Volume 5, No.2 University of Natural Reserve System Spring 1987

an image than from the written word," says In this issue: Hamilton. "The Macroscope takes advan- tage of the interpretive value of pictures." .New Reserve(p. 4) The pictures-3,000 of them so far- .Opportunities (p. 8) reside on a 12-inch videodisc resembling a .Oil Spill Follow-up (p. 2) phonograph album carved from mother of pearl. Recorded and read by a laser beam, .Granite Mountains Profile (p. 3) the images don't degrade over time as do .Berkeley Citation (p. 6) those stored on film or magnetic tape. If handled correctly, says Hamilton, a video- disc can provide unlimited lifetime to as many as 54,000individual images, each of which can be acces~via computer in less Systemwide Office than 3 seconds. Included on the JamesReserve disc are Column: satellite and aerial photographs of the Hall Canyon watershed, in which the Reservelies, panoramic views of vegeta- Wildlife Conservation in tion and landscapes typical of the region, Israel: Goals and Prospects and close-up shots of common plant and ani- mal species,soil types, rocks, and other eco- system elements. Hamilton transferred in Israel is short. some of these images to videotape from stancesmake it an important casestudy for existing photographs; the rest he recorded conservation biologists worldwide. Mike Hamilton holds the JamesReserve with a portable video camera. The following article was adapted from videodisc. After he cut the videodisc, Hamilton be- a manuscript by Dr. Rafael Nezer, an gan the endless process of creating programs Israeli geneticist who just completed a to connect the imagery to the Reservedata- sabbatical year with the Department of In teractive V ideo base of information resulting from more Forestry and Natural Resources on the . than 20 years of research on the ecosystems Berkeley campus. Dr.Nezer'sresponsibili- Now SImulates of the SanJacinto Mountains. Each picture ties include deve!oping a comprehensive is linked not only to other images that management polIcy for Israel's system of Ja m e s R ese rv e relate spatially or conceptually, but also to natural reserves. He would welcome corre- a file that contains descriptive informa- spondence at: 3 Y. Halevi St., Box 02317, It a microscope is an instrument tor inspec- tion. Thus, the myriad images are stored in 90805,Mevassert-Zion, Israel. ting objects too small to be seenin detail by an intuitive way, making it easy to find the naked eye, then a macroscopewould be any single picture out of a library of thou- Israel is the only Middle Eastern country a tool for looking at objects too big to be sands and scan or edit data describing it. that has adopted nature conservation poli- discerned by sight unaided. At the James "I'm really interested in building in the cies. Public and governmental institutions Reserve,Director connections between the different levels of take an active role, providing strict protec- Mike Hamilton has put together such a information, so that you can follow path- tion for endangered speciesand reserving tool and is busy using it to examine land- ways from the macroscopic to the micro- specific lands in a large system of natural scapedynamics and other macroscopic fea- scopic-from galaxies to genes-and back reserves. But we need to increase our effort tures of the natural environment. again all in a matter of minutes," says to understand the various approaches to At the heart of Hamilton's macroscope is Hamilton. "These linkages make the disc designing such sites. The lessonslearned by interactive video, an information system much more than a slide collection. It Israeli resource managers may lead to wiser that combines the realism of images with becomesa synthetic model of a landscape planning and operation of California's the intelligence of a personal computer. that can act as a common thread tying reserve system as well. - "We seem to grasp more information from many disciplines together." conttnueaon p. 7 contmueaon p. 4 EcologistVictorCho~examinesintertidal.areas ht it was near the Bodega Manne Reserve to determIne Just When You Thou. g the oil spill's effect on barnacle populations. Safe to GO Back In the Water...

barnacles continuing for several weeks after On Sunday, Apri112, more than 65,000gal- the initial oil lons of concentrated raw sewage sludge cleanup. Several speciesof algal-grazing spilled into a salt marsh in the southeast gastropods also suffered, and probably as a end of Bodega Harbor from a nearby treat- result, algal cover increased at these sites ment plant. Bacteria-rich fluid is leaching over the next several months. into the harbor, which fortunately has a In a series of experiments with natural daily seawater exchange rate exceeding 50 and artificial substrates, the researchers percent. Though the bacterial contamina- also found that recruitment of barnacle lar- tion could pose a health threat to humans, vae from the plankton was greatly reduced who were initially advised not to eat local at heavily oiled areas,so recovery of the shellfish, it is not expected to affect inver- population at these sites will be retarded. tebrate populations, or to alter the ecology The worst sites, however, were confined to of the . -ed. regions near the entrance of Bodega Harbor; the Reserve'srocky intertidal zone, which was more exposed to the severe winter storms following the spill, did not retain Clapper Rails: The oil residues for as long. No barnacle mortal- ity was apparent on the Reserveitself. Crash Continues The oil spill may also have affected some benthic invertebrate populations on In January, the State Recovery Team for In November of 1984,an oil slick from the the Reserveportion of Bodega Harbor Coastal Endangered Speciespublished an sunken tanker vessel Puerto Rican hit the sandflats. Mortality rates in populations Emergency Strategy Plan for the light- Northern California coast at the Bodega of the abundant Transennellagem clam footed clapper rail. The report highlights Marine Reserve(see Transect, Fall '84). were approximately twice normal in oil- the critical situation facing the rail, Short-term impacts were severe. Several exposed portions of the Reserveone month which could disappear from California if hundred oiled birds were found dead on after the spill. The following spring, how- recent population decreasesare not re- local beachesand a similar number of live ever, larval Dungeness crabs settled in versed immediately. Three NRS sites pro- birds required cleaning and rehabilitation. unusually high numbers. Their foraging tect both the habitat the rail depends on Effects on the health of most other aspects almost eliminated some previously abun- and the opportunity for scientists to study of the Reserve'scoastal habitats were more dant invertebrates, including the gem clam. how best to manage this dwindling environ- difficult to ascertain. This phenomenon, extremely interesting in ment for the benefit of the bird. Initially, Bodega Marine Laboratory itself, also provides an unexpected and fas- The light-footed clapper rail (Rallus (BML) researchersfeared the spill may cinating example of a natural effect on popu- longirostris levipes)is a nonmigratory, have harmed populations of many species lations which far overshadowed the secretive waterbird obligately tied to the coastal marsh habitat between Santa . of marine invertebrates, as well as seri- suspected impacts of the oil spill. ously affected existing research projects. -Peter Connors Barbara County and San Quintin, Baja Cali- They immediately began to collect samples BodegaMarine ReserveManager fornia, Mexico. These coastal marshes- of sediment and intertidal invertebrates originally small, discrete, and confined to and initiated studies designed to assessthe narrow river valleys-have shrunk signifi- extent of biological effects on particular cantly through degradation and conversion. organisms or habitats. With most of the As a result of such habitat loss, each of the results now in, the general messageis that three clapper rail subspeciesin the state the Reserve'sbiota may have nar- (California, light-footed, and Yuma) are rowly escapedthe worst of the recognized as endangered; the light-footed feared results. race was added to the federal list in 1970. Only one study has shown clear Biologists from the U.S. Fish and Wild- population effects. With funding from life Service and the California Depart- the Gulf of the Farallones National ment of Fish and Game conducted an initial Marine Sanctuary, BML ecologists Victor survey of the state's light-footed popula- Chow, Jon Geller, Laurie Sullivan, and I tion in 1974,yielding an estimate of 500 to light-footed clapper rail examined the effects of spilled oil on 750 birds. In subsequent years, 35 marshes recruitment and recovery of barnacle popu- throughout the species'range were censused lations on intertidal rocks at some of the each spring with disheartening results. By most hard-hit locations near the Reserve. 1986,following a population crash that Population impacts were apparent at left five marshes completely devoid of ,.,.- these sites, with high mortality of adult clapper rails, only 143pairs were recorded. Most light-footed clapper rails are now The height and location of this range house in the upper part of Granite Cove concentrated in six marshes, including the result in highly diverse plant and animal into our new residence, constructing housing Carpinteria Salt Marsh and Kendall-Frost communities with affinities to both the for visiting researchers,and adding dorm Mission Bay Marsh Reserves. Over the Great Basin and Sonoran Desert. In addi- and camping facilities for field classes. past seven years, the number of rails found tion to perennial springs, the Reservecon- On a more personal level, these first nine in these six sites has averaged 89 percent of tains habitat types ranging from low-eleva- months on site have been a demanding and the state'stotal population. Of the availa- tion bajadas and washes to high-elevation entertaining juggling act between rudimen- ble 8,490acres of available marsh habitat pinyon-juniper woodland. tary maintenance projects such as fixing fro- along the coast, only 36 percent now harbor The range's biotic diversity complements zen water pipes and more traditional aca- the rails. Including one pair recorded at our the dramatic stature and character of the demic activities like hosting classes. As SanJoaquin Freshwater Marsh Reserve, mountains themselves. Composed primar- time allows, we've been pursuing our own the NRS currently supports 12 percent of ily of quartz monzonite formed during the research interests, which include complet- the light-footed clapper rail population in Mesozoic, the granite boulders exhibit ing the Reserve'sherbarium, working with approximately 11 percent of the occupied excellent examples of exfoliation. Their a bird-breeding atlas project, constructing a marshlands in California. scale and grandeur has left a lasting impres- resource database,and collecting notes for The newly revised and approved recov- sion on many students and researchers. an oral history of the area. On days off, we ery plan for the light-footed clapper rail Since the site is relatively new to the often engage in such scintillating social setsa goal of increasing the subspecies' NRS, facilities are currently limited. A activities as driving 80 miles to do laundry , breeding population to 800 pairs within 1950sranch-style house in Granite Cove shop for groceries, and critique the "local" 9,870acres of secure wetland habitat in at serves as both the Reserveoffice and our restaurant fare. least 20 marsh complexes. Full recovery home. It has the unique distinction of We look forward to working with Tran- may not be possible; the extant population petroglyphs and pictographs as part of its sectreaders on educational projects for the would need to be increased over fivefold, backyard decor. Granite Mountains Reserve. If you have and occupied habitat nearly tripled. The other major facility is a cabin at questions about working on the site or sugges- Carefully controlled research on popula- Dorners Camp, in the northern end of the tions for making it more useful to you, tion dynamics, life history , and ecological site. Currently available for researchers please write us at P.0. Box 101,Kelso, CA requirements of the subspeciesis essential and field classes,the cabin sleeps seven to 92351. To contact us by phone, ask the long- to maintain and potentially increase pre- ten people and has a propane stove and distance AT&T operator to reach Toll sta- sent rail numbers. Immediately impera- refrigerator. In addition, there is a two- tion Granite Cove #1 with two short rings tive, however, are measures to perma- person cabin dubbed "Chateau Plateau" in by dialing: mark 887-249,route 213+181. the range's upper elevations and a primi- nently protect and secure marshes with resi- -Philippe Cohenand Cindy Stead tive campground in Granite Cove. dent rail populations, as well as restore or GraniteMountains Reserve createnew habitats. The Reservehas been busy in recent months, with researchersand students log- -Melinda Pruett-Jones, ging more than 1,800user days since Septem- ~="'c_,- AcademicCoordinator ber. Teaching use has been broad -based, UC SanDiego Reserves ranging from an architecture class special- izing in solar passive designs to natural history and field geology classes. In addition, scientists from both UC and Report From the public agenciesare initiating numerous research projects. These include studies of Granite Mountains soil genesison remnant alluvial fans, root development in heavily compacted soils, In the last issue of the Transect, we intro- vegetation successionin recently burned and duced several new reserve managers. After grazed areas,and the influence of cattle on nine months at the Granite Mountains Re- Desert Bighorn Sheep. serve, Director Philippe Cohen and Cindy New developments include a recently Stead, who assists in managing the site and installed photovoltaic system and solar- its facilities, filed this report on the Re- powered well that should provide Granite serve and some plans for its development: Cove with an adequate electrical and wa- The Granite Mountains are located about ter supply year-round. Improvements to our 80 miles east of Barstow, just off 1-40. The residence include a highly efficient wood- Reserveencompasses 2,200 acres of Univer- burning stove and a Swedish Ifo toilet that sity-owned land and 6,720acres as part of uses only one gallon of water per flush. an agreement with the Bureau of Land Man- These programs and improvements are agement (seep. 4). The site lies within the part of a long-range plan now being devel- East Mojave National ScenicArea, cur- oped to improve the Reserve'scapacity for rently the focus of congressional attention education. It calls for converting the cur- as various interests debate the merits of rent manager's house into an office, develop- Prickly pear cactus and agave growing in the turning the region into a national park. ing a lab and library facility, renovating a Granite Mountains Reserve Macroscope continuedfrom p. 1 Though Hamilton has yet to incorporate genes and galaxies into his Macroscope, he gonio and Whitewater Rivers to the Little has assembled an impressive interactive San Bernadino Mountains. It encompasses video atlas of Hall Canyon that enables mountain slopes, landslide deposits, allu- students to study, managers to monitor, and vial fan deposits, and a canyon carved by researchersto analyze the Canyon and its the flow of a perennial stream. The site is ecological features in a powerful new way. located in the ecotone between desert and The Macroscope provides a number of capac- chaparral and supports semi-desert scrub, ities to reserve users, including the ability cismontane chaparral, and desert riparian to perform literature searches,analyze bio- woodland communities. logical data, process and analyze digital Trails maintained by the Forest Service images, and establish fully automated envi- connect the JamesReserve headquarters ronmental monitoring systems. with Oasis de los Osos, facilitating studies Future issues of the Transectwill describe all along the ecological continuum between the Macroscope's use in resource manage- the two sites. The new property is readily ment and research. The following article- accessiblefrom Interstate 10, and is used the first in the Macroscope series-details Gerald Hillier (left) and Theodore Hullar sign regularly by classesfrom UC Riverside. the system's utility in improving the sci- the use agreements that add almost 17,000acres A brochure on the entire JamesReserve ence curriculum of public secondary schools. of BLM land to the Granite Mountains Reserve will be available this summer. In the and the Deep Canyon Desert Research Center. meantime, contact Dr. Mike Hamilton for more information at P.O. Box 1775, Idyllwild, CA 92349,(714) 659-3811. The Macroscope BLM and UC Celebrate as Teacher Cooperative Agreements Younger Lagoon Joins Appreciationof nature is a long educa- On AprilS, representatives from the Uni- the Reserve System tional process.It must beincorporated into versity of California and the Bureau of all subjects,not just taught oncebefore mov- Land Management met on the Riverside The Vounger Lagoon Reservebecame the ing on to anotherclass. Somepeople, campus to execute agreements regarding uSt: newest site in the NRS on March 19,when throughan early associationwith thenatu- and management of BLM-administered The Regents incorporated 26 acres of the ral world, havean appreciationof na- land adjacent to two NRS reserves.Approx- Santa Cruz campus into the System. ture-a typeof morality-that determines imately 30 people attended the ceremony, Located along the north shore of Mon- theway theylook at the world. Others where UCR Chancellor Theodore L. Hullar terey Bay, the Reserveis adjacent to the don't comewith it "hard wired" and must and Gerald E. Hillier, California Desert Long Marine Laboratory and less than two betaught through school. Wewant to pro- District Manager, signed the documents. miles from the main campus. The lagoon vide theJames Reserve videodisc to schools The agreementsgrant UC use of about system is one of the few remaining undis- -not to discouragestudents from going out 6,720acres of BLM land near the Granite turbed wetlands along the central coast, in thefield, but to helpstart that crucial Mountains Reserveand 10,200acres adja- and it supports many resident and migra- educationalprocess. cent to the Philip L. Boyd Deep Canyon tory water birds. -Mike Hamilton Desert ResearchCenter for a 10-year term In addition to aY -shaped lagoon, the that automatically renews every year. In Reserveincludes dunes, a small beach, Imagine sitting down before a video moni- addition to enlarging and diversifying the coastal bluffs, and seacliffs. tor that displays, in color, a sweeping pano- land available for teaching and research, A number of researchersalready use the rama down a rugged canyon in Southern the agreementsgive reserve users long-term site. Over the past 13 years, scientists California's San Jacinto Mountains. Next control and protection of their studies. have banded several thousand land birds to the monitor, a personal computer screen They also give the University input as to to survey breeding and wintering popula- shows a typeface description of your aspect how the BLM lands are to be managed. tions and assesstheir response to surround- and elevation, along with a menu of choices ing development. The Reserveprovides that allow you to scan in any direction or excellent opportunities to study changes in zoom in for a closer look. community structure following removal of You press '5' on your keyboard, calling TNC Gives Oasis de los non-native shrubs and the relation between forth a telephoto view of the canopy vege- Osos to the NRS salinity and temperature stratification in tation below you, along with a description lagoon waters, among other phenomenon. of it as a montane chaparral ecosystem. In The Nature Conservancy recently gave a The lagoon and laboratory properties this way, you can explore the region, travel- 160-acreparcel 12 miles northwest of Palm were given to UC in 1973by Mr. and Mrs. ing many miles through several ecological Springs to the NRS. Known as Oasis de los Donald Younger. The Reservewill be ad- levels, without leaving your chair. You can Osos,this addition to the JamesSan Jacinto ministered by the Santa Cruz campus. For move from an aerial view of an ecosystem Mountains Reservewas acceptedby The more information, contact UCSC's new NRS to a close-up view of a grass seed found Regentsat their March meeting. Academic Coordinator Dr .Margaret H. within in a matter of seconds. And in doing Situated below the steep north face of Fusari at the Division of Natural Sciences, so, you achieve one of the primary goals Mount SanJacinto, the addition looks out 391 Applied Sciences,University of CaIifor- Hamilton has set for his Macroscope: edu- acrossthe desert washes of the SanGor- nia, Santa Cruz, CA 95064,(408) 429-4971. cation through exploration. 'There's been a cry for University people to become more involved in getting their researchfindings down to public schools," says Hamilton. "Using videodiscs, we can store our data, our maps, and all the rest of our information resources in a way that the schools can use. "Even if teachersuse only a fraction of the data in their curricula, it's still worth it to let students have accessto the disc. Kids these days are videophiles-they're already familiar with the media. Those who grasp it and move on to the next step will have a huge databaseto explore." Hamilton plans to give students accessto the data this fall when he will begin dis- The Macroscope, powere:d by a newly instal!ed photovolt~ic sys.tem, lives in ~olomi Lodge, built by .b . d.' f 50 000 . f bo the Reservebenefactors m 1950."It's the ultImate electronIccabm," says HamIlton. tri uting a ISCo , Images or a ut $100. In the early 1980s,Apple Computer, endless series of lessons that all use the value are they? You don't bring a species Inc. gave a personal computer to every pub- JamesReserve videodisc." list into a classroom and say 'Here, this is lic primary and secondary school in the Hamilton also hopes that once they science. The kids are going to go 'Ho hum, state. For less than $1,000,a school could start using the disc, teacherswill write when's recess?' add the components necessaryto turn that their own lesson programs for it using soft- "But if you make them explore and gener- computer into an interactive video work- ware designed to enable educators who are ate a specieslist by going to many different station, allowing its teachersto take ad- not programmers to create interactive curric- places, which can be spacially derived vantage of the growing number of commer- ula. Such software allows the author to like different elevations or temporally cially available videodiscs. According to communicate with the computer, telling it derived like seasonalchanges, they're Hamilton, there are currently dozens in the what information to display, what ques- going to feel much more involved. And the arts and physical sciences,fewer in the life tions to pose, how to evaluate the viewer's more involved they are, the more they'll sciences.His will be the first to present an response, and what part of the program to learn." ecological perspective. branch to as a result of that evaluation. -Sarah SteinbergGustafson Once the disc is cut, he will begin writing Thus, a teacher can create lessons that NRS Editor lesson programs to utilize its images. The force students to interact with information, ",-c,-" Explorer, described above, is a prototype. rather than merely respond to it. After all, Hamilton has also written two other demos with interactive video the user, by defini- -the Naturalist and the Ecologist. Wher- tion, cannot be passive. easthe Explorer follows a geographical Hamilton hopes this approach will pro- matrix, the Naturalist follows a concep- vide the same senseof exploration and dis- tual one, letting users examine the Reserve covery that he remembers feeling on field ecosystemby ecosystem,species by species. trips. "How many specieslists do we have The Ecologist organizes the information at reserves? They're one of the most com- in yet a third way-along ecological gradi- mon pieces of data collected, but what ents. Using this program, a student can com- pare, say, old-growth vegetation on a sun- bathed slope at 7,000feet to that at 5,000 feet, or to vegetation in an area that has recently burned. 'The Explorer, Naturalist, and Ecologist are three different ways of lookin g at the I .t . co ormonl orwl th touch screen same set of pIctures, but wIth dIfferent audI- encesand different goals in mind," says Hamilton. 'That's what makes interac- , tive video so flexible. We could publish an

videodisc player

microcomputer with graphics videodisc course-authoring and database management i overlay circuitry

Basic components of the Macroscope .In January, the Landels-Hill Big Creek }anzen Receives Berkeley Scnpps Reserve Gets aNew Reserveacquired a Kubota four-wheel- Pier and a New Name drive tractor, along with a trailer, a front Citation at Recent Seminar On March 2, UC San Diego began construct- loa~er, and a box scraper. The tract?r, Dr. Daniel H. Janzen,Professor of Biology ing the Ellen Browning Scripps Memorial v-:hIChca~ mane~,:,erthe steep terr~In and at the University of Pennsylvania, was Pier on the ,10- tight turnIng ~adII.demanded by !his. rug- presented the Berkeley Citation for his con- cated adjacent to the Scripps Institution of g.ed,Reserve: IS beIng used to maIntaIn the tributions to international conservation as Oceanography. Expected to open in Janua sIte s ~3.2mIles of roa.dsand will be put to part of a recent seminar on the Berkeley 1988,the new concrete pier will replace thery work In the constructIon of new reserve campus. Janzenwas at UCB Apri127 and wooden Scripps Pier erected in 1916,which headquarters. 28, visiting classesand meeting with stu- dents and faculty .He also gave two public lies immediately north of the construction lectures, one on the importance of natural site. history studies in modern society and an- At 1,084feet long and 22.5 feet wide, the C on tribu ti ons other, entitled "How to Grow a National new pier pilings will provide a significant Park," about a program aimed at saving newfauna. recruitment Upon completion area for marineof the new flora pier, and A L ot Of Help from Our Frien( ls and regenerating tropical dry forest in the old one will be demolished and its pil- In the last six months, 10 public and pri- Costa Rica. ing probably used to create an artificial vate sources have contributed a total of Janzen'svisit was sponsored by UC reef off the coast of San Diego. $135,800to the Natural Reservesystem: Berkeleyand the NRS. It was part of a On another front, the Scripps Shoreline- California CoastalConservancy - larger effort to generate support and inter- Underwater Reservewas redesignated the $50,000in matching funds to enhance and est within UCB's undergraduate program Scripps Coastal Reserve at the March restore wetlands in and adjacent to the for curricular improvements and activities Regents meeting to reflect the addition of Coal Oil Point Reserveon the Santa Bar- that relate to biodiversity and conserva- two terrestrial canyons and the knoll bara Campus. This project is part of the tion science. between them. Storke and Devereux Campus Wetland bnnancement~ ..~.~'~~~'T'--_~~~~~L."_"'0£\ rlan \see 1ransecr, rail 00/. In Memoriam ChevronCorporation -$20,000 to build Henry c. Duffield, Jr ., Ranch Manager for SNARL Opens New Lab Space a footbridge across Big Creek that will the SantaCruz Island Company, died Nov- The Sierra Nevada Aquatic ResearchLabo- make the four-mile interpretive trail at ember 23 at the age of 65 after a brief ill- ratory (SNARL) recently completed a 900- the Landels-Hill Big Creek Reservemore ness. He was a close friend of Dr. Carey square--footaddition to its laboratory accessible. stanton, President of the company and long- facilities and renovated an existing 250- California Departmentof Fish and time benefactor of the square-foot lab building. The addition GameDuck StampFund -$19,900 to Reserve. Duffield visited the island in consists of two large laboratories, one of restore vital open water areas in the San 1960and remained there for the rest of his which contains an 80-square-foot walk-in Joaquin Freshwater Marsh Reserve. life, seldom leaving his island home. cold room where temperatures from -20 to A. E. StewartChaffey-$19,000 for the The Henry C. Duffield, Jr .Memorial +30 °C can be maintained. The new build- Big Creek Reservethat will be used to con- Fund has been established to benefit the Re- ings tie together existing facilities, making vert a storage shed into a temporary labora- serve. Donations may be made to the fund winter-time accessto the entire complex tory and to fund site planning for a perma- c/ o SantaCruz Island Reserve,University more convenient. nent Reserveheadquarters. of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106. This facilities-improvement project also Giles w. & EliseG. MeadFoundation - includes a housing unit that accommodates $10,000to be used as seed money for re- up to 28 people, which was completed search projects. last March. Funding for both addi Edwin W. PauleyFoundation -$5,000 in tions came from the National Sci unrestricted funds. ence Foundation, the Santa JamesS. CopleyFoundation -$5,000 to Barbara Campus, and the write and produce a brochure for the systemwide NRS office. Kendall-Frost Mission Bay Marsh Reserve. For information on using TheSan Francisco Foundation -$2,900

-'"'- SNARL's facili ties, con -r-- 1'"' to fund production of a brochure describing tact Shirley Clarke, Mar the Afio Nuevo Island Reserve. ine ScienceInstitute SecurityPacific Foundation -$2,000 in Trailer 342,University of unrestriced funds. ~ / .;. Kendal Morris California, Santa Barbara, TR W, Inc. -$2,000 in unrestricted funds. "~ {~ to CA 93106,(805)961-4127. The Natural ReserveSystem depends on I' / such contributions for many of its resources " and programs. We thank those listed beach primrose above for their generosity and support. Israel continuedfrom p. 1 Problems faced by conservation biologists worldwide are particularly extreme here. In surrounding countries, which lack regu- Reserve Benefactors Help lations preventing the destruction of re- Sites Expand sources, wild animals are scarce. Israel's Three reservesgrew this past winter as wildlife populations are further isolated long-time donors gave gifts of property: by military barriers protecting its borders. Fanny Hastings Arnold conveyed 60 acres Considering these factors, we may of oak woodland to the Hastings Natural assume that for certain taxonomic groups History Reservation,located in Upper Israel is a "terrestrial island" in the Mid- Carrnel Valley. dle East surrounded by a huge fence and an Charles L. and Ottie Mae Motte donated area virtually devoid of wildlife. We 30 acresto the Motte Rimrock Reserveon therefore may apply to Israel the theories the west edge of Perris Valley . of island biogeography that have special Ida Dawson contributed six more acres to implications for biological conservation. the Dawson Los Monos Canyon Reservein The main factor in this concern is the low San Diego County near the city of to nonexistent migration rate between Mid- Carlsbad. dle Eastern populations. This severe ab- Thank you, one and all! ridgement interrupts potential gene flow and decreaseschances of recolonization in Aerial view of the new YoungerLagoon Reserve caseof random speciesextinction. To com- and the adjacentLong Marine Lab (seepage 4) pound the problem, development of urban Events centers and massive conversion of wildland of populations may lessen those characteris- to agricultural uses have destroyed most of tics more favorable to the local habitat. UC MEXUS to Hold Seminar Israel's natural habitats and isolated Population size and management is also on Conservation Science those that remain, reducing gene flow a concern, since genetic and demographic within Israel as well. processeshave thresholds both for big and uc MEXUS will host a symposium on the In addition, most Israeli populations of small populations. Overpopulation by one role of biological reservesin researchand large ungulates and predators are descen- speciescan destroy both its own and other conservation June 14-18as part of the dants of relatively few "founder" individ- species'resources. For instance, the absence AAAS meeting in San Diego. Speakers uals that survived until protection and man- of natural predators and strict protection will include representatives from Mexican agement were instituted a few decades ago. from humans have allowed gazelle popu- and American universities and public These populations have recently passed lations in the Lower Galilee and the Golan agencies. through dramatic genetic bottlenecks. Heights to increase rapidly during the last Directed by Dr. Arturo G6mez-Pompa, On a more theoretical level, we lack a few years. The result has been severe dam- UC MEXUS is a Universitywide program consensusconcerning the optimum size of age to agricultural lands surrounding the that promotes academic interaction reserves. Large areas are likely to contain gazelle's natural habitats, creating a situa- between Mexico and the United States. more habitats, increasing habitat and spe- tion where local farmers demand immedi- The NRS is currently working with UC cies diversity. Large reserveswith large ate solutions. MEXUS to establish a formal conveflio populations also are preferable in order to In some cases,we need to create better con- with Mexico's natural reserves in order to minimize inbreeding and delay extinction. ditions for habitats that have deterio- facilitate academic exchangesand compar- In contrast, several smaller reserves may rated. Habitat manipulation may take ative researchprojects. encompass more speciesthan a single large such forms as seeding, creating new water For more information on the symposium, site. Small reserves in distinct habitats reservoirs, or constructing new nesting contact Dr. Ronald Carroll in the system- allow for different local adaptations and facilities. wide NRS office (seeback page). consequent genetic differentiation between But any effort toward preservation by populations. The result is increased total artificial means must be first justified by genetic diversity , which may prevent cata- biological analysis. Appropriate measures Join the Friends, strophic extinction. But this design must be must then be taken to simulate natural con- See the Reserves balanced by the consideration that reserves ditions and monitor management Spring and summer are the busy seasonson must be large enough to maintain critical endeavors. most NRS reserves,and 1987is no excep- population size. It is clear that, at a minimum, we must tion. Scheduled Friendsof theNRS activ- One of our specific concerns regards re- preserve and manage habitat if our wild- ities include tours of the Jepson Prairie introduction, which may be a wise way to life is to survive. Current conservation prac- Reserve,an open house at the Valentine compensate for low migration rates and tices provide only for the welfare of single Eastern Sierra Reserve,lectures at Bodega lack of recolonization. But among the many species. Our efforts must shift in emphasis Marine Reserve,canoe trips, bird walks, complex problems it posesare that the ani- toward community conservation to ensure and workdays at the San Joaquin Freshwa- mals may migrate, introduced animals may long-term success. In time, Israel's wild pop- ter Marsh Reserve,and a course on fire eco- carry diseases,and introduction may lead ulations may serve as sources for reintro- logy at the Landels-Hill Big Creek Re- to hybridization. Assuming that different duction and colonization of the vast deterio- serve. For more Friendsinformation, con- populations may accumulate different gen- rated lands around us. These challenges tact the systemwide NRS office. etic characteristics, the artificial mixing make our responsibility even greater. Wish List Is furniture cluttering your attic? What about those unused dishes or hand tools? Immediate Job Opening: Your throwaways might find new useful- Reserve Steward at VESR ness in the hands of a reserve manager. If The Valentine Eastern Sierra Reserve is you have any of the following items or now advertising for a full-time Reserve others to contribute, please contact the Steward. The steward will be responsible systemwide NRS office: for maintenance and custodial duties at the -hand tools Sierra Nevada Aquatic ResearchLabora- -floppy discs, either 3 1/2" or 5" tory , located in the Eastern Sierra near -pots, pans, and utensils Mammoth Lakes. -office furniture, file cabinets, or lamps The Reserveis looking for someone with -pieces of new carpeting or vinyl flooring maintenance and/ or construction skills and larger than 10' by 10' experience. Contact Dan Dawson at (619) -small boats (skiff, canoe, or kayak) 935-4334for details on the job itself. For -vehicle, of any type, in good condition application information, call the UC Santa -house trailer (adequate for 2 people) Barbara Personnel Services Office at (805) Remember: the pipewrench gathering dust 961-3166.Act fast-this job will closesoon. in your basement today could save a water system in the tomorrow! Itching for Research Funds? Publications

TheUCM~squitoResearch.Programhas, Free Subscri p tion money available for mosqulto-related research, particularly studies related to Get Your New Brochures Here nonchemical methods of control. The San Brochures for two reserves recently came off tran .sect (tran'sekt), n. 1. Field Science.

Joaquin Freshwater Marsh Reserve is avail- the press: Hastings Natural History Reser- A line along which physical and ~iological able as a field site. In addition to support- vation and Afio Nuevo Island Reserve. De- data are collected. 2. Tech. Slang. A cross- ing an ample supply of research subjects, signed for prospective reserve users, these sectional slice of the environment under the Reserve contains a system of diked publications describe the natural resources study. ponds where researchers can control the sys- of the sites and contain information on ac- tern'srimental water studies.regime Forin moreorder informationto perform expe-on brochurescess, facilities, for Pygmyand use. ForestAlso Reserve,available Ryanare It n a broad sense,the Natural Reserve~ys- "emis also a transect. It encompassesa the grants program, contact Bruce Eldridge, Oak Glen Reserve, San Joaquin Freshwater (:ross-sectionof California's natural diver- UC Mosquito Research Program, 375 Briggs Marsh Reserve, Philip L. Boyd Deep Can- ~,ity in a system of natural areas and field Hall, Davis, CA 95616, (916) 752-6983. yon Desert Research Center, and Santa ~,tations specifically reserved for teaching

Cruz Island Reserve. Contact the system- cmd research. Recognizing this, we have

wide NRS office for free copies. (:hosen to call our newsletter the Transect. For a free subscription-two issues per By the way... year- write or phone the systemwide NRS In accordance with applicable Federal laws and University pol- Marine-related researchin the Natural icy, the does not discriminate in any of office: (415) 644-4211;A TSS8-532-4211. its policies, procedures, or practices on the basis of race, color, ReserveSystem includes 56 sponsored pro- national origin, citizenship, sex, marital status, sexual orienta- jects on seven reserves involving 54 faculty tion, age veteran status, or handicap- Inquiries regarding the .100% Recycled paper University's equal opportunity policies may be directed to the Edited by Sarah Steinberg Gustafson and 50 graduate students and postdoctoral Personnel Studies and Affinnative Action Manager, 2120 Uni- researchers. versity Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94720,(415)644-4270. Designed by Pam Fabry

04-UJ14 Natural Reserve System 2120University Ave., 4th floor University of California Berkeley, California 94720 (415)644-4211