BIOL 323/392E Plants and Animals
of Southern California
as taught by Paul
Wilson
For Paper 2:
• Click here for slideshow
(photos deleted) of Jolene Pucci's work on the endangered Lyon's Pentachaeta
• Click here for slideshow
(photos deleted) of Joanne Moriarte's work on bobcats on the urban edge
Masked Boobie that we saw in L.A. harbor 14 Oct.
2006 - rare in California.
Course Description: For non-science majors to acquaint
them with the classification, behavior, ecology and distribution of the
more important plants and animals of Southern California. Counts for General
Education Natural Sciences. Lecture 3 hours, 3 field studies hours. Prerequisite:
completion of lower-division writing requirement. Goals: (a)
to teach you factual information about organisms that can commonly be
seen in our natural environment; (b) to give you examples of how scientists
apply the scientific method in ecology, behavior, evolution, and systematics;
(c) to learn in particular about recent and on-going research on local plants
and animals; (d) to gain practical skills in observing them; and (e) to
practice writing with realism about the natural world. Papers:
Each paper will be 900 words. In Paper 1, you will describe your own
observations from nature of an animal or plant, look up information on it,
and you will reflect upon it distinguishing observations from interpretations.
In Paper 2, you will articulate a series of hypotheses developed during lecture,
present data testing those hypotheses, and compare our findings with those
in the scientific literature. In Paper 3, you will explain how (mechanistically)
a natural processes can give rise to an emergent phenomenon, which will
be based in part on modeling and will be discussed with reference to the
literature. The assignments will be explained in much greater detail
in class. Tests: There will be 3 quizzes and a final. Each
test will include a practical part in which you recognize species (or other
taxa) or interesting facts about the organisms. There will also be short
essays based on the lectures and discussions. The final will be cumulative.
There will be study sheets before each quiz that will spell out what you
need to know.
Notes on invertebrates and on fishes at Cabrillo Marine
Aquarium
Evolutionary Scenarios
handout
Garden
Insects handout (1.5 Megabytes)
Here are the notes on species, etc.
Birds
Double-crested Cormorant: Oil (uropygial/preen) gland
on rump is not well developed. These birds feed by diving (foot–propelled)
for fish, and their plumage frequently gets so waterlogged that they
must spend time holding their wings out in the sun to dry. There
have been several conflicts in which cormorants have been persecuted for
predating fish hatcheries, or because they were perceived to be competing
with commercial or recreational fishing; there was an enormous illegal
slaughter of these birds on a nesting island in upstate NY in the spring
of 1998. These birds are also strongly affected by pesticides and
other pollution in the water.
Mallard: Dabbling ducks (don’t dive) that strain water for
aquatic plants and invertebrates. Note the lamellate bills for sieving
and palmate feet.
American Coot: Note the lobate toes and more “normal”
beak compared to the Mallard. Coots are frequently mistaken for a
duck but they are in different orders. Coots feed on aquatic plants,
almost always in fresh or slightly brackish water. Its laughing
cry gave rise to the term “Old Coot”.
Great Egret: A large white wading bird that tends to
ambush its prey by slowly waiting and stalking in shallow fresh water
habitats.
Snowy Egret: A more active forager than the Great
Egret, it uses its bright yellow feet to stir up the sediment and startle
prey into moving so it can strike them. At the turn of the century,
they were almost wiped out by hunters who wanted their feathers for women’s
hats. The outcry against this slaughter led to changes in fashion and
the creation of the Audubon Society.
Turkey Vulture: A large scavenging bird that soars for
extended periods on broad, slotted wings in search of dead animals.
Its naked head is an adaptation to prevent feathers from fouling, as
it often plunges its head into festering carcasses.
Osprey: A bird of prey that feeds exclusively on fish.
Adaptations for catching fish include spicules on the bottom of their feet
and a reversible outer toe, both of which give a better grasp for slippery
fish. Several decades ago it suffered from DDT poisoning that caused
egg-shell thinning but their numbers have now rebounded.
Mourning Dove: This bird is named for its sad-sounding
mournful call. It feeds primarily on small seeds and it is well
adapted to agricultural areas, deserts, and urban areas. It is one
of the most common N. American birds.
Allen’s Hummingbird: Hummingbirds feed with long, narrow
beaks on high-energy flower nectar to support their enormous energy
needs. Hummingbirds in general are capable of going into torpor (deep
sleep) for several hours during a cool night or a storm in order to
save energy. Allen’s has a wing whistle and a bright orange-red iridescent
throat patch used in territorial displays. It is a species that is visually
very similar to the Rufus Hummingbird but lives at lower elevations.
Black Phoebe: This bird is a flycatcher. Flycatchers
in general will sit on a perch and wait for an insect to fly by.
They fly out and catch the insect and then return to the perch to eat it
and wait for its next prey. Note the broad bill common in birds that
catch insects on the wing. It is common on campus.
Western Bluebird: A cavity-nesting bird that mostly
inhabits woodland areas. Unusual to see in the San Fernando Valley.
Common Raven: Ravens are very intelligent birds.
Tame ones have learned to “talk” in a manner similar to parrots. They
are omnivorous and quite adaptable. They are larger, have a raspy/deep
call, and are more common in deserts and rural areas of southern CA compared
to crows.
Western American Crow: Crows are also very intelligent
and adaptable birds. They are more common in urban areas of southern
California compared to ravens. They were hit hard by West Nile virus
in recent years but their numbers are rebounding.
Clark’s Nutcracker: These are high elevation birds
that deal with harsh winters. About 80-100% of their food comes
from their caches, which they can locate up to 9 months later. They
have powerful beaks that can pry open green cones to get seeds.
Steller’s Jay: These jays are fairly vocal and hang
out in family groups. They inhabit mostly coniferous forests and
mostly higher elevations in southern California (but go to sea level
farther north). They are replaced by Scrub Jays in more lowland arid
habitats.
Western Scrub Jay: Scrub Jays are common on campus and
in more arid areas (e.g., chaparral) in southern California. They
are omnivorous and very adaptable to city life. Related birds in
Florida are famous for the well-studied cooperative breeding system.
White-headed Woodpecker: These woodpeckers are restricted
to high elevation coniferous forests along the western coast. In
addition to insects, they also feed on pine seeds.
Mountain Chickadee: These chicadees feed on seeds
and insects that they glean from trees, and are usually found in small
flocks. This species is found typically at higher elevations.
White-breasted Nuthatch: Nuthatches forage for insects
along tree trunks and branches but unlike most other birds, they often
move down the trunk head first.
Brown Pelican: The adult breeding coloration includes a
light-yellow head, a red throat pouch and some very showy bluish gray
parts around the edges of the bill. The juveniles are mostly brown. These
birds have a large pouch under their beak that they use for catching
fish, which they often do by plunge diving.
Great Blue Heron: Long-legged wading bird with decorative
streaming feathers on the neck. They stalk around in shallow waters and
fields to snatch fishes and other small animals with their long pointed
beaks.
Black Oystercatcher: Their laterally flattened red bill
is used to pry animals such as bivalves off of rocks where they are firmly
attached. The birds are ± limited to rocky coasts.
Jaegers: We saw Pomarine Jaegers. They nest in the arctic
tundra feeding on lemmings and other small animals. The rest of
the time they are seen singly on the open ocean. They get much of their
food by chasing other birds and making them cough up fish. Their bent wing
is associated with maneuverability.
Western Gull: Our most common gull, it is generalized in its
wing shape, diet, and is successful in many habitats. The red spot
on the tip of the bill is where the young peck to signal the parents to
barf up some food.
Heermann’s Gull: Smaller than a Western Gull. The bills
is red with a black tip. They breed in Baja Mexico and spend the
rest of the time along the west coast beaches.
Shearwaters: We saw the Black-vented Shearwater and the
Pink-footed Shearwater. They are so named because they tend to fly close
to the water and cut close to the tops of the waves. Except for nesting,
which is done mostly on islands, they spend most of their time over open
ocean. They can stay out for weeks and go long distances. They have long
narrow wings and fly with stiff wingbeats, Shearwaters forage for small
fish and squid near the water surface but some actually go under water
to catch prey.
Phainopepla: These birds are often associated with mistletoe,
eating the fruits (and inadvertently dispersing the seeds). They are common
in the deserts but also found in semiarid lands.
Burrowing Owl: This species has the distinction of living
in underground burrows. It is a fairly small owl. Owls hunt for rodents
and such at night.
Swallows: These are aerial acrobats that forage almost
exclusively on the wing for flying insects. They have small legs, enough
to perch but not so good for walking. Species vary in nest construction,
but you might pay attention to Cliff Swallows, which make out of mud
gourd-shaped nests in colonies.
Hawks & Falcons: A common hawk is the Red-tailed Hawk.
It has relatively wide wings, and often dives to catch rodents on the
ground. A good falcon to know is the Peregrine Falcon, which has narrow
wing tips and often chases down little birds to eat, which it can do at
extreme speeds.
Wrentit: Primarily a chaparral bird that is commonly heard
but not often seen. It’s call has been described as dropping a ping-pong
ball on a table.
Horned Lark: These insectivorous birds feed predominantly
on the ground in open fields, and usually in small flocks. Their name
comes from two small feather tufts on their head that resemble horns.
Red-tailed Hawk: This is the most common US raptor.
It is a generalist that is found all across the country and in most habitats.
It’s characteristic call or scream is heard on most western shows.
Red-shouldered Hawk: This hawk is slightly smaller than the
Red-tailed Hawk hawk and tends to inhabit more riparian areas.
American Kestrel: Our smallest North American falcon, it tends
to feed on small rodents and insects. Most other falcons feed primarily
on birds. It can often be observed hovering over a field in search
of prey.
Acorn Woodpecker: Store acorns for later consumption in granary
trees, trees that for many generations woodpeckers have drilled holes into.
The woodpeckers harvest thousands of acorns in the fall. When stocked
with the year's harvest, a granary tree is a major investment that has to
be defended against marauders and kept up by moving acorns to smaller holes
as they dry. A number of woodpeckers cooperate in stocking and maintaining
granaries, and there is even a great deal of mate sharing. A rather
typical group consists of one breeding female, two breeding males, and perhaps
three non-breeding helpers, but group size varies. The non-breeding
helpers are typically the offspring of the breeding birds from previous
years and therefore close relatives to all other birds. The breeding
males are close relatives with each other, often brothers or a father and
sons. Likewise, the breeding females are sisters or a mother and daughters.
Breeding males and breeding females are not close relatives–i.e. there seems
to be an incest taboo–and when all breeding males or all breeding females
in a group die, there is typically a complete replacement of that sex from
birds outside the group. The reason why families cooperate and share mates
seems to be because granary trees are limiting. Young birds that lack a granary
have reduced survival, and rarely reproduce. Birds that delay reproduction
are able not only to help raise siblings but also tend to form sibling coalitions
that later go on to fill reproductive vacancies either in their natal territory
or in another territory that might open up. The reason their parents
allow them to stay is because granaries can often hold more acorns than
a single pair could use or defend, and it is better that the resource should
go to helpful family members than to marauders or to waste.
California Towhee: This is a common sparrow-like bird, bigger than
a house sparrow, that spends much of its time feeding on the ground, mostly
for seeds. It often feeds by rapidly dragging both feet backward simultaneously
to remove leaves and expose seeds on the bare ground. You can often
hear shuffling in the leaf litter before seeing the bird.
Spotted Towhee: It behaves similar to the California Towhee but tends
to inhabit more oak woodlands in southern California. It often sits
in oak trees and makes a steady trill call. Once upon a time there was a species
called The Rufous-sided Towhee. This was split into the Spotted Towhee from
the western US and the Eastern Towhee from the east. There appears to be
minimal hybrid viability and therefore the Spotted and Eastern Towhees are
given species status. This divergence was likely the result of Pleistocene
glaciation splitting a formerly continuous range.
House Finch: This small seed-eater is native to the southwest but
was introduced around New York City and has now spread throughout much of
the US, and is even now on Hawaii. It is commonly seen in small flocks
in parks and gardens around LA. The head and breast of males ranges
in color from yellow to dark red. They get their pigments from plant carotinoids.
Yellow-rumped Warbler: This species is a common migrant in the late
fall and can be seen in most trees searching for insects as the birds head
south. They make little peep calls as they move through the trees.
The species has an interesting post-glacial history. The Myrtle Warbler
from the eastern US and the Audubon’s Warbler from the western US were found
to hybridize successfully and have subsequently been renamed as the Yellow-rumped
Warbler.
Mammals
Tracks and Scat
Large mammals, which are almost never seen in the wild, can still
be identified in a particular area by using other signs of their presence.
Namely tracks left in impressionable substrate and scat (droppings).
However this method of identifying animals often takes a keen eye and
close attention to small detailed differences.
Convergent Evolution
Occasionally very distantly related species will arrive at similar
adaptation to similar niches. An example is bats and birds. They both
have wings for flight but their common ancestor did not have wings. They
both then independently evolved wings and the ability to fly. Carnivory
has been evolved independently in different groups of animals. Animals
not very closely related to the group carnivora show similar characteristic
such as crocodiles and Tasmanian devils.
Carnivores
• Carnivora is a taxonomic group of animals (order), which contains
animals from bears to weasels to sea lions. Most members do eat meat,
but many are omnivorous, meaning they eat meat and plant matter.
• Carnivorous animals are any animal, regardless of taxonomic group,
that eats meat. Animals from many different groups have converged on
similar adaptations that facilitate meat eating. Examples include slicing
teeth, shorter digestive tracts, and strong jaws. Few animals are strictly
carnivorous, meaning they only eat meat.
Felids (cats)
Felids are one of the few groups of animals to be strictly carnivorous.
The cheek teeth are reduced in number and are all slicing teeth. They
also have large canine teeth and sharp retractile claws for prey capture
and handling. In Southern California we have two species, mountain lions
and bobcats.
Mountain Lion, puma, cougar (Felis concolor): Mountain
lions range from western Canada to the southern tip of South America.
They are large (70-200 lbs) cats, sandy colored with black markings on
the face only and long tails. They are found in a variety of habitats including
most of the mountainous areas throughout Southern California. They mainly
prey on large ungulates, such as deer and sheep. They are solitary animals
and rarely ever seen by people.
Bobcat, red lynx (Lynx rufus): Bobcats range throughout
North America and inhabit almost all vegetation types. They are medium
sized (13-30 lbs) and have variable fur color ranging from pale brown to
red, often with many bars and strips. Their tails, while shorter than most
cats, are not absent, and can measure up to 9 inches. They prey largely on
small mammals, especially rabbits, but can take down large ungulates on
occasion. In rare encounters with people they are often mistaken for larger
cats.
Coyote (Canis latrans): Coyotes are medium sized
(25-45 lbs) canids (dogs). These omnivorous Carnivora have brown and
gray modeled fur with no distinct markings. They have many cheek teeth,
varying in shape and size, and adapted for both slicing meat and crushing
fruits. With a recent expansion eastward, their range now encompasses much
of North America. They are present in almost all habitat types and are
highly adaptable and tolerant of human disturbance. In fact, studies
have shown them to have higher numbers in urban areas than in wild ones.
In the wild they typically feed on small mammals and fruits, as well as
any meat they can scavenge. They will also occasionally kill deer. However
near urban areas they will use a number of anthropogenic food sources
including trash, domestic fruits, pet food, pets, and livestock. Individuals
can be solitary, live in mating pair, or live in small family groups.
Virginia Opossum (Didelphis marsupialis): Opossums
are the only marsupial mammal in North America and are found throughout
most of the continent. Small in size (9-13 lbs) they resemble a large
rat, but are only distantly related. They are highly arboreal (tree dwelling),
aided by long claws and a prehensile (grasping) tail. They are largely
nocturnal and omnivorous feeding on carrion, insects, worms, frogs, birds,
and small animals, fruit, berries, and grains. With a total of 50 teeth
they have the most of any native mammal. Their young are born extremely
premature and then continue to develop in the mothers pouch or marsupium.
Opossums do well in urban areas and will scavenge trash.
Skunks: There are many species of skunks, two of which are
found in Southern California, the striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) and
the spotted skunk (Spilogale putorius). They can be differentiated by
patterns of their black and white markings. The striped skunk is the most
common. They are small (2-10 lbs) omnivorous carnivores (members of Carnivora).
They are solitary and nocturnal and they eat mostly invertebrates and
small vertebrates. Striped skunks are highly tolerant of human disturbance,
are often found in highly urban areas, and will scavenge trash.
Weasel (Mustela frenata): Long-tailed weasels are
small (0.5-1.0 lb) but efficient predators and are capable of hunting
prey larger than themselves. They consume about 40% of their body weight
every day and will eat mice, rats, voles, squirrels, shrews, rabbits, birds,
bird eggs, snakes, frogs, and insects. They are found throughout most of
North America and into South America. They inhabit a variety of habitats,
but are typically associated with water and are absent in desert regions.
Badger (Taxidea taxus): Badgers are medium sized,
short-legged, and heavy-set carnivores with very distinctive facial marking
and extremely long front claws for digging out prey such as ground squirrels,
rats and gophers. They are found in the western and central parts of North
America in a variety of habitats. Badgers have low rates of reproduction
and have not faired well in areas of human disturbance.
Raccoon (Procyon lotor): Raccoons are nocturnal omnivorous
Carnivora, eating berries, insects, eggs and small animals to name a few.
There isn’t much they won’t eat. They are medium sized (15-29 lbs) and
have very distinct markings on the face and tail. They have done extremely
well in urban areas and will scavenge trash and steal food from people.
Their highly dexterous forepaws allow them access to many containers that
lock out other animals.
Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus): Mule deer are large
(80-100 lbs), abundant ungulates (hoofed animals), ranging throughout
the Western United States. They live in a variety of habitats, but are
typically associated with water. Males grow antlers in the spring and
shed them in mid to late winter. Deer are herbivorous eating herbaceous
plants and various berries.
Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger): Fox squirrels are highly
abundant tree squirrels introduced into California from the east coast.
They have reddish grey backs and orangish under bellies. They do very well
among human disturbance and are extremely common in urban areas.
California Ground Squirrel: Live in social groups. Males disperse
farther than females, and are less likely to give alarm calls. Calls different
when predator approaches from the air (hawks) than for mammalian predators.
Semi-dormant periods during hot summers (estivation) and cold winters (hibernation).
Pocket Gopher (Thomomys bottae): Pocket gophers are
fossorial (living underground) rodents. They are well adapted for digging
through the soil. They have large front claws for digging, small eyes and
ear to avoid filling with dirt and cheek pockets for storing food. There
are several species in the Pacific states, one of which resides in Southern
California.
Packrat (Woodrat: Neotoma): These medium-sized rodents often build
large stick nests either in rocky crevices, up in tree crotches, or under
plants. These nests can get to be several feet across. In deserts,
the urine from the rat preserves the middens, and has been used to reconstruct
vegetation going back many thousands of years.
Cottontail Rabbits: There are two species of cottontail rabbits
in Southern California, the desert cottontail (Sylvilagus audubonii)
and the brush rabbit (Sylvilagus bachmani). They are of similar
size and color, and therefore difficult to distinguish from a distance.
However the desert cottontail is more common, especially in disturbed
areas. They are often seen dinning on manicured lawns in the evening time.
Bats (order Chiroptera): Bats are the only mammals capable
of true flight. The long bones of the hand have been modified into a wing.
There are 25 species of bats in the Pacific states, most of which feed
on insects. All North American bat belong to Microchiroptera (microbats)
and use echolocation to navigate and forage. They are mostly nocturnal
and have very poor vision.
Shrews: Shrews, although superficially resembling rodents
are actually part a different primitive group of mammal, insectivores.
There are two main representatives in Southern California, the gray shrew
(Notiosorex crawfordi) and the ornate shrew (Sorex ornatus). They are
both very small weighing less than 10 grams. Unlike rodents who eat mostly
grains and seeds, shrews feed almost exclusively on insects.
Reptiles
Speckled Rattlesnake (Crotalus mitchellii): One of
five venomous snakes in our area (all rattlesnakes). This species is
usually found in rocky areas and exhibits local adaptation to rock color:
if the background color has hues of pink, speckled rattlesnakes in the
area will be pink, if the area is covered by white and black flecked granite,
snakes in that area will match the granite. Like other rattlesnakes, there
is a heat-sensing pit between the eye and nostril that can detect very
subtle changes in temperature (<0.01° C), enabling them to track
warm-blooded prey with the sense of infrared vision goggles.
Sidewinder (Crotalus cerastes): Although this is
our smallest rattlesnake, its venom is still lethal—at least to its prey
of lizards and small rodents. Sidewinders typically move sideways, which
is more effective than the usual manner of snake movement when the habitat
is hot and loose sand. The “horns” above the eyes are enlarged scales
that are thought to break up the pattern of the snake, making them less
detectable by predators and prey alike.
Western Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis): Western
fence lizards are highly abundant and common throughout California and
much of the western states, in almost every habitat type where they can
find sunny elevated perches on which to bask and do “pushup” displays to
rivals or potential mates. They are easily identified by their blue belly
patches, which are especially brilliant in mature males.
Western Skink (Plestiodon skiltonianus): Western
skinks are slender smooth-scaled lizards with small limbs and lateral
strips. Juveniles have a brilliant blue tail that slowly fades as it matures.
They are common throughout southern California in many habitat types, but
are rather secretive and rarely found later than late spring. Females guard
their eggs until they hatch.
Longnose Leopard Lizard (Gambelia wislizenii): Females
develop bright orange patches on the belly and flanks in the mating season.
Why they do this is a mystery. Males like them whether or not they are
orange. They are non-territorial, but probably descended from territorial
ancestors. Leopard lizards are extremely ferocious – they’ll bite on to
you and hang on like a clamp. Their diet consists of large insects and
other desert lizards.
Western Banded Gecko (Coleonyx variegatus): These
lizards are active at night and have a low preferred body temperature
for an arid-zone lizard. During the day, they rest in groups of two or
more in burrows and under rocks. This grouping seems to be a way to keep
up the humidity of their retreat crevice. They walk with their tail elevated
and waving from side to side, and are, therefore, commonly mistaken for scorpions
at a distance.
Chuckwalla (Sauromalus ater): A large lizard that
lives exclusively on rock outcrops and is herbivorous (unlike most of
the other species we’re studying, which are primarily insectivorous).
They have an especially high preferred body temperature. When they are
scared, they wedge themselves into the rocks and puff up their bodies so
it’s very hard to pull them out; better to trick them into wedging into
a shirt that can be easily pulled out of the crack.
Mojave Fringe-toed Lizard (Uma scoparia): The back toes
have scales like the teeth of a saw, and the shoulders have enlarged scales
too. These features help the lizards move across and dive into sand. If
threatened, they can dive into a dune. The lower jaw is set well behind
the upper jaw (think The Simpsons), which prevents sand from getting into
their mouths when diving in. The ears and eyes have nicely toothed scales
that also help keep the sand out. The species is endemic to the Mojave region,
and like other species in the genus, occurs only on dunes.
Zebra-tail Lizard (Callisaurus draconoides): Named
for the bold black and white stripes on the underside the tail. Males
have turquoise and black diagonal stripes on their bellies. Like fringed-toed
lizards, zebra-tails are also good at running on sand, although they can
be found on gravelly substrata as well. When threatened, they raise and
curl their tails over their backs, presumably letting the would-be predator
know that they are aware of the predator’s presence. If that fails to convince
the predator not to bother pursuing them, the lizards will run very quickly
for long distances on just their hind legs.
Side-blotched Lizard (Uta stansburiana): Our most
common lizard. Easily recognized by its dark smudge or spot in the armpit
area and small body scales. Males can have bright orange, yellow, blue,
or green flecks on the dorsal surface and similarly colored throat patches.
Females never have bright dorsal coloration, but may have some bright throat
color. Commonly eaten by other predatory lizards, snakes, birds, and mammals.
Western Whiptail (Aspidoscelis tigris): Our fastest
lizard, reaching speeds over 17 mph. Aside from their speed, the long
tail and pointed snout distinguish this lizard from most others in our area.
They are actively foraging lizards that travel long distances each day
in search of insects, which they find with the aid of their deeply forked
tongues. On occasion they can be observed jumping a foot or more off the
ground to snatch a flying bug out of the air. When active they maintain body
temperatures 2–3 degrees higher than humans.
Amphibians
Baja California Treefrog (Pseudacris hypochondriaca):
Formerly considered a widespread species, but recently found to be one
of three geographic species that are genetically distinct. Although highly
variable in color (brown, tan, copper, grey, bright green), they can
be distinguished from all other frogs in our area by the dark stripe along
the side of the head that runs through the eyes, and the sucker-disc toe
pads that allow them to grip to even glass. These little frogs have a chirp
that sounds like an old door creaking on rusty hinges when cold, but when
warmer the more typical kree-eck is heard. This is the sound used in most
Hollywood films (dating back to the original Tarzan) when a nighttime “call
of the wild” effect is needed. Females lay eggs in small clumps like grapes
in shallow water.
American Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana): This frog was
introduced from east of the Rockies. It occupies permanent water (streams,
ponds, lakes) and can be found in large numbers. It will eat anything
it can get into its large mouth, which, for adults can include mice, bats,
turtles, snakes, and other frogs (including its own species). Adult males
have a deep voice and distinctive whar-rump call, but juveniles of both
sexes are more commonly heard emitting a sharp chirp as they jump into
nearby water when approached. This species is considered responsible for
the decline of several native frogs, having replaced them over much of their
range.
Western Toad (Bufo boreas): A toxin is produced by
glands atop the head behind the eyes. Don’t eat them. They would taste
bad. Other than warts on their dorsal surface, they are distinguished
by a yellow stripe running the length of their back. If you hold a male
as if you were another male, he will cry out (unlike females) signaling
that further amorous attention is a waste of time. Females lay eggs in
strings in shallow water. Tadpoles are black.
Plants
Creosote Bush (Larrea tridentata): The dominant shrub
of California’s deserts, on well-drained soils. At many sites, they are
regularly spaced, presumably because each established individual inhibits
the growth of additional creosote bushes in the immediate vicinity by
giving off “allelopathic” chemicals into the surrounding water. The plants
are stupendous at being drought resistant and are able to photosynthesize
when their inner water pressure is tremendously low. Because the plant is
so abundant and reliable, many animals (bees, seed collecting rodents, etc.)
rely upon it.
Honey Mesquite (Prosopus glandulosa): This plant
has sought spines and somewhat fleshy pods with hard seeds inside. It
has been suggested that the spines evolved to discourage browsing by
a now-extinct megafauna (camels, horses, etc., that once roamed North
America), and that these animals dispersed the seeds. Honey Mesquite has
deep roots that tap into groundwater, and lives in low spots where this
is possible.
Croton (Croton californica): This plant lives on
dunes and somehow manages to get to these widely scattered habitats
with remarkable reliability. The plants stabilize a little patch of
dune where the sand builds up, and are thus important in the geomorphology
of sand dunes. Male and female flowers are on different plants.
Jimson Weed (Datura): The huge white flowers open at
night and have a very long narrow tube filled with nectar available to
long-tongued moths. Bees also visit the flowers for pollen, but
are presumed to be inferior at carrying it to stigmas. Datura plants contain
alkaloids that are poisonous to many animals. These were used in coming-of-age
ceremonies, causing the person who consumed preparations to hallucinated
and lose consciousness. It is said that small amounts of the alkaloids
in the nectar “addict” the moths to return to similar flowers.
Saltbushes (Atriplex): These members of the spinach
family are remarkably tolerant of alkali and salt as it accumulates in
places where water evaporates (rather than being flushed down streams).
They have salt glands on their leaves that allow them to secrete the extra
salt, as a result they are generally silvery colored and rough. They have
C4 photosynthesis, allowing them to conserve water by opening their air
pores only at night. Tearing a leaf of saltbush and examining it at 10x
reveals that the chlorophyll is concentrated in the cells around veins,
as is necessary for C4 photosynthesis.
Mormon Tea (Ephedra): Contains a chemical, ephedrine,
that is a stimulant, appetite suppressant, and decongestant; the more common
over-the-counter drug, pseudoephedrine, differs in its stereochemistry and
is an ingredient of Sudafed. Ephedra is neither a conifer nor a flowering
plant, belonging to a very distinctive lineage of seed plants with only
two other genera, the Gnetophyta.
Mistletoe: This is a group of parasitic plants. They have very sticky
fruits once the skin of the fruit is damaged. Birds will wipe themselves
on shrubs and the seed then grows a root-like structure into the host tapping
into its water-conducting tissue. Mistletoes may also get some of their
photosynthates from the host. Generally each species of mistletoe only uses
hosts belonging to one or a few related genera. For example, Phoradendron
juniperinum parasitizes only junipers.
California Juniper (Juniperus californica): This conifer
is a shrub that grows on the upland parts of the desert. Plants are either
male or female (dioecious). Leaves are scale-like, but in young plants and
sometimes when there is regrowth after an injury, the leaves become needle-like,
resembling ancestral junipers. Like many dominant long-lived species, California
juniper has numerous specialized parasites, including galls and mistletoes.
Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica): A knee-high herb of moist
spots. The plants has specialized stout hairs poke into your soft skin and
break of. At their base, they have a bulb of acid that then squirts into
the little wounds. You get welts for a few hours, and mild itchiness for
a couple of days. Remarkably, if you throw boiling water on the plants (which
gets rid of the stinging hairs), the greens taste bland and without other
defensive chemicals
Plants we have taken up you can read about in Introduction to the
Plant Life of southern California
Cleome (Isomeris) arborea (Bladderpod)
Scrub Oak (there are several – I think the one we saw is Quercus john-tuckeri)
Quercus agrifolia (Coast Live Oak)
Quercus lobata (Valley Oak)
Salvia leucophylla (Purple Sage)
Malocothamnus fasciculatus (Bush Mallow)
Prunus ilicifolia (holy-leaved cherry)
Rhamnus ilicifolia (holy-leaved redberry)
Heteromeles arbutifolia (toyon)
Ceanothus crassifolius (hoary-leaved ceanothus)
Arctotaphylos glandulosa (Eastwood’s manzanita)
Rhus ovata (sugar bush)
Malosma laurina (laurel sumac)
Adenostoma fasciculatum (chamise)
Hemizonia minthornii (Santa Susana tarweed)
Eriogonum fasciculatum (California buckwheat)
Mimulus aurantiacus (bush monkeyflower)
Artemisia californica (California sagebrush)
Lotus scoparius (deerweed)
Eriodictyon crassifolium (thick-leaved yerba santa)
Salvia mellifera (black sage)
alder
incense cedar
sugar pine
jeffery pine
white fir
California fushia flower
cottonwood
willow
sycamore
mule-fat (males and females)
Plant groups
Lichens, e.g., Letharia
Thallose Liverworts, e.g., Pellia
Mosses, e.g., Schleropodium
Ferns, .e.g., Pteridium
Some flowering plant families
Aster family (Asteraceae)
Legume family (Fabaceae)
Grass family (Poaceae)
Marine Life
octopus
abalone
sea hare
sea urchin
sea star
sea anemone
hermit crab
shore crab
top snail
sea cucumber
sheephead
garibaldi
moray eel
brown algae (e.g. feather boa, rockweeds)
red alga (e.g. coralina)
green alga (e.g. ulva)
Insect Orders
Plecoptera (stone-flies)
Ephemeroptera (May-flies)
Trichoptera (caddis-flies)
Diptera (true flies)
Odonata (dragonflies)
Orthoptera (grasshoppers)
Hemiptera (true bugs)
Coleoptera (beetles)
Lepidoptera (moths)
Hymenoptera (wasps, etc.)