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Exploring Chemistry in the Reserve, By Marilyn Fogel

(Oct. 26, 2013) About once a week since the dead heat of summer, I’ve been heading out to the Vernal Pool and Grassland Reserve with Chris Swarth and my research assistant David Araiza. In July and August, as temperatures soared to over 100°F, we started out at 7 am when the landscape was still cool. Our mission was to collect dried grasses for residual dry matter (RDM) measurements, which entailed scissors and a balance for weighing the samples back in the Lab. As a new faculty member with a laboratory barely getting off the ground, we had the “technology” for RDM measurements.

Splendor in the Grass?

By Tom Hothem, Assistant Director
Merritt Writing Project
October 18, 2013
 
In a previous post on “Assessing the Impacts of Cattle Grazing on the Reserve,” Chris examined the biological diversity (or, sometimes, the lack thereof) in the vegetation that surrounds the UCM campus. The average Mercedian could perhaps be forgiven for overlooking such things this time of year, so sere is the landscape.

A Hike Across the Grasslands

Chris Swarth
January 23, 2013

A cool, cloudy day offers the perfect chance for a camera-safari and get-acquainted hike across the planned Grassland-Vernal Pool Natural Reserve.

Jan. 23, was a perfect day for a trek across the grasslands of the planned UC Merced Grassland-Vernal Pool Natural Reserve. The sky was completely overcast with low, dark clouds, but there was no wind and temperatures were mild. Predicted rain showers never materialized.

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