Scientists found that dolphins have an ability to sense electric fields, which may help them hunt and navigate the seas.
— Read on www.nytimes.com/2023/11/30/science/dolphins-electric-fields-sense.html
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 10, 2023
Dolphins Can Sense Electric Fields, Which Isn’t That Shocking
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 9, 2023
Wolf Protection and Restoration in Colorado
From Defenders of Wildlife
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s rule to manage gray wolves in Colorado became effective today. As part of the state-led wolf restoration process, Colorado Parks and Wildlife requested the FWS establish what is known as a “10(j) rule” under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more to find out what this means for wolves returning to the southern Rockies this winter! https://dfnd.us/3uI7JL5
Posted in Animals | Tags: Endangered species, Wolves
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 9, 2023
Three New National Parks
These long-distance corridors are lined with natural beauty and history, connecting people to lakes, waterfalls, beaches, mountains, old-growth forests, and historic structures. The designation will not result in any immediate changes to the trails’ size or structure, which already have access points, signage, operating budgets, superintendents, staff, and dedicated volunteers.
The Ice Age National Scenic Trail in Wisconsin is nearly 1,200 miles long. Its landscape of lakes, river valleys, gently rolling hills, and ridges are reminders that just 15,000 years ago, during the Ice Age, much of North America lay under a huge glacier.
The New England National Scenic Trail in Connecticut and Massachusetts stretches 235 miles from the shores of Long Island Sound to scenic mountain summits. It offers panoramic vistas of New England’s natural and cultural landscape, including traprock ridges, historic village centers, farmlands, unfragmented forests, quiet streams, steep river valleys, and waterfalls.
The North Country National Scenic Trail is expected to be a 4,600-mile continuous path when completed. Traversing sections of Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Wisconsin, it showcases the varied landscapes of the Lake Superior Region, Adirondacks, Ohio River Valley, and North Dakota plains.
Learn more at: https://ow.ly/skYr50QgvEN
Posted in Park | Tags: Ice Age Trail, New England Trail Country, New National Parks, North Country Trail
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 8, 2023
Job Opening: Plant Genomics Lab Manager at Santa Barbara Botanic Garden
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 8, 2023
Help protect Molok Luyuk, aka Walker Ridge
Molok Luyuk, aka Walker Ridge, is a botanically rich serpentine area in Colusa County. There is a proposal to add this to the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument. The BLM and USDA Forest Service is holding a public “listening session” on this proposal on December 13th, 2:00 to 4:00 pm, at the Woodland Community Center in Woodland, CA. Details are in the post that I’m linking to here. Please come and show your support for this important project! Click here for more info https://chapters.cnps.org/…/berryessa-snow-mountain…
Posted in Park | Tags: Molok Luyuk, Walker Ridge
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 8, 2023
10 Fun Facts About the Northern Mockingbird
National Audubon reports
The Northern Mockingbird is one of North America’s most beloved mimics. The skilled singer has also become inextricable from American popular culture, providing inspiration for the fictional “Mockingjay” of the Hunger Games franchise to being a central theme in the iconic novel To Kill a Mockingbird. John James Audubon was a fan of the mocker as well. Here are some facts you might not have known about this American classic.
Read moe at 10 Fun Facts About the Northern Mockingbird | Audubon
Posted in Birds
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 7, 2023
Science Research Grants Joshua Tree
Over the past several years, Joshua Tree National Park Association’s Science Research Grant Program has offered graduate students small grants to assist with research costs in the park, funding anywhere from 3-6 students each year. The Science Research Grant Program has recently renamed the student grant after past employee, Marian Huff Tremblay.
The “Marian Huff Tremblay Science Scholarship” can provide up to $5000 to graduate students conducting scientific research in Joshua Tree National Park.
Applications are due January 15th, 2024. See attachments below to learn more.
Posted in Park | Tags: Science Research Grants Joshua Tree
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 7, 2023
Participate in Climate Watch
| Climate Watch is Also Nearly Upon Us! |
| If you’re looking for a mellower kind of community science project to join, may we suggest Climate Watch? The winter count period lasts from January 15, 2024 to February 15, 2024 and you can choose which of the target species you want to focus on. These data will help Audubon scientists to better understand how birds are responding to climate change. Learn more about Climate Watch |
Posted in Birds, Environment | Tags: Climate Watch
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 6, 2023
Distribution and Ecology of Vernal Pools 12/14/23
from Yerba Buena CNPS
Carol Witham presents: Distribution and Ecology of Vernal Pools
Thursday, December 14th, 7:30pm
Always free. Register here now
Carol Witham will help us to explore the short-lived, weird-looking, fascinating fauna that evolved millions of years ago, and dazzling swaths of tens of thousands of tiny flowers that change from week to week through a two- to- three month “season”.
This tour of California vernal pools will answer questions such as “what makes a vernal pool” and “why are they found almost nowhere but California” plus explore vernal pools from throughout the state.
Posted in Talks | Tags: Vernal Pools
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 6, 2023
Center for Plant Conservation Fellowship
The Center for Plant Conservation (CPC) is pleased to announce that applications are now open for the 2024 Catherine H. Beattie Fellowship! Please see details below and distribute to graduate students whose research interests concern rare and endangered plants native to the United States. Read More…
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 6, 2023
What should we do about offensive plant names?
Gardens Illustrated writes about issue of offensive plant names
Many plants are named after people linked to imperialism and the slave trade, and some common plant names are offensive. Dr Ken Thompson ponders what can be done.
When, in 1934, a German palaeontologist named an extinct insect from the Carboniferous period after the new German Chancellor, he probably didn’t realise the trouble he was going to cause. But now, we’re stuck with Rochlingia hitleri, a name that no one is happy about.
Read more at What should we do about offensive plant names?
Posted in Wildflowers and Other Plants | Tags: offensive plant names
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 5, 2023
“Plants of Mt. Tamalpais, a Field Guide” 12/11/23
Marin Chapter December 2023 Meeting Monday, December 11 @ 7:30 p
“Plants of Mt. Tamalpais, a Field Guide” Guest Speaker: Robert Steers
Online Zoom Presentation preregister HERE
For this Chapter meeting, Robert Steers is thrilled to share an overview of his new field guide to the plants of Mount Tamalpais, published by Backcountry Press.
Posted in Talks | Tags: a Field Guide, Plants of Mt. Tamalpais
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 5, 2023
Job Openings
Click on links below for more information:
Institute for Applied Ecology Seasonal Positions (New Mexico)
Posted in Job Openings | Tags: Job Openings
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 5, 2023
CDFW Takes Steps to Return Land to California Tribe
California Department of Fish and Wildlife News Release
After years of discussion, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) will transfer 40+ acres of the historic Mount Whitney Fish Hatchery in Inyo County to the Fort Independence Indian Community, which is recognized as one distinct separate tribal government of the four Owens Valley Paiute Tribes. The Wildlife Conservation Board approved the no-cost transfer last week and will complete the transaction in early 2024. The transfer will mark CDFW’s first ever land return to a California Tribe.
“This act is momentous and aligns with many ambitions laid out for California by this Administration,” said CDFW Director Charlton H. Bonham. “It honors Governor Newsom’s Executive Order encouraging the transfer of excess lands to California Native American tribes and it is a Nature Based Solution that contributes to the goals of 30×30. I am proud to be a part of this transfer.”
Source: CDFW News | CDFW Takes Steps to Return Land to California Tribe
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 4, 2023
New Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park Area Opens
from East Bay Regional Park
Yesterday, the Park District celebrated the grand opening of the Tyler Ranch Staging Area in Sunol and the opening of 2,800 acres of new open space for hiking, biking and horseback riding. New amenities include 78 parking spaces, equestrian staging/trailer parking, accessible restrooms, a small family picnic area and access to 18 miles of trails. The new parkland is part of Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park. https://www.ebparks.org/parks/pleasanton-ridge
Posted in Park | Tags: Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park, Tyler Ranch Staging Area
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 4, 2023
Out of control herbivores are derailing restoration projects
Anthropocene Magazine reports
Left untamed by predators, hungry plant-eaters can wreak havoc on already damaged ecosystems, a new wide-ranging survey finds.
Add this to the challenges facing efforts to re-green the world: Out of control herbivores.
Often overlooked during habitat restoration projects, these creatures can put a major dent in revegetation work, according to new research.
Read more at Out of control herbivores are derailing restoration projects
Posted in Animals, Environment | Tags: Out of Control Herbivores, Threats to Restoration
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 3, 2023
Upcoming Marin & Sonoma Bird & Nature Walks
| from Wild Bird Unlimited |
| Thurs, 12/7: Las Gallinas, San Rafael, Marin Audubon Sat, 12/9: Shollenberger Park, Petaluma Wetlands Alliance Sat, 12/16: Birding at China Camp, Friends of China Camp Sun, 12/17: Mushrooms at Stafford Lake, Novato, Marin Parks Sat, 12/23: Ellis Creek, Petaluma Wetlands Alliance Sun, 1/21: Deer Island, Novato, Marin Parks Sun, 1/28: Abbotts Lagoon, Point Reyes, Marin Parks |
Posted in Birds, Walks & Hikes | Tags: Bird Walks
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 3, 2023
Nelson Mandela’s granddaughter slams “climate apartheid” by rich nations
The BBC reports
Social activist Ndileka Mandela says “the global north is using economic and legal power to subjugate poor nations”.
The granddaughter of Nelson Mandela has spoken out against “climate apartheid”.
Speaking on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg from the COP28 climate summit, Ndileka Mandela said “the global north is using their economic and legal power to subjugate poor nations, who at the brunt of the effects of climate change.”
“Africa and the global south has the smallest percentage of carbon emissions”, she added
— Read on www.bbc.com/news/av/world-67606344
Posted in Environment | Tags: climate apartheid
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 3, 2023
Venomous creature lurking — and hunting — in California desert is new species.
The Sacramento Bee reports
Under the sweltering sun of a California desert, a venomous creature sought shelter in an underground burrow. Occasionally, the eight-legged animal emerged from its hiding spot to hunt. Nearby scientists spotted the yellow-orange animal — and discovered a new species.
Read more and see images at New species of scorpion discovered in California desert | The Sacramento Bee
Posted in Animals | Tags: Tulare Basin scorpions
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 2, 2023
Theodore Payne Foundation Upcoming Events
See upcoming Theodore Payne Foundation Events at Theodore Payne Foundation Events | Eventbrite
Posted in Class/Workshop, Garden, Talks | Tags: Theodore Payne Foundation Events
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 2, 2023
Botanical Activities in Marin and Nearby
from Marin CNPS
- Thru 1/6/24 Mt. Tamalpais Florilegium exhibit at Fairfax Library
- 12/3 10 am – 2 pm Indian Valley Preserve
- 12/6 10 am – 2 pm Tennessee Valley
- 12/9 9 am – noon Roy’s Redwood Trail Work
- 12/16 8 – 10 am Fungus Among Us
- 12/17 9 am – noon Restoration at Hal Brown Park
- 12/17 10:30 am – 1 pm Mycoblitz Mushroom Foray Stafford Lake Park
- 12/19 10 am – noon Senior Stroll: Bothin Marsh
- 12/21 7 – 8:30 am Sunrise Solstice Hike Deer Island Preserve
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 2, 2023
Rare plant spotted for first time in Santa Cruz County reveals hidden ecosystem reborn in fire
Lookout Local Santa Cruz reports
A hobby naturalist walking in the Santa Cruz Mountains discovered a patch of what turned out to be Humboldt County milkvetch, a rare plant that had never been spotted south of Mendocino County. Scientists believe the plant — known as a fire-follower because it often appears after a great disturbance to the landscape — actually has a far wider range than initially understood, but its seeds lay dormant here for decades until the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex fire. The discovery sheds light on how forestry practices that emphasized fire suppression have reshaped the landscape, reducing the biodiversity of plant life.
Posted in Wildflowers and Other Plants | Tags: Humboldt County milkvetch, Rare Plants
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 1, 2023
Marin CNPS Micro Grants 2024
The Marin Chapter of CNPS is accepting applications for our 2024 Micro Grants, intended to assist with projects that advance our mission.
Applications are due Dec 16, 2023 and recipients will be announced in February 2024. Please see details about eligibility and application process here.
Posted in Wildflowers and Other Plants | Tags: Marin CNPS Micro Grants
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 1, 2023
Climate win-win: Study quantifies benefits of enhanced weathering: Illinois researchers calculate carbon-capture potential of basalt rock applied to cropland
ScienceDaily reports
Applying ground-up silicate rock to Midwestern farm fields can capture significant amounts of carbon dioxide and prevent it from accumulating in the atmosphere, according to a new study that successfully quantified those climate benefits for the first time.
Posted in Uncategorized
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | November 30, 2023
Habitat Loss
Posted in Animals, Environment | Tags: habitat loss
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | November 30, 2023
A Jewel of the South Bay’s Serpentine Grasslands Is Now Protected (and Open to the Public)
From Bay Nature
Just off Highway 101 and only 10 miles southeast of the heart of San José, the preserve protects the largest continuous serpentine grassland in the southern Bay Area and, in all, is home to 13 threatened and endangered species. There is also a meandering herd of tule elk, deer, coyotes, raptors, mountain lions, and bobcats. A steep, five-mile loop trail traverses the preserve’s more than 1,800 acres, and unique among Diablo foothills preserves, Coyote Ridge will experiment with balancing sensitive ecological conservation with public recreation.
Read article at A Jewel of the South Bay’s Grasslands
Posted in Park | Tags: Coyote Ridge
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | November 29, 2023
UC Berkeley Botanical Garden Photos 11/27/23
Photos from the UC- Berkeley Botanical Garden taken on November 27, 2023.
Posted in Garden, Photos (Sandy's) | Tags: UC Berkeley Botancial Garden
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | November 29, 2023
Wolverines listed as “threatened” under Endangered Species Act after 20-year conservation effort
Western Environmental Law Center News Release
Today, after more than 20 years of advocacy by wildlife conservation groups, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (the Service) found that wolverines warrant federal protections as a threatened species. Numbering only about 300 in the contiguous U.S., snow-dependent wolverine populations have suffered from climate change, habitat loss, trapping, and other anthropogenic pressures.
Posted in Animals | Tags: Endangered species, Wolverines
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | November 29, 2023
Upcoming Wayne Roderick Lectures
The Wayne Roderick Lecture series of free public lectures, on a broad array of topics related to plants and natural history, takes place on Saturday mornings starting at 10:30 AM and begin at the Garden’s Visitor Center auditorium. Directions
- 12/2: Glenn Keator (in person) – Flora of Mt. Diablo
- 12/9: Troy Stephens (in person) – A Tour of Northern Oaxaca
- 12/16: Walker Young (in person) – An Excursion to the Eastern Mojave
- 12/23: Kiamara Ludwig (in person) – Patagonia!
- 12/30: no lecture – enjoy the holidays!
- 1/6: Kaleb Goff (via ZOOM) – Sierra Nevada and Great Basin alpine Plant Communities in a Changing Climate
- 1/13: Michael Uhler (in person) – A Botanical Ascent of Tower Peak; Beauty and Solitude Along the Way to the Northern Terminus of the High Sierra
Posted in Talks, Wildflowers and Other Plants | Tags: Wayne Roderick Lectures
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | November 29, 2023
Large herbivores such as elephants, bison and moose contribute to tree diversity
ScienceDaily reports
Using global satellite data, a research team has mapped the tree cover of the world’s protected areas. The study shows that regions with abundant large herbivores in many settings have a more variable tree cover, which is expected to benefit biodiversity overall.
This is due to the animals’ consumption of vegetation as well as physical disturbances.
Read story at Large herbivores such as elephants, bison and moose contribute to tree diversity | ScienceDaily
Posted in Animals, Environment | Tags: Large herbivores contribute to tree diversity
Natural History Wanderings 