Savanna Landscape Analysis and Biogeographical Observation (LABO) Lab
Professor Paul Laris runs the Savanna LABO at CSULB. The mission of the lab is to seek a better understanding of ecosystems in which both woody and grassy vegetation forms co-exist on the landscape. Our aim is to solve what Sarmiento once called the “savanna conundrum” that is, what enables both vegetation forms to co-exist and what causes change in these ecosystems. We seek to understand which factors contribute to shifts in the amount and types of trees, shrubs and grasses on the land. Our work focuses on understanding the role of human disturbances such as fire, farming, grazing and disking in shifting the balance of woody and grassy plants over time, as well as the broader impacts of these changes on the Earth’s system, biodiversity and human societies.
See the Savanna LABO in Action
News
Savanna LABO awarded new National Science Foundation (NSF) research grant to Measure Fire Emissions in West Africa.
