Fire Ecology Fundamentals: Fire Adaptation & Assessing Fire Risks & Effects in the Field with Dr. Ashley Grupenhoff
Wednesday, July 29th *In-person, time & location TBD.
Description: In this in-person Mind Walk, Dr. Ashley Grupenhoff speaks on the following:
- Fire ecology fundamentals: discuss what a fire regime means, why it matters, and the importance of fire in California’s landscapes
- Fire adaptations: we will look at the plants and animals around us and talk about how they’ve evolved to live (and even depend) on fire
- Assessing fire risk and effects in the field: we will discuss some of the field methods used to evaluate fire risk and understand fire’s impact on the landscape
About the Presenter: I am an Assistant Professor of Wildland Fire Management at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, working at the interface of fire ecology research and management across California’s diverse ecosystems. Prior to working at Cal Poly, I completed my Ph.D. in ecology at UC Davis with a focus on fuel treatment efficacy in dry conifer forests and post fire recovery in shrubland systems. Broadly, I am interested in understanding the impacts of fire on wildland ecosystems, as well as informing management strategies to mitigate wildfire effects.
Qualifications: Ph.D. Ecology, FFT2, CARx trainee