12): e0167259
CHAPPLE, D.E., FABER, P, SUDING, K.N. and MERENLENDER, A.M. 2017 Climate Variability Structures Plant Community Dynamics in Mediterranean Restored and Reference Tidal Wetlands. Water 9(3), 209
MARTÍNEZ-HARMS, M. J., QUIJAS, S., MERENLENDER, A. M., and P. BALVANERA 2016 Enhancing ecosystem services maps combining field and environmental data, Ecosystem Services. 22:32-40
MERENLENDER, CRALL, A.W., DRILL, S., PRYSBY, M. and H. BALLARD 2016 Evaluating environmental education, citizen science, and stewardship through naturalist programs. Conservation Biology Online.
KELLY, R.M., KITZES, J., WILSON, H. and A.M. MERENLENDER 2016 Habitat diversity promotes bat activity in a vineyard landscape. Agicultur, Ecosystems and Enviornment 223:175-181
GRAY, M., WILMERS, C.C., REED, S. E., and A. M. MERENLENDER 2016 Landscape feature-based permeability models relate to puma occurrence. Landscape and Urban Planning 147:50-58.
MERENLENDER, A.M., ACKERLY, D., SUDING, K., SHAW, R. and ZAVELETA, E. 2015 Chapter 41:Stewardship, Conservation, and Restoration in the Context of Environmental Change. California Ecosystems UC Press
MATELLA, M.K. and A. M. MERENLENDER 2015 Scenarios for Restoring Floodplain Ecology Given Changes to River Flows Under Climate Change: Case from the San Joaquin River, California. River Research and Applications 31(3): 280-290
KITZES, J. and A. M. MERENLENDER 2014 Large roads reduce bat activity across multiple species. PlosOne Online
T. E. GRANTHAM, M. MEZZATESTA, D. A. NEWBURN and A. M. MERENLENDER 2014. Evaluating Tradeoffs Between Environmental Flow Protections And Agricultural Water Security. River Research and Applications 30(3):315-328
DETCH, M. J., KONDOLF, G. M., and A. M. MERENLENDER 2013 Cumulative Effects of Small Reservoirs on Streamflow in Northern Coastal California Catchments Water Resources Management 27(15):5101-5118
MERENLENDER, A. M. and MATELLA, M. 2013 Maintaining and restoring hydrologic habitat connectivity in mediterranean streams: an integrated modeling framework. Hydrobiologia February 2013 (online)
KITZES, J. and A. M. MERENLENDER 2013 Extinction risk and tradeoffs in reserve site selection for species of different body sizes. Conservation Letters March 2013 (online)
DE NEVERS, G., EDELMAN, D.S., and A. M. MERENLENDER 2013. The California Naturalist Handbook UC Press
Conservation planning award - American Planning Association - 2001
Program of the Year -- Alliance of Natural Resource Outreach and Service Programs 2015
Outstanding Extension -- UC Agriculture and Natural Resources 2016
California Academy of Science Fellow 2018
- 90 - INTRO TO CRS
- 199 - SUPERV INDEP STUDY
- 201C - ENVIRONMENTAL FORUM
- 298 - DIRECT GROUP STUDY
- 299 - INDIVIDUAL RESEARCH
Contact details
Adina Merenlender
By Appointment

Hopland, California 95449-9717