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Bernard Field Station Use Summer 2003

Research Projects

Request No.: 03D82E39D5
Submitted on: 6/4/03 at 12:05 PM
User: Sean Fogarty, Student, HMC
E-mail: sfogarty@hmc.edu
College phone: x74839
Instructor/Advisor: Steve Adolph, x71872, adolph@hmc.edu

Type of use: Research
Number in group: 2
Dates: June 4 2003 to Aug 15 2003
Frequency: Daily
Time of day: Dawn, Morning, Afternoon, Evening
Areas or facilities needed: western CSS, central CSS, eastern CSS, oak forest, corner, infirmary, east field, lower neck, central neck, upper neck
Species to be studied: Side-blotched lizard (Uta stansburiana), Western Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis)
Will vertebrate animals be used? yes
Will markings or flags be used? no
Will plants or animals be collected? yes

Project description: This project will examine anti-predator behavior in the western fence lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis) and the side-blotched lizard (Uta stansburiana), comparing the responses of these two lizards at RSABG and at the Bernard Field Station. Our hypothesis is that lizards at RSABG will allow a human "predator" to approach them more closely than will lizards at BFS, because the RSABG lizards will have seen far more humans and therefore become habituated to their presence.

Our research will involve observing lizards, approaching them, recording data on their perch sites, then measuring the distance at which they flee. We will also catch lizards to measure their size and determine their sex, and mark them with a temporary mark (white-out). Lizards will then be released at the point of capture.

Later in the summer, we plan to measure sprint speeds of several dozen individuals in Adolph's lab at Harvey Mudd. These animals will be held no longer than 1 day in the lab, and will be returned to their site of capture afterwards.

Request No.: 0283C72C52
Submitted on: 9/6/02 at 10:07 AM
User: Catherine McFadden, Faculty member, HMC
E-mail: mcfadden@hmc.edu
College phone: 909 607-4107, Other phone: 909 399-9260

Type of use: Research
Number in group: 2
Dates: ongoing to ongoing
Frequency: Other - 1-2 visits/month
Time of day: Dawn, Morning
Areas or facilities needed: western CSS, central CSS, pHake Lake, eastern CSS, oak forest, corner, infirmary, east field, lower neck, central neck, upper neck
Species to be studied: all birds
Will vertebrate animals be used? no
Will markings or flags be used? no
Will plants or animals be collected? no

Project description: ongoing survey of birds using the BFS with the goal of putting together a comprehensive site checklist with information on seasonal abundance and use patterns

Request No.: 0276F1CDB7
Submitted on: 7/23/02 at 4:05 PM
User: Dee Asbury, Student, HMC
E-mail: dee_asbury@hmc.edu
College phone: 607-1872, Other phone: 305-1190
Instructor/Advisor: Steve Adolph, 607-1872, adolph@hmc.edu

Type of use: Research
Number in group: 2
Dates: July 2002 to August 2003
Frequency: Several-days/week
Time of day: Dawn, Morning, Afternoon, Evening
Areas or facilities needed: western CSS, central CSS, pHake Lake, vernal pools, eastern CSS, oak forest, corner, infirmary, classroom, east field, lower neck, central neck, upper neck - Lizards will be collected in all areas of the field station. Enclosures for perch experiments are in area 10.
Species to be studied: Sceloporus occidentalis (Western Fence Lizard)
Will vertebrate animals be used? yes
Will markings or flags be used? no
Will plants or animals be collected? yes

Project description: We are studying habitat use and thermoregulation by western fence lizards. We capture lizards, measure them, take their body temperature, and record various features of their perch positions, them release them at the site of capture. We are also doing perch choice experiments in enclosures in area 10 (the east field). There are 7 enclosures (6 built in a previous year, plus one additional enclosure that we built this summer). We will release one lizard into each enclosure and observe its perch position over the course of one day. Following each trial, we will release lizards at their capture locations.

Request No.: 0240B3B546
Submitted on: 2/8/02 at 6:37 PM
User: Frances Hanzawa, Faculty member, Pomona
E-mail: fhanzawa@pomona.edu
College phone: 621-8601

Type of use: Research
Number in group: 1-4
Dates: Dec 2000 to ongoing
Frequency: Other - daily during winter; 1-3 times/week in spring, early summer
Time of day: Varies - varied times, daylight hours only
Areas or facilities needed: central CSS, eastern CSS, oak forest, infirmary, lower neck, central neck, upper neck - none
Species to be studied: Marah macrocarpus
Will vertebrate animals be used? no
Will markings or flags be used? yes - Flags mark individual plants. Two flag colors: White stake flags (2.5 x 3.5" flags; 15" stakes) and fluorescent pink stake flags (same type)
Will plants or animals be collected? yes

Project description: We are examining the population genetic structure and mating system of Marah macrocarpus. Leaf tissue and seeds are collected from marked plants for electrophoresis. The resulting data are used to estimate the level of inbreeding and to examine the extent of differentiation between spatially separated subpopulations. During winter 2002 and 2003, students will be examining the mating system through controlled cross- and self-pollinations.