Nature notes

By Mike Davis, UC Davis Professor Emeritus

Vernal Pools

Vernal pools are ephemeral, springtime, shallow, surface bodies of water perched on some kind of impermeable soil layer that limits

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Downingia

Vernal pools and other transient wetlands in California are famous for their showy wildflower displays. Plants in the genus Downingia, known

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American Bullfrog

At eight inches in length and a weight of more than a pound, the American bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana or Lithobates

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About the Author​

Nature Notes is a monthly series on wildlife, biodiversity, and biology, featuring plants, animals, and fungi that can be found in our local wetlands. Nature Notes offers an in-depth look at a variety of organisms from a scientific perspective. These articles are written by Mike Davis, Professor Emeritus, Dept. of Plant Pathology, UC Davis.