The Bernard Field Station is a sanctuary for hundreds of species of plants and animals and a variety of native Californian ecological communities. This land is used by students and faculty at the Claremont Colleges to conduct research as well as for other academic purposes. This semester, I’m making use of the field station to determine the difference in species diversity under Quercus agrifolia, or coast live oak canopies and their surrounding areas. This is a pretty involved process, and conducting this research requires extensive planning, preparation, and careful observation. For example, to prepare for my experiment, I had to explore the field station to locate all of my coast live oak specimens and record their GPS coordinates to find them later on. I will return multiple times to count the types and quantities of different species living under or near the canopies of each tree.
I have spent a lot of time learning how to design my experiment thoughtfully and effectively. However, an astute biologist will know not only how to design and conduct an experiment to collect valuable data, but they will also know how to avoid the dangers that lie in every corner of the field station. I learned how to spot nettles and poison oak, and I also learned how to watch out for dangerous animals such as snakes and bees. I learned to keep water and sunscreen handy for the intense heat and sunlight of Californian nature. Nonetheless, the Bernard Field Station still managed to get the better of me. While I was attempting to get close enough to a Coast Live Oak specimen, I suddenly looked down at my leg to find a cactus limb stuck in it. I had to use two nearby sticks to yank the cactus limb out before prying out individual thorns. Below is an image of the cactus attack.
[1] The California cholla sticks to my leg
The offending cactus is known as Cylindropuntia californica, or the California cholla. This outing to the field station was probably one of the most informative for me yet. I learned that the California cholla has a habit of latching onto anything that brushes against it. This prickly plant might even be scarier than venomous snakes or hungry coyotes!
Speaking of animals, there are a great many that inhabit the Bernard Field Station. While the larger animals may be harder to spot, they leave behind ample evidence of their existence. Along the path of the Field Station, it’s pretty easy to find coyote paw prints as well as coyote poop. At night, you can hear packs of coyotes barking and howling from Harvey Mudd College, across the street from the field station. Other animals leave behind evidence, too. One of the most bittersweet discoveries I made while conducting my research was a dead barn owl, also known asTyto alba, lying in the forest in the Northern neck of the field station. Below is a photo of our fallen feathery friend.
[2] Dead Barn Owl
The Bernard Field Station may be full of cacti that are ready to throw hands, and barn owls that look like they may have had a little too much to drink, but it’s also full of natural beauties. Just look at the photo below that I took for my research. The coast live oak canopies I have been observing bring peace and calm to the chaotic world of biological research. While the southern Californian sun and wildlife can make the Bernard Field Station hot and dangerous, you can always find places to cool off and relax.
[3] Coast Live Oak Canopy
Media credits:
[1]: Photo by Fabrizia Villela Mugnatto
[2]: Photo by Fabrizia Villela Mugnatto
[3]: Photo by Fabrizia Villela Mugnatto
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