Research Interests / Specializations:
Rangeland Conservation & Management

landscape analyses; ecology; management; economics; policy

Research Description:
My overarching research and extension goal is to meet the needs of people who use or enjoy rangelands with the goal of enhancing the conservation of rangeland ecosystems. My research broadly focuses on the following three themes:

1. Landscape Scale Changes Impacting Rangelands

The first focus area addresses the primary conservation problem of our day—the loss of habitat and the resulting impact on ecosystems and biodiversity. The fragmentation of privately owned rangelands into smaller parcels coupled with land use change are leading causes of biodiversity decline, habitat loss, and ecosystem service degradation. Conversions of rangelands from natural areas with low intensity agricultural practices to housing and intensive agriculture continues in California.

To make prudent land use decisions and to conserve natural resources, UC Cooperative Extension Advisors, local governments, State government, and natural resource and environmental NGOs need to have access to information on current land ownership by land use as well as land use changes over time. I have approached this issue by working with UC Agriculture & Natural Resources (ANR) to develop the California Land Use & Ownership Portal, working on remote sensing of irrigated pasture (Shapero et al 2017), and analyzing California private cropland ownership and land use (Macaulay & Butsic, in press).

2. Rangeland Ecology & Management

This part of my program works at a finer scale and seeks to provide insight into ecological and management issues that are pertinent for landowners and land managers. In particular, my lab has ongoing work on projects that seek to better understand wildlife populations found on rangelands, the impacts of feral pigs and livestock on riparian areas, and theoretical approaches (state & transition models) to understanding change on rangelands. Future potential work includes determining approaches to mapping rangeland plant communities on a larger scale through a rapid sampling methodology.

3. Ranch Sustainability & Economics

Private ranches, whether they are owned by multi-generational ranching families, new owners, or NGOs are a key player in habitat conservation in California. Private rangelands oftentimes contain unique kinds of habitat that are not well represented in protected areas of the state. Providing insights into the economic approaches and mechanisms that can support sustainable use will help to maintain these threatened habitats across the state. My lab seeks to evaluate this issue by building on past research and extension efforts about recreational hunting as a sustainable income source that can help to reduce fluctuations in income that may necessitate fragmentation of a ranch (Macaulay 2016). Additional research may involve working with state agencies policy makers to refine or improve programs that seek to incentivize habitat conservation in return for more liberal but sustainable hunting opportunities. Other topics may include addressing issues surrounding business practices, inheritance, genetics, and lease agreements.