Courtney M. Krest, Allison Lo, Nona Chiariello, and Samuel Webb

SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory

Adjacent to SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory is Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve (JRBP), which encompasses a large diversity of ecosystems including serpentine areas.  Serpentine soils are formed from ultramafic rocks that are often found in the earth’s mantle.  These soils include high concentrations of metals from ultramafic rocks, especially nickel and chromium, low concentrations of nutrients, and a lower ratio of calcium (Ca) to magnesium (Mg) than other soils. Despite being rather inhospitable growth conditions, plant species both native and invasive to California can live on serpentine soil, while others cannot. Studying how these plants survive in such harsh conditions can give insights into why some species can thrive, or not, in serpentine. This research could also provide clues to bioremediation and plant growth in other contaminated or nutrient-deficient areas.

This poster will outline a new project analyzing samples collected from JRBP from both on and off serpentine areas.  These studies will include the sticky monkey flower (Mimulus aurantiacus), and seeds from a variety of native and non-native grasses. Preliminary results will be shown and include discussion of elements of interest for serpentine areas including Ni, Cr, and Ca, as well as other elements of biological interest.  These preliminary studies show that using synchrotron radiation to study biological samples from on and off serpentine areas at JRBP is feasible.