Archived Wildlife Resources

Recommended California Ecosystems & Wildlife Videos

• Ecosystems of California YouTube Video from Prof. Erika Zavaleta – Recommended Segments:
  • Biodiversity (16:17): https://youtu.be/-Jq9945N7lY
  • Rivers (11:02): https://youtu.be/LWOPUTBJKnc
  • Estuaries (12:12): https://youtu.be/i5qhlXvmbWE
• Why the US Erased its 9th Largest Lake… (8:10): Why the US Erased its 9th Largest Lake… – YouTube
• Tales of the San Joaquin: A River Restored (22:06): https://youtu.be/TUDH2kuNmww
• The New Way Forward: Wetlands (8:44): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDvk8fSAdh4&t=101s
• NRCS – Waterbird Habitat Enhancement Program in California’s Sacramento Valley (7:45): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kn_q2dO3eCU
• Hidden in Plain View: Wildlife of the San Joaquin Valley of California (26:30): Hidden In Plain View – YouTube
• DamNation – The Problem with Hydropower (full-length documentary film): https://youtu.be/laTIbNVDQN8 (recommended additional resources for students interested in riparian restoration, but not required viewing for the webinar or test)

 

General Wetland & Riparian Concepts

• Ecology of Wetland Ecosystems: Water, Substrate, and Life: https://www.nature.com/scitable/knowledge/library/ecology-of-wetland-ecosystems-water-substrate-and-17059765/
• An Introduction to Riparian Areas: https://www.conservation.ca.gov/dlrp/watershedportal/Documents/RCD%20Riparian%20Intro%20Fact%20Sheet%20(napa%20rcd).pdf
• Vernal Pools (EPA summary): Vernal Pools | Wetlands Protection and Restoration | US EPA 
• International Crane Foundation “Wetland Wonders” food web activity: https://www.savingcranes.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Activity-2-Wetland-Wonders.pdf

 

Bird References

• All About Birds – Bird Guide: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/
• Overview of bird types: https://www.tmparksfoundation.org/birds
• Kern National Wildlife Refuge Complex bird species list: https://www.fws.gov/uploadedFiles/Kern%20Complex%20Birdlist-b.pdf
• Pacific Flyway Overview: https://www.watereducation.org/aquapedia/pacific-flyway

 

Upland Wildlife References

• Central California Valley grassland: https://www.worldwildlife.org/ecoregions/na0801
• Wildlife of the Tulare Basin: http://www.tularebasinwildlifepartners.org/wildlife.html
• California Herps – A Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of California: http://www.californiaherps.com/
• iNaturalist – Central Valley (California) Check List: https://www.inaturalist.org/check_lists/139629-Central-Valley–California–Check-List (look at native species in particular – https://www.inaturalist.org/check_lists/139629-Central-Valley–California–Check-List?commit=Filter&establishment_means=native&observed=any&occurrence_status=not_absent&page=1&q=&rank=species&taxon=&taxonomic_status=active&threatened=any&view=photo)

 

Fish References:

• Native fish species accounts: https://caltrout.org/sos/native-species
• News Article – “California’s Chinook salmon are in danger.  Rice fields just might be their salvation” : https://thecounter.org/california-chinook-salmon-rice-fields-biographic/

 

Water Management in the California

• Wetlands of the California Central Valley: Status and Trends – 1939 to mid-1980s: Wetlands of the California Central Valley: Status and Trends 1939 to mid 1980’s (fws.gov)
• Guide to Wetland Habitat Management in the Central Valley: https://nctc.fws.gov/courses/csp/csp3106/resources/Management/Guide-to-Wetland-Habitat-Management-in-the-Central-Valley.pdf
• News Article – “The disappearing wetlands in California’s Central Valley”: https://www.hcn.org/articles/the-disappearing-wetlands-in-californias-central-valley
• “The Central Valley Historic Mapping Project” report on wetland loss in California: https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/waterrights/water_issues/programs/bay_delta/docs/cmnt081712/sldmwa/csuchicodptofgeographyandplanningcentralvalley.pdf 
• Conceptual aerial image of California before European colonization: https://bigthink.com/strange-maps/557-the-first-satellite-map-of-california-1851
• NPR Report – “Drilling Deeper Wells Contributes to California’s Subsidence Problem: https://www.npr.org/2015/08/20/432978459/drilling-deeper-water-wells-contributes-to-california-s-subsidence-problem
• The Bufferlands – wetland restoration using recycled wastewater: https://www.regionalsan.com/bufferlands 

 

Invasive Species of the Central Valley References

• Managing a Non-Native Delta Ecosystem: https://www.ppic.org/blog/managing-a-non-native-delta-ecosystem/
• “Managing Non-native Species in California: The Red Fox” report by CA Department of Fish and Game: https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=22712
• Species Profile – Yellow Star Thistle: https://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/terrestrial/plants/yellow-star-thistle
• California’s Invaders: Brown-Headed Cowbird: https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Invasives/Species/Cowbird
• California’s Invaders: American Bullfrog: https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Invasives/Species/Bullfrog
• Species Profile – Arundo donax: https://www.cal-ipc.org/plants/profile/arundo-donax-profile/
• European Starling: https://www.fs.fed.us/research/invasive-species/terrestrial-animals/european-starling.php

–

---

Identifying and Preserving Wildlife Tracks

http://www.42explore.com/animaltracks.htm (1W)

Canada wildlife identification and habitat

http://www.hww.ca/ (1W, 7W, 8W)

Winter animal adaptations Michigan State University Extension

https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/animal_adaptations_for_winter (3W)

Animal Adaptations, Boreal Forest Network Canada

Wildlife Populations University of Minnesota
(4W, 5W, 6W, 8W, 9W, 10W, 11W)

Predator/Prey Relationships “Eyes of Yellowstone” Yellowstone Park Foundation Sponsored by Canon®

http://www.ypf.org/partnerships/corporate.asp (4W)

Create a Food Chain Canada Wildlife Act

http://www.vtaide.com/png/foodchains.htm (5W)

Carrying Capacity National Wildlife Federation

http://forestandrange.org/modules/Wildlifeenterprise/Wildlife_Basics/Wildlife_Concepts/Carrying_Capacity.html (9W)

Carrying Capacity World Builders

http://curriculum.calstatela.edu/courses/builders/lessons/less/biomes/carryingcap.html (9W)

Invasive Species USDA

http://www.invasivespecies.gov / (11W)

Invasive Species US Fish and Wildlife (11W)

http://contaminants.fws.gov/Issues/InvasiveSpecies.cfm (12W)

Wildlife Extended Studies

Students should create a display outlining conservation oriented land use planning to preserve bird habitat.

• Cornell Lab of Ornithology All About Birds

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/programs/AllAboutBirds/ (1W, 2W, 3W, 6W, 7W, 8W, 10W)

Students should review wildlife habitat areas of the California Central Valley.  Students should describe the following: wildlife populations, land descriptions, human destruction to the habitat, and solutions to the problem.  (2W, 5W, 6W, 7W, 8W, 11W, 12W)

Students should examine the impact of the feral pig, an introduced animal, on the native Hawaiian plant and animal species.  Research should be used from the following viewpoints: Conservation Environmentalist, Native Hawaiian Hunter, and Animal Rights Activist.  Students should create a power point presentation detailing measures which should be taken so all sides are represented.