98 CARNEGIE INSTITUTION OF WASHINGTON. 



The second area borders the western side of Point Pinos, and is 

 essentially like that at Carmel, but of greater extent and interest. 

 Fresh sand trails from blowouts are here invading mature pine forest. 



The third area extends along the shore of Monterey Bay from Del 

 Monte to the Salinas River and beyond, and is of very special interest, 

 with a complex history. It has long been the site of dune-building, so 

 that accumulations of past centuries, mantling the older formations, 

 now lie several kilometers back from the shore and 200 meters above it, 

 raised to their present position by the great uplift that elsewhere is 

 evidenced by ancient sea cliffs and terraces. A more recent subsidence 

 of about 100 meters has resulted in the formation of a wave-cut bluff 

 along the central portion of the mass, exposing in section the accumula- 

 tions of past ages and the building of bars surmounted by new dunes 

 across the mouths of the Salinas, Del Rey, and other streams. Repeated 

 blow-outs along the bluff have resulted in the formation here of a dis- 

 tinct new line of dunes of great size, superposed upon the older. These 

 in turn are stabilized for the most part, though occasional blow-outs 

 show that the processes of change are still in operation. 



The pioneer communities are only fragmentarily present. The 

 ancient dune complex, being outside the pine region, is covered by 

 chaparral and oak forest; the younger series along the shore is con- 

 trolled by the Ericameria community. The rapidity with which this 

 establishes itself upon new areas, together with the uniformity of its 

 covering upon areas of unequal ages and the almost total absence of 

 chaparral upon the younger dune series, indicates that it constitutes a 

 subciimax of long duration, its supersession by the chaparral being 

 impossible until a considerable amount of humus has accumulated in 

 the soil. In the Monterey region, therefore, the long period of undis- 

 turbed development has permitted the attainment of the climax upon 

 the oldest areas — pine forest on the peninsula, chaparral or oak in the 

 back country. 



Several permanent quadrats and transects were established in the 

 dune region of Monterey Bay for experimental study of the successions. 

 The plant communities of the region bounded roughly by the ocean, 

 the Salinas, and the Carmel Rivers were accurately mapped. Ten 

 rain-gages, arranged to sum the seasonal totals, were placed at strategic 

 points, to aid in the solution of local climatic problems. 



At both Coronado and Monterey the underground portions of the 

 principal species — 30 in all — were excavated, and manj^ of them 

 photographed. The results of this work can not be brought together 

 at the present time. Material for anatomical study of 52 species 

 was also collected, and also the seeds for experimental greenhouse 

 stud3\ 



For habitat investigation a series of 16 stations was established, 

 representing the peninsular and bay regions, and all successional 

 stages. Measurements were made of soil-moisture and soil-tempera- 



