Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve
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The Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve is a 1200 acre (5 km²) plot of land owned by Stanford University, located on Sand Hill Rd near Interstate 280 in Portola Valley, California. It is used by students, researchers, and docents to conduct biology research, and teach the community about the importance of that research. The preserve encompasses Jasper Ridge and Searsville Lake (actually a reservoir) and the upper reaches of San Francisquito Creek.
The dam
The unique block construction helped the dam survive the 1906 and 1989 earthquakes.Geological history
Serpentine (Serpentinite) is the California State Rock. It was formed from deep sea or mantle rocks. This rock was squeezed toward the surface by tectonic plate movement, and thus feels greasy, as it has been polished over millions of years.Graywacke Sandstone after crossing Leonard's Bridge. This sandstone was part of the Franciscan formation 138 M years ago.
Some rocks found at the preserve include: Greenstone, Chert, Serpentinite, Sandstone.
Common flowering plants
- Ranunculus californicus -- California buttercup, a dicot that is native to California.
- California Poppy
Other plants
- Toxicodendron diversilobum -- Western Poison Oak, native to California
Research at Jasper Ridge
Global change experiment
The Global Change Experiment studies the response of California annual grassland to global change, including elevated atmospheric CO2, temperature, altered precipitation, and increased nitrogen deposition.Argentine ant invasion
This project studies and tracks the Argentine ants, an invasive species.Bat monitoring
A station near the lake monitors bats at night, by converting and recording bat sounds (ultrasonic echolocation).Around the lake
May 18, 2005... I believe I saw a Red-Winged Blackbird[link] today near the lake. It was next to the Bat Monitoring Station.External links
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