dlimandri's Journal

This homework assignment was a bit frustrating for me. I decided on observatory hill for the site to track down and re-observe observation made by student last spring in this class. The map viewer in the link provided seemed to imply a large amount of observations to choose from, so I thought it appropriate for the dimensions of the assignment. However, the map viewer also doesn't allow you to zoom in more than a bird's eye view, so tracking down the exact location of past observations is difficult to say the least. Additionally, the species I did find did not particularly resemble those depicted in my referent images, casting doubt on many of the pictures I had taken thinking they were something else. As such, I was only able to capture 4 of the 7 re-observations we were tasked with hunting down, with the other 3 being observations I documented while I was in the field today.

Edit: I found two more species from past observations.

The natural viability of Western Poison Oak is quite interesting. The species is viable in both forested and chaparral environments, growing in two variable forms: in a multi-stemmed shrub ranging from 1-3 meters tall to a woody vine ranging from 10-20 meters long, depending on the conditions of surrounding vegetation and growth space. This wide-ranging niche is additionally complemented by the diverse propagative traits of the plant, which range from seed dispersal to post-fire root crown regeneration. Seed dispersal is facilitated by the ingestion of the berries produced by the plant by a variety of birds and animals, a characteristic befitting of both sparse vegetation landscapes and extensive-canopied environments. However, herbivory of the plants leaves is discouraged through the production of phenolic oils in the leaves, though some browsing still occurs. Post-fire regeneration of the plants root crown is slow after the fact but is promoted by the extensiveness of the sub-surface root architecture, which is considered quite invasive and mirrored by the plants vine capacity to entwine and smother its vegetative platform. Additionally, anthropogenic contact is typically discouraged due to the allergenic resin produced that affects humans exclusively. All in all, Western Poison oak is a species of exceptional viability due to its diverse propagative strategies and its unique counters to herbivory and/or unsolicited contact.

This week I tended to focus most of my observations on flowering plants characteristics. The relevant observations were French Broom, Western Blue-eyed Grass, California Poppy, and a yet-to-be identified plant species with these identified species varying between 4-6 flowering pedals. For the California Poppy, I observed four tangerine-colored pedals with a palmate simple leaf phenology. The Western Blue-eyed Grass shares a similar leaf phenology to the California Poppy, though it has six purple pedals to its flower instead of four orange like the Poppy.The French Broom has simple, alternating oblong leaves with a four pedal yellow flower. The last of my observations that I have to identify appears to have alternating, simple serrated leaves with a spiky stem and a solitary purple flower.

Nearly all species I observed for this assignment possess some characteristic that deems them suited to either an evergreen moist forest or chaparral environment. For the moist evergreen forest, the two different species of salamander found under separate logs are to be expected in such an environment. Salamanders breath through their skin, making their entrenchment in moist places paramount. Millipedes live in similar moist conditions due to their susceptibility to water loss through their hard shell.The broad leaf of the stinging nettle may suggest its greater water absorption capabilities, making it more suited to moister environments. Although the lichen has no telling characteristics that I know of, it is commonly found attached to trees with its mossy photosynthetic partner.
For the chaparral environment, the three birds I observed there: the american robin, the dark-eyed junco, and the Stellar's Jay, all possess habitat characteristics encompassed by such an environment. While the American robin is found in both urban and more sparse environments (possibly living in the residences below), the Junco tends to favor chaparral vegetation as it provides suitable cover for their nests. The Stellar's Jay prefers mixed woodlands (like the Junco) and open spaces provided by common sparse chaparral vegetation like the observed California shrub oak and coyote brush. Both plants have small, waxy leaves to conserve water and mitigate transpiration during sunlight hours.

My first observation exemplifying bare leaf phenology was an elm (?) tree right outside McCone hall. The dormancy of the tree is apparent by the lack of leaves, distinguishing the species as deciduous surrounded by the foliage of evergreens. My second observation was observed in Strawberry Canyon, just off the side of the winding road. The specimen--which I believe is a Japanese cherry-- is distinguished as flowering by the white flowers produced along its branches, which make the tree stand out from the surrounding monotonous foliage. My third and fourth observations were encountered at Tilden Regional Park, and exemplify the leafed-out phenology and bare flowering phenology respectively. My third observation was (I believe) a Western Red Cedar, that is technically a leafed-out specimen as it never loses its leaves. My fourth and final observation was a Coyote Brush plant that exemplifies the bare flowering phenology we were looking for, as the plant seasonally flowers but has yet to manifest anything of the sorts.

The three iconic taxa I observed this week are relatively common species encountered around Berkeley. The first specimen I observed was a Wild Turkey (Animal) found rummaging along the hills leading up to the Lawrence Berkeley Observatory that sits above the main campus. The Turkeys were relatively calm, until an unsuspecting hiker confronted the trio which resulted in a flurry of gobbles as they begrudgingly dispersed. The second taxa I observed was a California Bay tree (Plant) just outside of McCone Hall. I noticed this sprout the other day as it seemed to grow in close proximity to the base of a nearby tree but lacked the modest height of the surrounding shrubbery. The third taxa I encountered was a Spider (Insect) that I have yet to identify. This specimen was found near the California Bay Tree under an old concrete slab home to a diverse community of insects. At first glance, I thought the spider deceased, as it lacked any sense of life or reactionary impulse. But after some prodding, the insect abandoned its apathetic guise and sprang to life, fleeing the scene and leaving me only with a picture.