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Rodents learn to avoid seeds once they associate the hot pepper with them. |
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These findings are valuable for helping us determine restoration targets for our $100,000 Coastal Conservancy funded “Campus Lagoon Planning Grant”. Casey Peters, an undergraduate in Environmental Studies and current CCBER intern and part-time employee, has just been awarded the prestigious CH Muller award to help us define our restoration goals for ‘San Nicholas Wetland’ a wetland area on the lagoon shore. He will compare water table levels, soil types, water quality and plant diversity in functioning wetlands with the San Nicholas site as the water table dries. His work will help prescribe an appropriate community target and grading plan for the site as part of the larger Coastal Conservancy Grant.
Can seed predators take the heat?
Restoration projects can be impacted by seed-eating rodents and birds. NCEAS post-doc, John Orrock, has been working with CCBER to test the possible benefits of Capsaicin (cayenne liquid and powder) on restoration projects involving seeds. In three trials we are looking at using capsaicin on seeded plots, acorns and mature poppy plants. Rodents learn to avoid seeds once they associate the hot pepper with them. The effects of these treatments on the seeds, plants and rodent behavior are being monitored this spring in conjunction with a Bren student follow-up experiment on poppy seed predation by squirrels.
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California poppies, a favorite food of California ground squirrels, are the subject of several experimental studies using hot pepper spray to reduce predation. |
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Bren students take Campus Lagoon restoration projects to task
Students from Hunter Lenihan’s Bren graduate Restoration Ecology class (217) have taken on seven small group projects. Several groups are focusing on comparing bird use of restored and un-restored habitat pairs through field observations and analysis of CCBER’s six years of monthly bird survey data. Others are looking at restoration strategies by 1) comparing native seedling growth under a variety of restoration scenarios, 2) evaluating the impact of algal build up in the lagoon on invertebrate populations, 3) evaluating the costs and benefits of capsaicin on poppy growth and seed production, and 4) analyzing potential lagoon water quality control strategies through modeling.
There is a project for you out there!
There are many research opportunities with the Center, from water quality studies, bird and benthic invertebrate studies to restoration strategies and surveys which explore the human component and appreciation of natural landscapes. We look forward to involving students, faculty and staff in projects on and off campus.
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