The theme of the 99th Annual Ecological Society of America (ESA) Meeting is From Oceans to Mountains: It's All Ecology. Whether exploring the depths of the ocean, arid desert communities, or frigid mountaintops, there are abundant ecological interactions among organisms and the environment. These fascinating relationships abound in every setting and California is an especially interesting setting for studying ecology. This theme emphasizes the inherent ecological diversity of the state, fitting well between the theme of the 98th Annual Ecological Society of America Meeting’s emphasis on learning from the past and the 100th Annual Meeting in 2015 which will develop a blueprint to shape the future. California culture is exceedingly dynamic and known for its innovation, new technologies and free spirits, but also for recombining ideas from its many cultures into creative new forms. This meeting is an excellent venue for ecologists to address the challenges of preserving biota and diversity in the presence of land use changes and urban pressures.