From upland conifer forests and rolling, sunbaked grasslands to fog-shrouded redwood gulches and wave-beaten Pacific headlands, the northern Santa Lucia Mountains could be considered a “best of” compilation of California. The wide-variety of soil types, combined with elevations ranging from sea level to 5,862’ atop Santa Lucia (Junipero Serra) Peak sustain a diverse mix of plant communities which support an equally diverse bestiary of everything from the regal California condor to diminutive Santa Lucia Mountains slender salamander.
Following is a listing of natural history articles pertaining to this unique region of Central California. Many of these articles were originally published in the Double Cone Register (DCR), an occasional, web-based publication focused on the natural and cultural history of the northern Santa Lucia Mountains. A full index of DCR articles can be found here: The Double Cone Register
This is by no means and exhaustive library, so please send new, potential additions to
Flora
Alice Eastwood’s "The Coniferae of the Santa Lucia Mountains", Rodgers 2006 (transcribed and introduced) http://ventanawild.org/news/fe04/coniferae.html
An Addendum on the Botanical History of Santa Lucia Fir, Abies bracteata, with Excerpts from the Notes and Letters of Early Collectors, Rodgers 1998
Jewel Flower (Streptanthus glandulosus), Rodgers 2006 http://ventanawild.org/news/spring06/jewelflower.html
Plants (along with lichens & bryophytes) of the UC Hastings Reserve, University of California, Hastings Reserve http://www.hastingsreserve.org/Plants/Plants.html
Plants of the Highest Santa Lucia and Diablo Range Peaks, California, Griffin 1975 http://www.treesearch.fs.fed.us/pubs/29964
The Plants of Monterey County, an Illustrated Field Key, California Native Plant Society, Matthews & Mitchell, 2015
A Visit to the Proposed Jeff Norman Botanical Area
Fauna
Amphibians and Reptiles of the UC Hastings Reserve, University of California, Hastings Reserve http://www.hastingsreserve.org/Herps/herps.html
Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Monterey County, Monterey Peninsula Audubon Society, Roberson & Tenney (ed.), 1993
Birds of the UC Hastings Reserve, University of California, Hastings Reserve http://www.hastingsreserve.org/Birds/Birds.html
Invertebrates of the UC Hastings Reserve, University of California, Hastings Reserve http://www.hastingsreserve.org/Invertebrates/Invertebrates.html
Mammals of the UC Hastings Reserve, University of California, Hastings Reserve http://www.hastingsreserve.org/Mammals/Mammals.html
Santa Lucia Mountains Slender Salamander, CaliforniaHerps.com http://www.californiaherps.com/salamanders/pages/b.luciae.html
Geology
Geology of the Hastings Reserve, University of California, Hastings Reserve http://www.hastingsreserve.org/Geology/Geology.html
General
Cone Peak Gradient Research Natural Area Technical Report, USDA Forest Service 2004
