About the Soil Ecology and
Restoration Group
Updated April 23rd, 2006
The Soil Ecology and Restoration Group is a research
group within the biology department of San Diego State University and
administrated by the San Diego State University Research
Foundation.
The research emphasis of SERG is on ecosystem dynamics of arid and
semiarid lands. Theoretical analysis of fundamental processes and
structures is complemented by applied research in dry land restoration.
Primary research emphases include restoration techniques, soil
chemistry, soil microbial ecology, and plant-microorganism
relationships. Past studies have ranged from the effects of elevated
carbon dioxide on soil fungi to comparisons of container size on
survival and growth of native species transplants. Research and
practical application has been accomplished through grants and
contracts received from all types and levels of funding. These include
competitive national agency grants from the Department of Energy,
National Science Foundation, and the Environmental Protection Agency,
along with direct contracts from other federal organizations including
the Department of Defense, National Park Service, and the Bureau of
Land Management. State agencies contracting with SERG include the
California Department of Transportation, California Department of Fish
and Game, and the California Department of Parks and Recreation.
SERG
research has also been funded by private agencies such as Southern
California Edison, AMEC, and EDAW.
| Research
in the
Sonoran Desert began in 1986 and
has continued up to the present. Studies have included evaluation of
the nature of disturbance, soil remediation, seed collection,
processing, and storage, dustfall and erosion control, plant production
and outplanting techniques, remote site irrigation, plant protection,
direct seeding, and the re-establishment of mesquite mounds along the
San Felipe Creek watershed region of Anza-Borrego Desert State
Park.
The primary goal of these studies has been the mitigation of off-road
vehicle damage, road construction, and mining. Current research
in the
Sonoran Desert involves restoration of desert marsh at the Dos Palmas
ACEC in collaboration with AMEC as mitigation for the Coachella Canal
Lining Project. |
 |
| Research in the Mojave Desert began in 1991 and has continued up to the present. Studies have included plant-soil relationships, native plant restoration procedures, desert ecosystem and community structure, aeolian dust input, planting techniques, determination of hydrological and biological parameters for special status plant species, biological surveys of special status plant species within OHV areas, and soil amendments for mitigation of off-road vehicle damage, open-pit mining, and heap leach gold extraction operations. Current research in the Mojave Desert involves mitigation of military training impacts on desert habitats, biological and physical erosion control in PM10 dust problem areas, and restoration of abandoned agricultural land. |  |
| Research in coastal sage and chaparral habitat began in 1990 and has continued up to the present. Studies have included the effects of water competition between exotic annual and native perennial species, the use of recalcitrant organic matter for manipulating soil nitrogen cycles, the impact of elevated carbon dioxide levels on soil fungi ecology, non-vascular plant taxonomy and ecology, exotic species removal, biological and physical erosion control methods, and native plant restoration methods and procedures. |  |
| Wildlife surveys for birds, reptiles, amphibians, and mammals, began in 1996 and have continued up to the present. Surveys are done in conjunction with plant community surveys to monitor impacts on wildlife populations of anthropogenic disturbances such as off-highway vehicle activity, agricultural encroachment, utility corridor construction, and exotic species invasion. |  |
| Research and data analysis capabilities include soil analysis facilities for nutrients, organic matter, pH, metals and particle size determination, soil and vegetation mapping, greenhouse facilities for the germination and establishment of native seedlings, native seed collection and storage, and access to research faculty and personnel, laboratories, libraries, herbaria, and other facilities of both San Diego State University and University of California, Riverside. |  |
