The genus Mycobacterium is commonly associated with diseases such as leprosy, tuberculosis and other pulmonary infections. Mycobacterium avium is increasingly identified as a cause of disseminated disease in AIDS patients. A need for a better understa . . .

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 . . .

Two syrphine flies (Diptera: Syrphidae) were studied to measure the possible difference in the abdominal color pattern variation of sternites 2-5. Toxomerus marginatus, a non-mimetic syrphine, shows much more variation in its abdominal color pattern t . . .

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 . . .

Purpose of the Study: The endangered Sonoma County population of the California tiger salamander, Ambystoma californiense, undergoes migrations between breeding pools and upland dry-season refugia. Orientation in this species during breeding migration . . .

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 . . .

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 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 . . .

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 . . .

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 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 . . .

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 . . .

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 . . .

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 . . .

Purpose of the Study: The Russian River watershed stretches across a significant portion of Sonoma and Mendocino counties, covering 1,485 square miles, and is home to not only humans, but countless fish and wildlife species as well. The Russian River . . .

Paralabrax clathratus, commonly known as the kelp bass, is an important sportfish to the Southern California angler, ranking among the top sportfish on commercial passenger fishing vessels since the 1950's. They commonly occur in a patchy distribution . . .