INTRODUCTION*

    Indigenous dune species likp the endangered Morro Bay Kangaroo Rat (Dipodomys heermanni morroensis) depend on an environment's distinct charactristics to sustain their life. Recognizing that the habitat and subsequently the population of the Morro Bay Kangaroo Rat was being threatened by man's progress promted the California Department of Fish and Game to establish the Morro Dunes Ecological Reserve.

    Currently, research projects by the Botany, Biology, and Soils Departments of California Polytechnic State University are being performed at the ecological reserve. Information compiled from these concurrent in investigations of the vegetation, the Kangaroo Rat populations, and the soils in the area will provide a better understanding of tke environmental factors critical in sustaining the life of the Morro Bay Kangaroo Rat.

    This project was designed to survey the soils in the Morro Dunes Ecological Reserve. A southwest to northeast transect of the 50 acre site was selected to include any changes in topography and possible variations in soil profile development.

*Moss, D.C. 1984. A soil survey of the Morro Dunes Ecological Reserve.  Senior project, Soil Science Department, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.