California has more than 26 oak (Quercus) species, many of which have widespread distributions and different habitats. For example, the California black oaks (Q. kelloggii) are distributed in foothills and low mountains (altitude ~4750 feet), while the Coast live oak (Q. agrifolia; altitude ~830 feet) lives near the coast. Palynologists study the distribution of plant pollen and spores in space and time, and changes in their assemblages reflect changes in regional and local vegetation. In the … [Read more...] about A morphological study of living and fossil Quercus (oak) pollen from California using scanning electron microscopy
Dispatches from Clear Lake, part 2
UCMP's Cindy Looy is leading a project to collect 130,000 years worth of sediment data from Clear Lake in order to better understand how life has adapted to climate change. Along the way, members of her team reported back to us with all the progress and drama from the field. Read part 1 here. From UCB undergrad research assistant Robert Stevenson: Fri 4/27-Sat 4/28 Night Shift First night shift was tough. Even with the nap I took to prep for the difference in sleeping schedule, … [Read more...] about Dispatches from Clear Lake, part 2
Dispatches from Clear Lake, part 1
UCMP's Cindy Looy is leading a project to collect 130,000 years worth of sediment data from Clear Lake in order to better understand how life has adapted to climate change. Along the way, members of her team will report back to us with all the progress and drama from the field. Here's our first set of dispatches. From Ivo Duijnstee: Thu, April 26 First mud It has begun. Except for some minor delays, the Clear Lake drilling expedition had a relatively smooth start. When our … [Read more...] about Dispatches from Clear Lake, part 1