We are continuing to monitor the Viola pedatifida (Prairie Violet) and Comandra umbellata (Bastard Toadflax) experiments. The Viola plants are continuing to develop new growth and produce pods consistently, with dried seed pods collected daily. Between August 20th and September 21st, 131 pods were collected! The seeds will be sorted into randomized groups for use in remnants and experimental plots. At the end of the field season, the Viola will be covered in a mulch of straw for overwintering.
The Comandra initially struggled with sun exposure in the transplant tub, but have since rebounded! There are currently 12 plants growing, alongside gallium and a large number of volunteer species. These have been left undisturbed to avoid accidentally removing any Comandra host plants. See the spreadsheet below for a full update on each plug.
It’s been a chilly first week of September! After days of rain and temperatures in the 50s, the team is looking forward to more temperate conditions next week. We’ve been hard at work finishing up the last few sites of demo and surv, and are now halfway done with an expedited measuring of exPt2. Just this morning, Maddie S., Maddie D., and I (Grace) completed 602 records! In addition, a bountiful harvest is in full swing in exPt1 and exPt8–collecting the dried heads for multiple experiments on long-term fitness.
Storm chasing during total demoBaby bunny in exPt1gBags are filling up!exPt2 in autumn colorsFrog adventures gone awry in Hjelm
We’ve finished up another week of summer! In the morning, the team continued making progress measuring in P8. More monarchs were spotted in the experimental plot as the rough blazingstar begins to bloom!
After lunch, we split into groups. Maddie D., Gael, and I (Grace) headed to Landfill West and completed total demo and surveying. We were excited to find some wild viola growing around the echinacea! Aaron and Kyra decapitated rogue Pallida and completed total demo around Hegg Lake. Meanwhile, Maddie S. continued aster walks for her thesis work. It was a humid but productive afternoon!
Another beautiful day at Hegg!Wild Viola at LFWMonarch in P8
It’s the first day of August, and the team is working hard to finish measuring in P1! Now that Inbreeding 1 & 2 and qGen1 are complete, we continued making progress in the 99 garden. The goal is to begin harvesting by August 5th!
After lunch, Maddie D. updated code for the measuring data while Kyra, Gael, and I (Grace) headed out to do total demo at Staffanson West. Kyra and I finished by surveying SPPW while Gael split off and saw some very cute cows while surveying Aanenson, West Aanenson, and Around Landfill. We’re excited to continue making headway with measuring next week–hopefully with less smoky skies!
I am an undergraduate at the University of California Santa Cruz, where I’m going into my third year in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. I am an REU intern with the Echinacea Project.
Pronouns: she/they
Research Interests
I am interested in plant community ecology and entomology–particularly plant-insect interactions. I am also very interested in gaining experience with restoration methods.
Statement
I’ve lived in northern California throughout my life, and currently go to school on the central coast, so I’m very excited to spend the summer exploring the prairie! In my free time, I enjoy reading, drawing, knitting, and juggling.
