April 28th, 2023
12:00 to 2:00
My Vertebrate Biology students were invited to visit the field site of grad student Jess Schmieg, to learn about their research study on the interaction between California Tiger Salamander and predaceous diving beetles. We met out at the vernal pool site, and were able to see the experimental design and data collection techniques.
Walking to the site from where I parked my car, I saw and heard a lot of wildlife, including Northern Mockingbird, House Finch, American Robin, and California Towhee. A Western Fence Lizard sat perched on a fence post, and while I was disinfecting my footwear before walking into the field site, I saw my first Sierran Tree Frog of the day, and a California Lady Beetle, although I wasn’t able to get a photo of it before I lost sight of it.
Jess’ research is focused on a series of “mesocosms” that enclose the tiger salamanders, so they can be monitored regularly, and data collected on the larval salamanders.
In addition to the Tiger Salamanders, we saw dozens of tiny Sierran Tree Frog hopping around, as well as froglets in the pools, and at least one American Bullfrog tadpole. There was a good selection of invertebrates found in the dip-nets as well, including a few species of predacious diving beetles, snails, a dragonfly larva, and my favorite: California Clam Shrimp. This interesting fairy shrimp was dip-netted out of the vernal pool. It really does look like a clam, but through the semi-transparent “shell” I could see movement inside.
Sebastopol Meadowfoam was in bloom in the shadow of some young Fremont Cottonwood, and I found a Spotted Cucumber Beetle on one of the flowers. There was also a lot of bird activity: California Quail and Western Kingbird in the fields and trees, while Turkey Vulture, Great Egret, and a single Red-tailed Hawk soared overhead.
I only stayed at the field site for about 90 minutes before I was feeling dehydrated and tired, and headed home. But it was amazing to see the adorable larval salamanders, along with a great array of other wildlife.
Species List
American Robin (Turdus migratorius), Western Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis), House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus frontalis), California Towhee (Melozone crissalis), Sierran Tree Frog (Pseudacris sierra), California Ladybug (Coccinella californica), American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus), Giant Green Water Beetle (Dytiscus marginicollis), California Pyrausta Moth (Pyrausta californicalis), California Scrub-jay (Aphelocoma californica), Spotted Cucumber Beetle (Diabrotica undecimpunctata), House Fly (Coenosia tigrina), Common Pollen Beetle (Brassicogethes aeneus), Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura aura), California Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma californiense), Water Boatman (Subfamily Corixinae), Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis), Predaceous Diving Beetle (Agabus disintegratus), Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis), Dragonfly larva (Superfamily Libelluloidea), Great Egret (Ardea alba), Milky Backswimmers (Notonecta sp), Bladder Snails (Family Physidae), Marsh Ramshorn (Planorbella trivolvis), Water Boatman (Subfamily Corixinae), California Clam Shrimp (Cyzicus californicus), Sebastopol Meadowfoam (Limnanthes vinculans), Lance-leaved Water-Plantain (Alisma lanceolatum), Schoenoplectus Bulrushes (Schoenoplectus sp), Scarlet Pimpernel (Lysimachia arvensis), Slender Path Rush (Juncus tenuis), Spreading Rush (Juncus patens), Frémont Cottonwood (Populus fremontii), Common Cat’s-Ear (Hypochaeris radicata), Field Marigold (Calendula arvensis), Mediterranean Stork’s-Bill (Erodium botrys), California Buckeye (Aesculus californica), Valley Oak (Quercus lobata), California Gall Wasp (Andricus quercuscalifornicus), Common Snowberry (Symphocarpus alba), probable Wolf Spider (Lycosidae)
Let me know what you think!