Field Trip Log:
- After first arriving at the site where many populations of Mimulus Gattutus can be found we searched for samples of Mimulus, using conical 50mL tubes filled with silica gel to collect. The purpose of the silica was to prevent samples from getting moist.
- Following that we proceeded to a more sun exposed area, where we found remnants of Mimulus seedlings that had been dried out because of too much exposure to the sun. The creek upon which the plant had once lived was completely dried up and the seeds had very little chance of reproducing with another plant.
- We then visited a site with a high volume of serpentine rocks and noted that there was almost no plant life. The high concentrations of metals does not allow plants to proliferate.
- Finally, we visited a population of Mimulus that was along the side of the hill. This population was by far the healthiest since it received the most water and did not have to compete as much for nutrients and resources against other nearby plants.
