Motte Rimrock Reserve
Encyclopedia
The Motte Rimrock Reserve, a unit of the University of California Natural Reserve System affiliated with the University of California, Riverside
, is an ecological reserve and biological field station located on a small plateau
overlooking the Perris Valley in west-central Riverside County, California
, United States
.
, northwest of the city of Perris
. Much of the land of the Motte Rimrock Reserve was donated to the University of California in 1976 by Charles and Ottie Motte. Numerous parcels have been added since.
, coastal sage scrub, willow riparian woodland, and rocky outcrops that support a diversity of plant and animal species. The Reserve harbors a mixture of both coastal and inland species and owes its diversity to its location equidistant between the Pacific Ocean
and the Mojave Desert
. The Reserve also possesses a rich cultural history including some recognized archeological sites. Current on-going research projects include studies on the population dynamics of small mammals, ant behavior, plant-insect interactions, and habitat restoration.
, the Reserve
serves to protect a number of species threatened or endangered by development and habitat loss including Stephens' Kangaroo Rat, the California Gnatcatcher
, orange-throated whiptail
, and Bell's sage sparrow, as well as several diminishing plant communities such as Riversidean sage scrub. The Reserve is an active participant in the Riverside County Habitat Conservation Agency (RCHCA) a joint powers authority created to protect and preserve the Stephens' kangaroo rat.
The Director of the Reserve is Kenneth J. Halama, Ph.D., an ecologist and conservation biologist.
University of California, Riverside
The University of California, Riverside, commonly known as UCR or UC Riverside, is a public research university and one of the ten general campuses of the University of California system. UCR is consistently ranked as one of the most ethnically and economically diverse universities in the United...
, is an ecological reserve and biological field station located on a small plateau
Plateau
In geology and earth science, a plateau , also called a high plain or tableland, is an area of highland, usually consisting of relatively flat terrain. A highly eroded plateau is called a dissected plateau...
overlooking the Perris Valley in west-central Riverside County, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Location
The Reserve is located on 715 acres (2.9 km²) at an elevation of 1580 feet (482 m) ASLAbove mean sea level
The term above mean sea level refers to the elevation or altitude of any object, relative to the average sea level datum. AMSL is used extensively in radio by engineers to determine the coverage area a station will be able to reach...
, northwest of the city of Perris
Perris, California
Perris is a city in Riverside County, California, USA. At the 2010 census, the city population was 68,386, up from 36,189 at the 2000 census. The city is named in honor of Fred T. Perris, chief engineer of the California Southern Railroad...
. Much of the land of the Motte Rimrock Reserve was donated to the University of California in 1976 by Charles and Ottie Motte. Numerous parcels have been added since.
Ecology
The Motte Rimrock Reserve contains large areas of open grasslandGrassland
Grasslands are areas where the vegetation is dominated by grasses and other herbaceous plants . However, sedge and rush families can also be found. Grasslands occur naturally on all continents except Antarctica...
, coastal sage scrub, willow riparian woodland, and rocky outcrops that support a diversity of plant and animal species. The Reserve harbors a mixture of both coastal and inland species and owes its diversity to its location equidistant between the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
and the Mojave Desert
Mojave Desert
The Mojave Desert occupies a significant portion of southeastern California and smaller parts of central California, southern Nevada, southwestern Utah and northwestern Arizona, in the United States...
. The Reserve also possesses a rich cultural history including some recognized archeological sites. Current on-going research projects include studies on the population dynamics of small mammals, ant behavior, plant-insect interactions, and habitat restoration.
Wildlife
As the surrounding area experiences rapid urbanizationUrbanization
Urbanization, urbanisation or urban drift is the physical growth of urban areas as a result of global change. The United Nations projected that half of the world's population would live in urban areas at the end of 2008....
, the Reserve
Nature reserve
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
serves to protect a number of species threatened or endangered by development and habitat loss including Stephens' Kangaroo Rat, the California Gnatcatcher
California Gnatcatcher
The California Gnatcatcher, Polioptila californica, is a small 10.8 cm long insectivorous bird which frequents dense coastal sage scrub growth...
, orange-throated whiptail
Orange-throated whiptail
The Orange-throated whiptail is a species of lizard in the family Teiidae. It was previously placed in the genus Cnemidophorus. A. hyperythra has five or six light colored stripes down a black, brown, or grey dorsal side. The middle stripe may be forked at both ends...
, and Bell's sage sparrow, as well as several diminishing plant communities such as Riversidean sage scrub. The Reserve is an active participant in the Riverside County Habitat Conservation Agency (RCHCA) a joint powers authority created to protect and preserve the Stephens' kangaroo rat.
The Director of the Reserve is Kenneth J. Halama, Ph.D., an ecologist and conservation biologist.