Serpentine soils are often described as harsh, toxic and nutrient-p oor, yet they harbor extraordinary concentrations of rare and endemic plants found nowhere else on Earth. In this presentation, we will jour ney through the serpentine landscapes in California and beyond to disc over how these unusual soils shape evolution, biodiversity and ecologi cal specialization. Along the way, Nishi will share recent discov eries about serpentine plants and other organisms and explore the rema rkable adaptations that allow them to flourish where few others can su rvive.
Nishi will also discuss the growing challenges these species&n bsp;face from climate change, atmospheric nitrogen deposition, mining and urban development. Finally, we will examine the emerging promise o f agromining, a technology that uses metal-accumulating plants to reco ver valuable metals such as nickel, showing how these botanical specia lists may contribute to a more sustainable future.
Nishi Rajakaruna is a professor of biology at Cal Poly, San Luis O bispo and has spent more than two decades exploring the remarkable pla nts and ecosystems associated with serpentine soils in California and around the world. His research focuses on how plants adapt to challeng ing soil environments, the origins of rare and endemic species an d the conservation of rock outcrop biota.
He is also interested in me tal-accumulating plants and their potential use in emerging technologi es such as agromining. Nishi enjoys sharing the stories of serpentine plants and other biota with both scientific and public audiences and&n bsp;helping connect people with the natural history of the landscapes around them.
DTSTAMP:20260828T054752 DTSTART;TZID=America/Tijuana:20260930T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/Tijuana:20260930T203000 SEQUENCE:0 TRANSP:OPAQUE END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR