Mission Blue Butterfly	Ed Wodehouse, Ph.D. Professor, Botany/Biology Skyline College
Biology Home page Skyline Home page	wodehouse@smccd.net

The following projects provide important environmental baseline data information for local projects. Fog Precipitation Study Floristic Studies The Mission Blue Butterfly Project

The Fog Precipitation Study: Skyline College and the Sweeney Ridge area to the south having up to 200 fog-days per year are ideal locations to study fog precipitation. Using screen samplers we have studied the quantitative contribution of fog precipitation along transects from the top of Sweeney Ridge running approximately 300 meters west down the hill. It was shown that about half of the water entering the system came from fog precipitation. Some of the results of this study were presented at the Congressional hearings conducted by Tom Lantos at Skyline College on the proposed Interstate 380 Extension over Sweeney Ridge.

• As the sample period was only 5 months and did not include the fog-rich summer months it would be of interest to do more sampling in the future.
  
• Also future studies might include chemical and biological analysis of fog precipitation from screen samplers and from water captured by vegetation.
  
• Computer applications might include mapping of transect results as well as statistical analyses.

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Floristic Studies at Sweeney Ridge: A rich flora of native wildflowers and other plants exist both on the Skyline College campus as well as on the surrounding properties. On what used to be called the "Coast Guard" property (Sweeney Ridge) south of Skyline College we have conducted identification and distribution studies of the plants present. Distribution maps have been prepared and a number of rare species have been found.

• It would be a great benefit to continue these studies and to extend our work beyond the original study site. As the property is now part of the GGNRA the results could be shared with those hikers interested in plants. Computer applications would include distribution maps as well as the production of lists or descriptions for hikers.

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The Mission Blue Butterfly Project: Skyline College has been designated as a conservation site for the endangered Mission Blue butterfly. A number of activities will be undertaken to protect and restore the habitat. Some of the activities planned are: lupine seeds have been collected for laboratory germination and planting in the habitat; pruning of trees is planned to facilitate the nectaring flights of the butterflies and; removal of exotic species such as pampas grass is planned.

• Although we cannot allow many people to walk through the protected area, there are opportunities for students to participate in this project. Computer applications will include mapping of host lupine species both from a distributional standpoint as well as tracking changes over time.

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