Hastings Reserve Annual Report

Environment Hastings saw the drought continue into the third year with total precipitation of only 12.92 in. compared to the average total of 21.15 in. observed over the last 48 years. The Arnold Spring gradually decreased in flow and by March was no longer providing water for the community. Showers in May extended the growing season of wildflowers and the annual grasses. Pumping from the Hastings well for domestic water increased to almost daily frequency in June. We had no wildfires. Snow fell on December 24th (3 in.) and again in early January. Finch Creek flowed in the winter, but by mid-May was dry at Martin Road. Surface water in Finch Creek dried entirely on the reserve by late June. Acorns were not plentiful, but the Acorn Woodpeckers were able to sustain normal breeding. Rooting by feral pigs was significantly reduced on most transects monitored. Research Museum of Vertebrate Zoology-Hastings Staff Resident staff once again accounted for most of the research at Hastings (Table 1). Research Ecologist Dr. James Griffin continued his research studies of the ecology of California's oak woodlands. A new experimental study was designed and implemented to assess specific causes of mortality in oak seedlings. Nine hundred acorns were planted in screen pots and monitored. Dr. Griffin remains very active in statewide advisory coimittees with regard to conservation research in oak biology. Dr. Griffin was requested to consult with a variety of public and private organizations with regard to oak woodland or rare plant management. Academic Coordinator Dr. Mark Stromberg continued with preparation of manuscripts dealing with research conducted previous to assuming administrative duties at Hastings. Research regarding the roles of small mammals in the conservation biology of California oak woodlands is the subject of proposals for research support being sought from the Packard Foundation and the Carmel Ranch Company. Research Associate Dr. Janis Dickinson initiated studies of local wasp colonies and of leaf beetles on local milkweed plants. Dr. Dickinson authored 2 papers which were published this year. Dr. Dickinson presented 4 papers at various scientific meetings and co-taught a graduate seminar on social behavior on the Berkeley campus. Dr. Dickinson was an editorial reviewer for three refereed journals. Research Zoologist Dr. Walter Koenig continued several studies of social behavior in birds. Dr. Koenig completed the 18th consecutive year of detailed study of Acorn Woodpeckers in over 35 social groups on and adjacent to Hastings. Research on the effects of tannins on the digestive efficiency of Acorn Woodpeckers was published, as were results of his studies of human dispersal patterns. Dr. Koenig's studies of breeding in 363 nest boxes used by Western Bluebirds entered its 6th year. Dr. Koenig published 5 research papers, was elected as a fellow to the American Ornithologist's Union, served as Fulbright Fellow at the Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, and co-authored a grant application to the Genetic Resources Conservation Program (UC-Davis) which was approved for an ultracold freezer to store genetic resources at the Hastings Reservation. Dr. Koenig presented 8 lectures and co-taught a graduate seminar on social behavior. He was an advisor for a Master's Thesis completed this year, served on two Ph.D. committees at UC Berkeley and was an external examiner on a Ph.D. thesis at the University of British Columbia. Dr. Koenig also reviewed articles for 7 professional organizations. Various scientific papers by Hasting staff are listed in Appendix 1. Long-term monitoring projects continue at Hastings. Dr. Koenig and his field assistants completed the 14th year of sampling insect populations in pan traps. Dr. Carmen sampled oaks for the 9th year in a cooperative study with Dr. Koenig of acorn production based on 250 tagged oak trees on the reservation. Dr. Griffin added the 21st year of sampling grassland productivity on Hastings. Floristic data (plant species listed by their relative abundance) were taken from plots established 20 years ago. Dr. Griffin made new maps of several plots where individual grassland plants were mapped 12 years ago. Dr. Griffin re-sampled, 40 vegetation research plots in the Chew's Ridge area which burned in the Marble Cone fire in August of 1978. Weather data were updated and correlations were compiled between the new automatic weather recording system and the older data base. U.C. Berkeley Students Most graduate students who worked at Hastings (Table 2) were once again from the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology (MVZ). Mark Stanback added his fifth year of field studies of the Acorn Woodpecker, focusing on behavior of the birds during the nesting period. David Ribble spent the year gathering his third year of data on movements and social behavior of the small mammals on Hastings, with emphasis on the California deer mouse. Mark Reynolds spent about half of this reporting period working to complete six years of research on social behavior and movements of the Yellow-billed Magpie: Mark Reynolds left Hastings for a position with the UC Berkeley system as manager of the Sagehen Field Station. Philip Hooge moved to Hastings to study dispersal patterns of Acorn Woodpeckers. Pat Kelly conducted field work which added his 5th year of data on the local population of wood rats, a species studied previously by Linsdale and Tevis. Several other MVZ graduate students visited Hastings. Devin Reese surveyed the lizard populations. Maria daSilva spent several days getting acquainted with the mammalian fauna. Elizabeth Ross assisted with several research projects. Pam Muick (UC Forestry) continued her research on the ecology of native oak trees with Dr. Griffin. John Barthell (UC Entomology) conducted surveys for Africanized bees and documented the seasonal activity of native bees. Graduate students using Hastings are listed in Table 2. Graduate students from schools other than UC Berkeley used Hastings as well (Table 2). Other U.C. Research Faculty from other California institutions spent time at Hastings (Table 1). Dr. Jeff Welker and Dr. Kevin Rice (UC Davis) made annual visits to their ongoing oak regeneration study plots. Dr. Dan Botkin visited to see the reserve and visit with the researchers. Dr. Sara Hrdy (UC Davis) visited with Dr. Walter Koenig with regard to social behavior studies. Dr. Robbie Soltz revisited bee study sites established over 10 years ago. Dr. Gordon Frankie, U.C. Berkeley-Entomology and his student, John Barthell, again monitored ,a series of traps for the presence of any Africanized bees. Ray Calloway, UC Santa Barbara, made several trips to Hastings to monitor his oak seedling, study plots. Ray is funded through the Integrated Hardwood Range Management Program. Beth Hendrickson (UC Santa Barbara), working with Dr. Griffin, studied the local turpentine weed, Trichostema lanceolatum Research by Other Institutions The largest new research program to start at Hastings was that of Dr. Paul Ewald of Amherst College. Funded by NSF for 2 years, Dr. Ewald arrived June 15 to spend the, summer gathering data on territorial behavior of resident hummingbirds. Dr. Ewald and his assistants set up several patches of electronically controlled robotic flowers with artificial nectar. Observations and behavior data were entered directly into portable computers. Dr. Tom Nash, Arizona State University, was successful in seeking NSF support to re-establish his research program on the lichen, Ramalina in the spring of 1990. Dr. Ron Mumme (Memphis State University) visited Hastings as part of his continuing collaboration with Dr. Koenig on Acorn Woodpeckers. Dr. Tim Pritchard visited as a part of a tour of biological field stations. Dr. Tim Plumb and Dr. Larry Riggs were here to follow up on continuing oak tree studies and collaborate with Dr. Griffin. Dr. Joe Marshall (USFWS- National Museum) was here to study winter bird flocks. Dr. Stan Faeth (Arizona State University) established some monitoring stations for insects which affect oak growth. Dr. Dave Gubernick (Univ. Wisconsin-Madison) videotaped California deer mice in their subterranean dens with Dave Ribble. Dr. Don Kramer (McGill) visited with Dr. Koenig to observe Acorn Woodpeckers. Bennie Hannah, a student at Cal Poly, made several trips to monitor other oak regeneration plots. Education Class use at Hastings is summarized in Table 3. Four classes with a total of 57 students used Hastings for natural history studies. Class use of Hastings remains limited by the lack of a group facility. Hastings continues to offer an important educational experience for undergraduates who wish to work with advanced researchers in field biology. Dr. Koenig and his students Mark Stanback and Phil Hooge, worked with 9 field assistants this year (Table 4). Dave Ribble trained 6 field assistants to track the movements of deermice in undisturbed microhabitats of Hastings woodlands. Dr. Jim Griffin was assisted in his studies of the vegetation of the Santa Lucia mountains by a student from Stanford. The wide variety of field assistant involvement at Hastings is summarized in Table 4. In a program which is scheduled to continue through next year, Dr. Paul Ewald directed a group of 5 field assistants in his study of the territorial behavior of hummingbirds. Each of his assistants is preparing independent research papers in addition to collecting data for the larger research project directed by Dr. Ewald.