The Climate Adaptation Living Lab (CALL Garden) at the UC Davis Arboretum

The Climate Adaptation Living Lab, known as the “CALL Garden,” was established in 2025 through a collaboration between the UC Davis Arboretum, where it is located, and the Meineke Lab. Forty research plots were installed to study how climate change will affect plant-insect interactions in the Central Valley and, importantly, how residents can optimize their yards to support beneficial insects.

As precipitation becomes more irregular and water resources across the western United States decline, homeowners are increasingly planting xeric species—plants that require minimal water. These species offer numerous benefits; they can survive extended periods without artificial watering and often endure on rainfall alone. Additionally, they tend to be more resilient in hotter climates.

However, a potential challenge with planting water-efficient species is that they may offer fewer resources for beneficial insects, such as pollinators and natural pest enemies. These beneficial insects depend on abundant nectar and pollen, which may be less available in yards that are watered infrequently. Moreover, the timing of water application can be critical. For example, in Northern California, native plants are adapted to survive the summer drought because this period is typically the hottest and driest of the year. While residents often water their plants during summer to maintain greenery, the impact of summer watering on beneficial insect visitation remains poorly understood.

The CALL Garden was designed to address research gaps like these, equipping residents with ecological strategies to keep our region green as the climate changes. The hypotheses tested in the CALL Garden are designed to offer valuable insights into how to support beneficial insects in the face of the challenges posed by future climate conditions.

The course “Art, Science, and the World of Insects” has constructed one of four planned 15’ by 5’ murals displaying the biodiversity across California, from the coast to the Sierras. You can visit these murals here.

You can learn more about these projects here: https://arboretum.ucdavis.edu/places-to-see/call

The CALL Garden was made possible by NSF CAREER GRANT #2238310. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.