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 The natural history of Russell is divided into three sections: Land Cover and Conditions
, Wildlife, and Vegetation
 Of the 115 hectares (283 acres) comprising Russell Reservation approximately 50 acres are occupied by research plantations, 80 acres
are occupied by oak woodland, and 150 acres are occupied by chaparral and grassland. Plant communities grow on a
variety of soil types, underlain by marine sediments of sandstone, shale and
chert.
Slopes range from a flat on the valley floor to more than 60% in the steeper drainages.
The elevation rises from 221m to 381 m (725-1250').
Weather at Russell is typically Mediterranean, with warm, dry summers, and cool, wet winters. Temperatures range from
30°F to 100°F, and precipitation averaging 24 inches per year feeds several intermittent creeks and ponds.
 Threatened and Endangered
 | Western pond turtle (Clemmys marmorata) |
| Red-legged frog (Rana aurora) |
| California tiger salamander (Abbystoma tigrinum) |
| Alameda striped racer (Masticophis lateralis euryanthus) |
| Grey fox (Urocyon cineoargenteus) |
Additional species
| Mountain lion (Felis concolor) |
| Black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemonionus columbianus) |
| California quail (Lophortyx californicus) |
| Coyote (Canis latrans) |
Russell Reservation's vegetation types consist of forest, woodland, chaparral, and grassland. Following is a partial list of
species found in these communities on the property:
 Forest (planted)
| Coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) |
| Monterey pine (Pinus radiata), including Cedros Island pine and Guadalupe Island pine varieties |
| Bishop pine (Pinus muricata), Santa Cruz Island variety |
| Giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) |
Woodland
| Coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia) |
| California bay (Umbellularia californica) |
| Buckeye (Aesculus californica) |
| Black Oak (Quercus kelloggii) |
| Elderberry (Sambucus mexicana) |
| Walnut (Juglans hindsii) |
 Chaparral
| Chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum) |
| Black Sage (Salvia mellifera) |
| Manzanita (Arctostaphylos canescens) |
| Coyote brush (Baccharis pilularis) |
| Bush monkeyflower (Mimulus aurantiacus) |
| California sagebrush (Artemesia californica) |
| Poison oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum) |
 Grassland
| Mustard (Brassica campestris) |
| Wild oat (Avena fatua) |
| Soft chess (Bromus mollis) |
| Rip gut (B. rigidus) |
| California brome (B. carinatus) |
| Star thistle (Centaurea solstitialis) |
| Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum) |
| Festuca (Festuca spp.) |
| Sweet fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) |
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Chaparral
Grassland
