Amy Langston, Assistant Research Professor, Desert Research Institute
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Abstract
Montane meadows are highly valuable ecosystems that provide critical functions in mountainous regions. They improve water quality, moderate flooding and erosion, support high rates of primary productivity and carbon storage, and provide valuable habitat for wildlife. In the Lake Tahoe Basin, montane meadows are also among the most vulnerable systems due to historically altered hydrology and the effects of climate change. Among these is Spooner Meadow, one of the largest meadow complexes on the Nevada side of the Lake Tahoe Basin. This understudied meadow has long been subject to various disturbances (e.g., grazing, roads, diverted water flow, and Comstock Era timber harvesting and water flumes) that have altered local hydrology and potentially reduced its functional capacity to benefit the surrounding watershed. Over the next several years, we are collecting baseline data on vegetation, soil, and hydrology characteristics to better understand ecosystem functions at Spooner Meadow. These data will inform upcoming restoration activities to promote meadow resilience in the face of climate change and improve water quality in the Lake Tahoe Basin.
Bio
Dr. Amy Langston is an Assistant Research Professor at the Desert Research Institute in Reno, Nevada. Her research focuses on investigating responses of ecosystems to climate change and local disturbances, and developing strategies for promoting ecosystem resilience. Prior to joining DRI, Amy was the Director of Restoration and Research at the Mojave Desert Land Trust in Joshua Tree, CA, and was a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science. Amy received her PhD in Environmental Engineering from University of Florida in 2018. She has two dogs and often starts but rarely finishes various craft projects.
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