Santa Clara University Biology Department
March 10, 2014
Winter 2014 Jewelflower Returns To Tulare Hill Inside this issue:
Jewelflower Returns
1
SEMO Program
2
DeNardo Scholarship
2
Wallflower
3
Spring Courses
4
Justen Whittall
dential development.
On Sunday, March 2nd, 2014, the Metcalf Canyon Jewelflower (Streptanthus albidus ssp.albidus) was reintroduced to Tulare Hill in southern Santa Clara County. Approximately 16,000 seeds were sown in four locations on Tulare Hill, an isolated serpentine grassland nestled between Santa Teresa Boulevard and Monterey Highway. The property is owned by Santa Clara County Parks and the Silicon Valley Land Conservancy who are partners in the reintroduction. Seeds will also be planted near existing populations at the Motorcycle
A modified grazing regime and improved understanding of the jewelflower’s biology have been a collaborative effort by Santa Clara University’s Department of Biology and Creekside Center for Earth Observation. Lead by Dr. Justen Whittall and Aaron Thom of
County Park atop Metcalf Road on March 4th, 2014 as controls and to supplement those existing populations.
Santa Clara University and Dr. Stu Weiss and Christal Niederer from Creekside, the reintroduction represents the culmination of nearly ten years of research and planning to maximize the probability of long-term success. Volunteers from the California Native Plant Society and undergraduates from Santa Clara University have been instrumental in preparing the seeds for the reintroduction.
This historic population of Jewelflower at Tulare Hill Although the reintroduction declined primarily due to was nearly thwarted by this unprecedented overgrazing by cattle. No season’s Jewelflowers have persisted drought, the recent rains at Tulare Hill since 1980 have improved conditions when the remaining popula- for the Jewelflower’s germition was extirpated by resi- nation and survival. The newly planted seeds will be
monitored regularly for germination, survival, flowering and seed set. After a second year of planting next winter, Tulare Hill is expected to support a Jewelflower population of over 4,000 individuals capable of producing
hundreds of thousands of seeds. The Metcalf Canyon Jewelflower reintroduction has been supported by the Bureau of Reclamation at the United States Department of the Interior.
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SEMO Program Science and Engineering Mentoring Outreach SEMO Program seeks to provide high school students with college role models through mentorship that promotes STEM career awareness and soft skill development. What will you do? Attend one training session before high school visits Work with underprivileged high school students teaching soft
skills such as building resumes, science fair projects, higher education awareness, etc. Minimum of one high school visit per quarter
Benefits to College Mentors: Resume builder Make an impact on the lives of kids in low-performing high schools Exposure to industry and network opportunities Leadership certificate awarded upon
completion of program How to Join: For more information, visit: semoprogram@gmail.com www.facebook.com/group s/SCU.SEMO www.semoprogram.org
DeNardo Science Scholarship “The best scientist is open to experience and begins with romance—the idea that anything is possible.” -Ray Bradbury
The Gerald and Sally DeNardo Lectureship Committee and College of Arts and Sciences Dean W. Atom Yee are pleased to announce the call for applications for the 2014 Gerald and Sally DeNardo Science Scholars.
already been sent out to the Biology Department. DeNardo Science Scholars receive a research
Monday, April 14, 2014. For more information please contact Marie Brancati in the College of Arts and Sciences Dean's Office at
Two students will be selected to begin work on or about July 1, 2014. An email with the Call for Applications Poster and Application Guidelines has
two summers). There is an additional $2,000 for lab supplies for the project. Deadline for applications is
award of $2,500 per academic year through graduation and $5,000 per summer (maximum
408-554-2301, mbrancati@scu.edu.
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Santa Cruz Wallflower Julie Hernan and those in Dr. Whittall’s research lab have been doing research on the Santa Cruz Wallflower, an endangered plant restricted to the inland sandhills in the Santa Cruz area. The sandhills act like islands, since each patch of habitat is separated from the others by
redwood forests, which are difficult for pollinators to traverse. The Wallflower’s habitat is threatened by the quarrying industry, since the sand it occupies is highly prized as a raw material for making glass bottles and cement. Julie has been working to understand the distribution of genetic diversity within and between eight of the remaining populations, as well as how that diversity influences plant fitness. Eventually, this data can be used to reintroduce the Santa Cruz Wallflower to sites from which it has disappeared. Right now, they know that there is some kind of genetic pattern within the populations that does not follow any of their hypotheses based on geography. However, they have learned that the Santa Cruz Wallflower is pollinated by many different insects, including checkerspot butterflies, which might be able to get through the forests. Additionally, they have learned that the wallflower does not produced very many seeds when it mates with itself, which means these pollinators are critical to its continued existence. Right now, those in the lab are trying to get more genetic data to clarify those results and raise the F1 generation of the crosses they did to test the fitness of different populations and cross types.
Molecular Biology artwork by David Goodsell, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Molecular Biology at The Scripps Research Institute
Spring Course Offerings
BIOL 3
Fitness Physiology L&L
BIOL 4
Light and Life L&L
BIOL 21
Introduction to Physiology
BIOL 23
Investigations In Ecology/Evolution L&L
BIOL 100
Hot Topics in Biology
BIOL 110
Genetics L&L
BIOL 115
Human Reproduction/Development L&L
BIOL 116
Medical Microbiology L&L
BIOL 117
Epidemiology L&L
BIOL 1201
Animal Physiology
BIOL 122
Neurobiology L&L
BIOL 129
Human Physiology
BIOL 151
Restoration Ecology L&L
BIOL 160
Biostatistics L&L
BIOL 165
Animal Behavior L&L
BIOL 171
Ethical Issues in Biotechnology
BIOL 175
Molecular Biology L&L
BIOL 179
Cancer Biology
BIOL 188
STEM Education and Justice
BIOL 189
Topics in Cellular/Molecular Biology
BIOL 195
Undergraduate Research