Project Description: 

Over the last half-century, conversion of land for agriculture has been a major driver of biodiversity loss.  The tension between agriculture and biodiversity conservation will only become more acute in the near future, as human food demand is estimated to double by 2050. Beyond direct land use, conventional agriculture’s reliance on chemical pesticides negatively impacts both ecosystems and human health.

Monterey County, comprising much of California’s Central Coast, is not only one of the world’s most productive agricultural regions, it is also a pesticide hotspot. A recent report by the California Department of Public Health revealed that Monterey County has the highest percentage of public schools within a quarter-mile of the heaviest use of several categories of hazardous pesticides. Correlations between pesticide exposure and negative health impacts on farmworker families have been extensively documented in this region.

In a world of land scarcity, increasing food demand, and pesticide concerns, how can agricultural land use be balanced with conserving biodiversity and protecting human health?

The increased adoption of diversified farming practices is a potential solution. By promoting agricultural practices that simultaneously maintain high yields and support biodiversity, win-win solutions for humanity and the rest of nature may be achieved. Research shows that diversified farming systems with features such as non-crop plantings and complex landscape mosaics can positively influence ecosystem services, including soil retention, resilience to extreme weather, pollination, and pest control, although in some instances this can result in lower yields. This project studies the mechanisms underlying the effects of non-crop vegetation on biological pest control ecosystem services in organic strawberry fields. Clarifying these mechanisms will not only inform the management of agricultural lands for the dual goals of crop production and biodiversity maintenance, it may also contribute to reducing pesticide-related health risks and raising society’s valuation of pest control ecosystem services.

Department: 
ESPM
Undergraduate's Role: 

Students will be involved in laboratory tasks that include sorting and labeling samples and entering data. If interested, students will be involved in identifying some groups of insects to family or genus/species, including bees, wasps, and flies. There may also be opportunities to help with field work, greenhouse projects or GIS software to quantify land cover data, depending on experience and interest. 

Undergraduate's Qualifications: 

Interest in agroecology, entomology, and conservation. Field work experience and experience in GIS, microscopy, insect curation, and/or Microsoft Excel is useful but can be taught during internship.  Expertise in R programming and statistics is a plus

Location: 
On Campus
Hours: 
To be negotiated