Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve

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The Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve is a 1,200 acre (5 km²) plot of land owned by Stanford University, located at 37°24′29″N 122°13′39″W / 37.408, -122.2275^[1] on Sand Hill Rd near Interstate 280 in Portola Valley, California. It is used by students, researchers, and docents to conduct biology research, and teach the community about the importance of that research. The preserve encompasses Jasper Ridge and Searsville Lake (actually a reservoir) and the upper reaches of San Francisquito Creek.

1 The dam
2 Geological history
3 Common flowering plants
4 Other plants
5 Research at Jasper Ridge
6 References
7 External links

[edit] The dam

The unique block construction helped the dam survive the 1906 and 1989 earthquakes.

[edit] Geological history

Serpentine (Serpentinite) is the California State Rock. It was formed from deep sea or mantle rocks. This rock was squeezed toward the surface by tectonic plate movement, and thus feels greasy, as it has been polished over millions of years.

Graywacke Sandstone after crossing Leonard's Bridge. This sandstone was part of the Franciscan formation 138 M years ago.

Some rocks found at the preserve include: Greenstone, Chert, Serpentinite, Sandstone.

[edit] Common flowering plants

Ranunculus californicus -- California buttercup, a dicot that is native to California.
California Poppy

[edit] Other plants

Toxicodendron diversilobum -- Western Poison Oak, native to California

[edit] Research at Jasper Ridge

[edit] Global change experiment

The Global Change Experiment studies the response of California annual grassland to global change, including elevated atmospheric CO₂, temperature, altered precipitation, and increased nitrogen deposition.