California chaparral shrubs have developed different life history types that are categorized by response to fire disturbance and that include sprouting (S) and non-sprouting (NS) species. Plants that resprout after fire (S) use carbon stored in roots . . .

The position of the United States as a global leader in science and technology is being undermined, not by out-competing nations, but by the waning development of domestic science talent (NSB 2002; NSB 2003). Even though demand for professionals in sc . . .

There is a possibility to eradicate infectious diseases with antibiotics. However, new infectious diseases are continually being identified and some known pathogens are again becoming a threat because of antibiotic resistance. Amphibians mostly live i . . .

The blunt-nosed leopard lizard (Gambelia sila) is a federally and state-listed endangered species, endemic to the San Joaquin Valley, Carrizo and Elkhorn Plains, and Cuyama Valley of central California. Habitat degradation has had a profound impact on . . .

The Tipton kangaroo rat (Dipodomys nitratoides nitratoides), is an endangered subspecies of the San Joaquin Valley kangaroo rat, found in the Tulare basin of the San Joaquin Valley. Dipodomys n. nitratoides and the larger Heermann’s kangaroo rat (Dipo . . .

Rhus ovata is an evergreen shrub species that is common to low elevations in southern California. This species is subdioecious, i.e. some individuals are functionally females and produce fruit while others are functionally male and produce flowers wit . . .

With over 1,300 known species, the genus Megaselia Rondani is the largest phorid genus, largely the result of high cryptic diversity and a past tendency for researchers to lump species into the genus that defied convenient classification. For many of . . .

The phorid fly genus Apocephalus is the largest assemblage of ant-parasitizing Phoridae. Apocephalus is currently organized into two subgenera: A. (Apocephalus) and A. (Mesophora). The species of A. (Mesophora) attack a wide variety of non-ant hosts i . . .

The purpose of this study is to investigate the level of genetic divergence among populations of Vaejovis confusus in the southern San Joaquin Valley and across the state of California. Although there has been considerable research to measure genetic . . .

Opuntia basilaris Engelm. & Bigelow var. treleasei (J.M. Coult.) Toumey (OBT), commonly known as Bakersfield cactus, is endemic to parts of Kern County, California. O. b. var. treleasei is one of four varieties of Opuntia basilaris and is state and fe . . .

The Giant Kangaroo Rat (Dipodomys ingens) is a federally and state-listed endangered species, endemic to the San Joaquin Valley, Carrizo and Elkhorn Plains, and the Cuyama Valley. Populations of the endangered Giant Kangaroo Rat (Dipodomys ingens) hav . . .

Examination of fish skeletal remains from archaeological sites serves both archaeological and biological interests. For archaeologists, it can establish the role of fish consumption in a people’s diet, provide clues to their fishing technology and ove . . .

Non-native grass invasion is a major concern for land management and native plant conservation. In the southern San Joaquin Valley of California, human-disturbed environments that are heavily invaded by non-native grasses often contain some native ann . . .

Ecological interactions can vary in strength depending on environmental conditions. The outcomes of these interactions are often dependent on the abiotic environment, but can also depend on the presence of other biotic species, including mutualists, . . .

Transporting water efficiently is one of the chief functions of plant vascular systems. Highly efficient transport is generally beneficial; however, tradeoffs arise because vascular systems have multiple functional roles that interact with one another . . .

The purpose of this study is to compare the genetic distances of Mimetus hesperus and Theridion neomexicanum within and between the San Joaquin Valley and Mojave Valley regions. To my best knowledge this is the first genetic study of M. hesperus. Moun . . .

The Blainville's Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma blainvillii) is endemic to California and ranges from northern California (Butte County), to the northwestern tip of Baja California in the southern part of its range, west of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and . . .

The San Joaquin kit fox (Vulpes macrotis mutica) is an endangered species endemic to the San Joaquin Desert in the Central Valley of California. Much of the habitat in the San Joaquin Desert has been converted for agricultural, industrial, and urban d . . .

Chemicals are often sequestered by various organisms to defend against predators by making prey noxious, and in some cases, toxic. Sequestration has been observed in various taxa, however, there are few vertebrate examples available. Further, little i . . .

My results suggest that Desert Kit Foxes in the Mojave Desert in California prefer to consume rodents and invertebrates, but will prey upon a variety of other items, especially when preferred prey has declined due to drought or seasonal conditions. O . . .

In order to further investigate the presence of these antibiotic biosynthetic pathways, this study focused on ten genes and the identification of genes that code for enzymes in these antifungal and antibacterial pathways; Flagellin (hag), Mucosubtilin . . .

Coccidioidomycosis, also known as Valley Fever, is a re-emerging infectious disease of the American continent. Coccidioidomycosis is a respiratory disease caused by the inhalation of arthroconidia produced by the dimorphic ascomycete fungi Coccidioide . . .

Invasive annual grasses of mediterranean origin dominate large areas in the arid and semi-arid regions of the San Joaquin Valley in California and create numerous management challenges. Much of the invaded habitat would be native saltbush shrub commun . . .

Global-change-type drought has resulted in large numbers of woody plants suffering mortality in California during the most recent droughts from 2012-2018. These droughts are ecological droughts that impact ecosystems and trigger responses. The factors . . .

Xylem is a complex vascular tissue that performs several functions related to the growth and survival of woody plants. These functions include the transport of water, biomechanical support, and the storage of water and nutrients. Trees are large organ . . .

Human population growth and rapid urbanization have created new, attractive environments for opportunistic animals including some species of wild canids. San Joaquin kit foxes (Vulpes macrotis mutica) are a federally listed endangered and California . . .

The vascular transport system of most flowering plants is composed of vessels that are responsible for bulk axial water transport. Transport through vessels may become blocked by gas emboli following freeze-thaw events because gasses come out of solut . . .