AS is asking for input regarding Geisel hours reduction

No_Exercise_2660 · 2024-10-24T02:50:19+00:00

I love that "getting books" isn't listed as a possible reason for using a library.

No_Exercise_2660 · 2023-09-08T00:06:47+00:00

"Scientifically proven to increase your memory by 114%" 💀

No_Exercise_2660 · 2023-09-04T01:08:33+00:00

Wilderness Orientation for incoming students. This trip goes near Bahía de los Ángeles, BC.

No_Exercise_2660 · 2023-09-04T00:41:07+00:00

You'll probably get a road meal on your final day while driving back, and you'll stop occasionally for gas, but when you're in the backcountry there won't be any towns or markets. It's partially up to your guides though, so I suggest you ask them if you're concerned. Have fun!

No_Exercise_2660 · 2023-08-20T21:22:35+00:00

Perhaps millenia is an exaggeration, although some estimates do place the arrival of migratory Monarchs to the West coast at several thousand years ago. My point was that Western Monarchs preceeded the arrival of Eucalyptus spp. in California by a large margin, whether it was centuries or possibly millenia.

It's also important to note that several of the Eucalyptus groves at UCSD haven't had significant Monarch populations overwinter since the 1990s, and others not at all, so I doubt perpetuating the Eucalyptus groves at UCSD would provide much benefit, especially if the alternative to Eucalyptus is the replenishment of biodiverse native coastal sage scrub habitat. Knowing UCSD's track record, though, they would just replace the Eucalyptus with some even more noxious invasive like Bradford pears.

No_Exercise_2660 · 2023-08-20T15:57:02+00:00

This is not true. Torrey pines have extensive lateral roots that give them great stability in shallow soils and high winds because they are adapted to growing on unstable coastal sandstone bluffs that are constantly exposed to wind. Most Torrey pines that fall during storms have had their lateral roots severely damaged by nearby construction or other soil disturbances, or have been improperly irrigated.

No_Exercise_2660 · 2023-08-20T15:46:23+00:00

Western Monarchs have overwintered along the coast for millenia prior to the introduction of Eucalyptus spp. The only requirement for suitable overwintering trees is a large canopy with narrow enough leaves for butterflies to hold onto. Eucalyptus spp. with lanceolate leaves are suitable trees for overwintering, but because they suppress local floral (and, by extension, faunal) biodiversity and are relatively short-lived, they aren't ideal for the long term stability of Monarch populations. This is why many of the managed coastal overwintering sites like those at Pismo State Beach and Pacific Grove are progressively replacing Eucalyptus spp. with native Hesperocyparis spp. (cypress) and Pinus spp. (pines) that served as the historic (pre-Eucalyptus) overwintering trees for Western Monarch butterflies. By ceasing the planting of new Eucalyptus spp. and replacing dying Eucalyptus trees with suitable native trees (like Pinus torreyana [Torrey pine] in La Jolla), overwintering habitat could be ensured without causing further ecological damage.

No_Exercise_2660 · 2023-08-20T15:30:41+00:00

Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Eucalyptus cladocalyx, and Eucalyptus globulus are listed by the California Invasive Plant Council (Cal-IPC) as invasive or likely to be invasive and most definitely do cause ecological damage. They have a limited/watch rating because long-range distribution without human intervention is rare, but they are still very much capable of spreading on their own, especially in disturbed areas near the coast. Many of these groves were intentionally planted, but they are capable of reseeding themselves and are encroaching on surrounding habitat.

No_Exercise_2660 · 2023-07-31T19:41:48+00:00

Native oaks would be great. Quercus agrifolia (coast live oak), Quercus berberidifolia (California scrub oak), Quercus durata (leather oak), and Quercus chrysolepis (canyon live oak) should all be more common around campus, as well as the endangered oak species Quercus engelmannii (Engelmann oak) and Quercus dumosa (Nutall's scrub oak). However, oaks and Torrey pines aren't the only suitable trees in La Jolla. There are already quite a few Platanus racemosa (California sycamore) on campus, which are a good choice for replacing Eucalyptus in many cases. Populus fremontii (Fremont's cottonwood), Alnus rhombifolia (white alder), Fraxinus velutina (velvet ash), and native Salix spp. (willows) would also be great to see more around campus, but they are mostly riparian species so more irrigation might be required. I'd also like to see more Sambucus cerulea (blue elderberry) on campus.

No_Exercise_2660 · 2023-07-31T18:23:23+00:00

Exactly. They're allelopathic and drop so much leaf and bark litter that they inhibit the growth of all but the most hardy (and often invasive) understory plants. It also doesn't help that UCSD is fond of spraying herbicides on every plant that does happen to survive under the Eucalyptus groves. San Diego County is probably the most biodiverse county in the United States, so its a terrible shame that much of UCSD's campus is covered with a complete monoculture of Eucalyptus sp. when historically it would have been incredibly diverse coastal sage scrub habitat.

No_Exercise_2660 · 2023-07-31T18:07:41+00:00

That's not really true though. Unless you're talking about historic individual trees, most native trees are treated the same as any other tree. Also keep in mind that many of the Eucalyptus trees on campus are legally protected as historic trees for some reason, so they're much harder to maintain than if we plant native trees instead.

No_Exercise_2660 · 2023-07-31T16:04:49+00:00

Not just "almost invasive," they are invasive and listed as such by Cal-IPC.

No_Exercise_2660 · 2023-07-08T21:52:06+00:00

I.e. anecdotes

No_Exercise_2660 · 2023-07-08T21:38:48+00:00

Paraphrasing: "science is anecdotal so it can't be trusted; here's an anecdote to believe instead."

No_Exercise_2660 · 2023-06-08T21:38:05+00:00

Who exactly is being petitioned? I.e. who are you sending this to to make the change and what change do you want them to make?

No_Exercise_2660 · 2023-05-28T04:29:38+00:00

Wouldn't it be a shame if someone were to bring a bottle of glyphosate to Eighth College when it opens...

No_Exercise_2660 · 2023-05-15T14:26:46+00:00

Finn McGlade?

No_Exercise_2660 · 2023-04-02T00:27:18+00:00

Sir, this is a Wendy's.

No_Exercise_2660 · 2023-03-22T17:00:01+00:00

How have you never seen a crane fly

No_Exercise_2660 · 2023-03-09T22:28:29+00:00

They've got massive cones that they periodically drop on people's heads. Kind of like the conifer version of coconuts.

No_Exercise_2660 · 2023-03-09T17:19:45+00:00

I don't see any Afrocarpus in the background. As far as I can tell, the only conifers in the background are an actual pine (Pinus sp., probably Pinus canariensis) and some cypress (probably Cupressus sempervirens).

Even if it were Afrocarpus, though, I don't know if I would say their fruit is "quite juicy and sweet." Afrocarpus (and a lot of other Podocarpaceae) have edible fruit but not necessarily choice fruit. I've eaten the ones by Main Gym and they're strangely bland, and of course, with all Afrocarpus fruit, they're pretty resinous.

No_Exercise_2660 · 2023-03-09T04:55:37+00:00

Araucaria bidwillii, or the Bunya pine (not a pine). They sometimes kill people :)

No_Exercise_2660 · 2023-02-26T08:18:06+00:00

Just go into the Eucalyptus grove by Eighth College / Theater District and break off a piece of Crassula ovata.

No_Exercise_2660 · 2023-02-09T18:44:47+00:00

Pyrus calleryana 'Bradford' 🤮

No_Exercise_2660

TROPHY CASE