Both Dr. Vadheim and I are on the Board of Directors of the Friends of the Gardena Willows Wetland Preserve. In addition to the conservation of this glorious remnant of the once-extensive Dominguez Slough, we are using the Willows Preserve, and the nearby Madrona Marsh Preserve in Torrance, for research.
One project was recently completed - a Masters student studied the communities of insects on Salix lasiolepis, Arroyo Willow at the two sites, and we are about to submit a manuscript on the work.
Another MS student is continuing our comparison of these wetlands, looking at benthic macroinvertebrates at the two sites. She will complete her thesis this year.
In addition, we are conducting bird surveys on a somewhat regular basis.
More information about the Gardena Willows can be found here, and about Madrona Marsh here.
