Giant kelp off the coast of California
Northern elephant seal off the coast of the Channel Islands, California
Sunset in Montana de Oro State Park in Big Sur, California
Looking south along the Big Sur coastline
Mountain lion in the Santa Cruz Mountains
A short walk from Wharton Media
seaotters.com has launched
03.24.12 Seaotters.com is a Wharton Media-led educational initiative dedicated to raising awareness about the critical role scientific research plays in the understanding and conservation of the southern sea otter. In collaboration with researchers from the Monterey Bay Aquarium, UC Santa Cruz, UC Davis, U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and California Department of Fish & Game, seaotters.com offers an unprecedented look into the extraordinary life and world of this endearing and threatened species. more
Among the key goals of this collaborative initiative will be to educate the public about the sea otters’ ecological role as a keystone and sentinel species; to raise awareness about the natural and anthropogenic
factors threatening their population recovery; and to showcase the critical research and conservation work currently being conducted.
Share and follow @seaottersdotcom
kuumbwajazz.org has launched
10.12.11 Kuumbwa Jazz is an internationally recognized nonprofit jazz venue. They are one of the longest weekly nonprofit jazz presenters on the West Coast, established in 1975. When they aren’t presenting their own weekly jazz series, the venue is available for outside promoters to bring in acts such as bluegrass, folk, Celtic and world music. more
Kuumbwa Jazz provides opportunities for residents and visitors in the Santa Cruz area to enjoy and appreciate the full spectrum of jazz music through live performance and education. They present extraordinary regional, national and international musicians and provide educational programs for people of all ages.
santacruzpumas.org has launched
08.16.11 With most large predators now in decline worldwide, a UC Santa Cruz research project is now underway to better understand their physiology, behavior and ecology so as to better inform their management and conservation. Santacruzpumas.org, a collaboration between Wharton Media and UCSC scientist Dr. Chris Wilmers, will be the official education and outreach website for this research effort. more
The study, which combines mathematical models with rigorous field studies, involves deploying telemetry collars on mountain lions that collect continuous movement and location data from each animal. By studying and analyzing data collected from these collars, Dr. Wilmers and his team hope to answer important physiological and ecological questions that have so far evaded science. In addition to providing solutions to pressing environmental problems, the research project will further enhance the understanding of cougar habitat requirements as well as provide guidance on important movement corridors for lions within and between the Santa Cruz Mountains located in the central coast of California.
