ISSUE 1 • JANUARY 2024
DESERT RESEARCHER MAGAZINE
Anza-Borrego Foundation’s Desert Research Magazine
TABLE OF CONTENTS 04 LETTER FROM BRI FORDEM,
ANZA-BORREGO FOUNDATION’S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
05 NOTE FROM DANNY MCCAMISH, COLORADO DESERT DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS SR. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST
08 A LOOK BACK AT WHAT PARK RESEARCHERS HAVE ACCOMPLISHED
14 WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING IN ANZA-BORREGO?
15
BUGS WITHOUT BORDERS: PLANT VIRUSES IN THE WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE
JUMPING SPIDERS REVEAL A 19 WEB OF CONNECTEDNESS BETWEEN DESERT OASES
27 WHAT DO FRINGE-TOED LIZARDS,
23
41
THE CHARISMATIC CHUCKWALLA: CONSERVATION THROUGH GENOMICS
STEELE/BURNAND ANZA-BORREGO DESERT RESEARCH CENTER: A PARTNER IN RESEARCH
THE COMPLICATED STORY OF QUIET IN ANZA-BORREGO
42
UMA THURMAN AND THE SAN ANDREAS FAULT HAVE IN COMMON?
31 VOLUNTEER NATURALIST
CONDUCTS GROUNDBREAKING BAT RESEARCH
36 NEW MAMMAL ATLAS
DOCUMENTS SAN DIEGO COUNTY’S UNIQUE BIODIVERSITY
40 INTRODUCING THE AUTHOR AND RESEARCH MAGAZINE INTERN, SUSANA RINDERLE
Cover photo: Endangered Peninsular Bighorn Sheep (O. C. nelsoni)
Our Mission To protect and preserve the natural landscapes, wildlife habitat and cultural heritage of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and its surrounding region for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations.
Photo: Paulette Donnellon
LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Welcome to the inaugural Desert Researcher Magazine! Explore exclusive articles unveiling Anza-Borrego Desert State Park's past year in research and Anza-Borrego Foundation's (ABF) vital support. While research remains a lesserknown ABF initiative, its long-term importance cannot be overstated. We acknowledge the challenges of accessing the extensive body of on-going research that is facilitated by the unique partnership between the Park, ABF and the University of California, Irvine's Steele/Burnand Anza-Borrego Desert Research Center. However, like uncovering hidden gems, understanding deepens through exploration and a closer examination of Anza-Borrego's resources shaped by ongoing park research. Desert Researcher Magazine highlights the invaluable role of research in the Park. You will gain insights into ABF's dedication to supporting research and education, illuminating the unknown and nurturing future advocates for sustained desert conservation. The following articles feature scientific research's pivotal role in the Park, covering baselines, trends, visitor impacts, and the effects of climate change. Learn how this research guides park managers in optimal resource allocation for patrolling, protecting and interpreting the Park. You'll also begin to understand some of the struggles inherent in preserving California's largest and arguably most biodiverse Parks. Desert Researcher Magazine and Park support is only made possible through the generous contributions of donors like you, who love and cherish this place and understand the importance of sharing its incredible wonder. Explore our mission at theabf.org and share your feedback at info@theabf.org as we strive to enhance and broaden access to our programming.
Bri Fordem Executive Director Anza-Borrego Foundation
NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IN ANZA-BORREGO DESERT STATE PARK Flat-Tail Horned Lizards (Phrynosoma mcallii, "flat-tails") Surveys
Least Bell's Vireo (Vireo bellii pusillus) / Western Yellow-Billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus) Surveys
Invasive Plant Removal
Sentenac Cienega Symposium
Paleo Sieving Station
A NOTE FROM DANNY MCCAMISH As the Natural Resources Program Supervisor for the Colorado Desert District of California State Parks, I hope to shed some light on why scientific research is vital for conserving and managing this unique desert ecosystem. Simply put, research in Anza-Borrego is fundamental to managing, assessing, and documenting biodiversity and ecosystem function over time. The Park is home to a remarkable variety of plant and animal species (more than 1,500), many of which are adapted to survive in extreme desert conditions. Understanding this diversity helps us comprehend the complex web of life, identify rare and endangered species, and make informed decisions to protect and conserve them for the overall health of the ecosystem. Research allows us to monitor the status of plants, animals, water quality, and microorganisms within the Park. This includes threats from invasive plants and animals, which can interrupt the unique ecosystem within all public lands. Research helps us identify these invasive species, understand how native organisms adapt, and develop effective strategies for control and removal. Climate change also affects ecosystems worldwide, and deserts like Anza-Borrego are no exception. Research provides insights into how species respond to changing climatic conditions.
As outdoor enthusiasts and members of this community, your interest in research in Anza-Borrego is crucial because this data ultimately informs Park management, operations, and recreational decision planning. We gain valuable information that can be used to engage our visitors in learning about the Park's unique natural and historic heritage, and to garner support for conservation efforts and responsible recreation. Sustainable recreation is a goal of Anza-Borrego's caretakers and we aim to keep the desert a beautiful destination while sustainably managing its resources for future generations. The amazing thing about research and science is that there’s always room for discovery, re-evaluation, and data-driven decision-making. Our Natural Resources team is always studying, learning, and posing new questions. We currently have a long list of research ideas to explore to help inform our long-term management of Anza-Borrego:
Ongoing Pollinator & Bat Baseline Index Studies Vegetative & Illegal Offroad Monitoring in ABDSP Wetlands Soil Core Sampling & Layer Analysis of Dried & Current Wetlands Study on Backcountry & Trail Capacity Based on Usage Types
Updated Geologic Mapping Within our Fossil Beds Waterway Restoration Management Biologic Tracking Surveys
These interests are part of a much longer list of research needs within our area. As such, Anza-Borrego Natural Resources team members participate in ongoing studies throughout the year. But as the largest State Park in California with over 650,000 acres, we are vastly understaffed and underfunded and rely on outside agencies, partners, and universities to spearhead these other research goals. Ultimately, California State Parks is primarily a land management agency. Our research, and that of others, informs our ultimate goal of providing best management practices of our land. Modern scientific recommendations allow us to monitor management activities and track changes over time, ensuring our decisions improve the natural conditions over time. In conclusion, biological research in Anza-Borrego is essential for understanding, protecting, and conserving this fragile desert ecosystem. It allows us to make informed decisions about resource management, conservation, and sustainable recreation while fostering a deeper appreciation for the Park's natural wonders. Considering that you're here reading this magazine, you likely understand the value of Anza-Borrego and its incredibly rich resources. Your support for ongoing research and responsible park visitation is crucial to ensure the Park's long-term health and the enjoyment of its unique biodiversity by all. We will continue working with Anza-Borrego Foundation to help bring you scientific studies and discovery opportunities from our unique parklands.
Danny McCamish Senior Environmental Scientist Colorado Desert District California State Parks
STATE PARK RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIPS Research grants of up to $10,000 are available from the Colorado Desert District. Research must occur on state land and in the Colorado Desert District (Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, and Palomar Mountain State Park) on a variety of scientific topics, including Biological, Geological, Paleontological, Archaeological, Conservation, or Evolution. To Apply: Submit a synopsis of your research in three paragraphs or less, describing the scope of work being proposed. Include a description of how your research is related to the goals described in the “Note from Danny McCamish” above. Include a photo of your study subject, area, or people in the field. Deadline: April 30, 2024. Awards will be announced the following Fall. Learn more here about the application process.
Photo: David Clark
A LOOK BACK AT WHAT PARK RESEARCHERS HAVE ACCOMPLISHED By Jillian Petersen, Environmental Services Intern with Colorado Desert District Team lizard: John Taylor, , Connor Moret, Samantha Birdsong, Zakher Bouragaoui
As a desert lover reading this magazine, you may have wondered what occurs behind the scenes at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park (ABDSP). Many of us have been to the Visitor Center, where staff and volunteers interpret information about the Park and share the best places to see wildflowers or go on a four-wheel drive tour. You may not realize however, that park scientists, university researchers and volunteers are constantly studying the biological, geological, archaeological and paleontological resources in the Park. These ecologists, GIS (Geographic Information Systems) specialists, paleontologists and archaeologists work hard to understand, monitor and protect the resources of our beloved desert. They are responsible for collecting scientific data and using it to make informed conservation decisions that preserve the land, flora, fauna and history for future generations. And it's more than just the Anza-Borrego desert where they work! This small team of scientists work in the two mountain parks that are part of the Colorado Desert District - Cuyamaca Rancho State Park and Palomar Mountain State Park. Accordingly, this team of dedicated scientists must strive to understand the relationships or 'connectivity' that exists between these geographically-related parks. A summary of some of the research they've conducted over the past year follows. We are thrilled to be able to work as a team and share insights with visitors and desert lovers like you!
Flat-Tail Horned Lizards (Phrynosoma mcallii, "flat-tails") Surveys
Flat-Tailed Horned Lizards (Phrynosoma mcallii, "flat-tails") camouflage themselves by flattening their bodies to the ground and eliminating any possibility of creating shadows. They are hard to spot but we are completing another successful season of surveys in ABDSP. ABDSP is a founding member of the Flat-Tail Horned Lizard Interagency Coordinating Committee (FTHL ICC) and continues to participat in integrated rangewide surveys for the lizard. The FTHL ICC coordinates conservation efforts for
this lizard, the rarest horned lizard species with the most restricted range and a Species of Special Concern in California. The surveys aim to assess where flat-tail habitat is located within ABDSP on the northwestern edge of their distribution. Our survey team sets out in the summer heat to designated plots to search for these lizards daily. Starting around sunrise, the survey team spends up to an hour on a visual identification survey, walking back and forth within the plot. If a flat-tail is found, the team will measure the lizard's length and mass, determine the sex, and then let it go. During the 2022 season, we found 30 individual flat-tails, and we are looking forward to seeing how many we find by the end of this summer survey season. Rainfall, harvester ant populations, ground vegetation cover and temperature could all factor into how many flatFlat-Tail Horned Lizards tails we see yearly. (Phrynosoma mcallii, "flat-tails") Thank you to field crew: Samantha Birdsong (Environmental Scientist- Lead), John Taylor (Environmental Services Intern), Zakher Bouragaoui (Environmental Services Intern), Connor Moret (Environmental Services Intern), Emelyn Hernandez (Senior Maintenance Aide), Hector Valencia (Forestry Aide), Ricardo Cruz (Environmental Services Intern); Jillian Petersen (Environmental Services Intern).
Least Bell's Vireo (Vireo bellii pusillus) & Western Yellow-Billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus) Surveys Over the summer, ABDSP Natural Resources teams conducted ongoing surveys for the federally endangered least Bell's vireo (Vireo bellii pusillus) and federally threatened western yellow-billed cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus). The least Bell’s vireo is a shy songbird that used to be one of the most abundant birds in North America; the yellow-billed cuckoo is a tall bird that blends in with the trees and has declined with its habitat. Both species are listed under the Endangered Species Act primarily due to loss and degradation of woody riparian ecosystems (trees and shrubs growing along rivers). Our surveys of these two species help evaluate their populations and identify occupancy trends. Surveys were conducted
following trails through riparian areas. Survey teams follow defined protocols to listen, look for, and record behavioral data on the vireos and cuckoos, which could include singing, calling, nesting, foraging, etc. Cuckoos were thought to only migrate through ABDSP, but this year's survey results suggest they may have nested here over the summer.
Least Bell's Vireo (Vireo bellii pusillus)
Thank you to feld crew: Shannon McNeil (Environmental Scientist Lead), Ricardo Cruz, Jillian Petersen, Connor Moret, John Taylor, Zakher Bouragaoui
Invasive Plant Removal Our Botany team has been working hard to defeat invasive plants. We have focused on eradicating Egyptian knapweed (Volutaria tubuliflora), and ABDSP Botany Society volunteers assisted in weeding Sahara mustard (Brassica tournefortii) in various areas around the Park. Volunteers completed training courses to become Invasive Sahara mustard experts in plant identification, life cycles (Brassica tournefortii) and seed-spreading mechanisms, and joined in weeding events with the Park. During the spring, volunteer members of the Sierra Club and the University of Virginia Alternative Spring Break also joined us on separate occasions to assist ABDSP teams in weeding Volutaria, Sahara mustard, and tocalote (Centaurea melitensis). Our botany team has also collected plant specimens and identified some rare plants in the district! The Botany Society starts work again in January. If you are interested in volunteering, please get in touch with Parks staff for more information. Thank you to field crew: Larry Hendrickson (Senior Park Aide), Syd Magner (Environmental Services Intern), Joe Woods (Environmental Services Intern), Botany Society, Sierra Club, University of Virginia.
Sentenac Cienega Symposium In December, ABDSP and partners participated in the two-day Sentenac Cienega Symposium hosted by the Anza-Borrego Foundation, which invited the public to learn about current research and recommendations for restoring the desert wetland ecosystem. Over the past few years, researchers from Parks, University of San Diego (USD) and the University of California, Irvine (UCI) collected ecosystem data on vegetation, aquatic invertebrates, amphibians, birds, mammals, hydrology, climate and the cultural significance of Sentenac Cienega. Researchers presented their findings and fielded questions about their survey work and results at this symposium. Participants also had the chance to participate in a State Park and researcher-led site visit to the project area to learn about the local
Sentenac Symposium
ecology, including tree canopy health, channelization of the creek, efforts to control invasive plant populations and much more. Thank you to presenters and collaborators: Paulette Morales (Environmental Scientist - Lead), Larry Hendrickson, Syd Magner, Joe Woods, Shannon McNeil, John Lovio (Environmental Scientist), Samantha Birdsong, Dan McCamish (Senior Environmental Scientist), Hayley Elsken (Associate State Archeologist/Tribal Liaison). Special thanks to ABF, Mike Connolly Miskwish of the Kumeyaay Nation, UCI, USD, CDFW, and the symposium attendees.
Paleo Sieving Station ABDSP Paleontology teams completed the construction of the paleo sieving station, which will be used to wash and sort through hundreds of pounds of fossiliferous sediment gathered from field research locations within our parks. This sieving station will make collecting and identifying
small fossils hidden in sand formations and examining them under microscopes significantly easier. The Paleontology team and Paleo Society volunteers regularly survey ABDSP locations for fossils and fossil formations, which can be collected, cleaned, repaired, and cataloged into our extensive Paleontology library and Research Center. Paleo Society volunteers also hosted a series of presentations about camels, horses, the evolution of birds from dinosaurs and what fossils tell us about ecosystem changes over the last 4 million years. Paleontologist/Environmental Scientist: Lyndon Murray; Thanks to Samantha Birdsong, ABDSP Maintenance Team; Special thanks to Paleo Society volunteers.
Shannon McNeil, Paulette Morales, and Samantha Birdsong at Sentenac Symposium
WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING IN ANZA-BORREGO? By Samantha Young, Education Manager Anza-Borrego Foundation Now that you’ve learned a bit about the work being done by the staff environmental scientists in AnzaBorrego Desert State Park, we’d like to share with you research by other organizations/individuals, and other ways to get involved.
Education Programs
I run programs with the help of dedicated and knowledgeable staff, volunteers, and naturalists. If you’re interested in becoming a volunteer, we need your help! Reach out to Stacy@theABF.org for details on our upcoming volunteer training. ABF developed a process with the State Park where all our education programs are approved by Colorado Desert District Superintendent and Lead Interpreter. This ensures that our programs provide added value to the Park’s resources and that we are providing a needed service to our community. Our programs span six program areas: Guided Hikes and Drives, Research Based Education, Virtual Access, Teacher Professional Development, K-12 Field Trips, and Career Pathways. You can find the calendar of events on our website here. While some of these programs are directly relaying research to the public, such as the California Naturalist course and Anza-Borrego: In Focus lecture and field trip series, other programs instill appreciation and knowledge for the conservation of these natural resources in members of the public, teachers, and school children. Additionally, we’re committed to supporting the park we love by increasing access to our education programs through scholarships, student discounts, grant funds, and virtual programming.
Research Grants and Scholarships ABF administers two conservation research scholarships in memoriam of two desert research pioneers, Howie Wier and Paul Jorgensen. Each awardee can receive up to $2,500 annually for field research in ecology, systematics, evolutionary biology, and conservation biology. Learn more here! ABF also administers the Begole Archaeological Research Grant (BARG), funded through an endowment by pioneering archaeologist Robert S. Begole. This supports scientific archaeological research in Colorado Desert District and surrounding regions. Two awards are available annually of up to $5,000 each for both students and professionals. Learn more here! Additionally, the Colorado Desert District offers annual research grants of up to $10,000. Research must occur on state land and in the Colorado Desert District (Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, & Palomar Mountain State Park). Research can be on a variety of scientific topics, including Biological, Geological, Paleontological, Archaeological, Conservation, or Evolution. Learn more here!
Other Research in Anza-Borrego ABF places an emphasis on partnering in and supporting research in AnzaBorrego. As a result of our research collaborations, ABF brings you summaries of other research projects that are recent or ongoing. We’re proud to share this research with our supporters through lecture series, field trips, retreats, and in-depth coursework, and in the following articles in our annual research magazine!
BUGS WITHOUT BORDERS: PLANT VIRUSES IN THE WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE By Susana Rinderle Did you know that plants can get viruses too? Plant-infecting viruses are no fun. From farmers to houseplant owners, many of us have done battle with such pests. While scientists have mainly studied these viruses in the context of agriculture, the insects that transmit them aren't bound by the artificial boundaries of human gardens or farms. In fact, wild plants are often hosts to crop-associated, insect-borne viruses. Studying wild plants can, therefore, provide insight into how viruses evolve, how viruses and host plants affect each other, and how human development impacts native species that we strive to protect. Dr. Tessa Shates, PhD., an entomologist trained at the University of California at Riverside (UCR), set out to gain such insight by studying three wild plants and their domesticated cousins. She wanted to know: (1) What viruses are present in these wild plants, and how prevalent are they? (2) What are the impacts of virus infection? Tessa and her co-authors combined field, laboratory, and greenhouse methods to find these answers. First, they sampled and monitored leaf tissue from the Motte Rimrock Reserve (University of California Natural Reserve System) and the Shipley-Skinner Multispecies Reserve in 2017. They focused on buffalo gourd, coyote melon, and sacred thorn-apple (sacred datura). In 2019, she was awarded the Howie Wier Memorial Conservation Grant from Anza-Borrego Foundation, which allowed her to expand the research to include Anza-Borrego Desert State Park (ABDSP). They selected these wild plants for their similarities to crops. Buffalo gourd and coyote melon are in the same genus (Cucurbita) as squash, zucchini and pumpkins. Sacred thorn-apple is in the nightshade family (Solanaceae), which includes tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant and peppers.
"The plants I studied are also culturally significant – buffalo gourd was a food source for indigenous communities through the southwest and a likely progenitor of cultivated squash. Sacred thorn-apple has medicinal and religious uses." - Dr. Tessa Shates
She therefore predicted that these wild plants would be susceptible to the viruses of their crop relatives. Following field sampling, The melon aphid (Aphis gossypii) on Tessa used laboratory cultivated squash in the lab. techniques to identify suspected viruses in the plants. She found that all three are often infected with at least one cropassociated virus, but usually more! One of those viruses – Cucurbit aphid-borne yellows virus (CABYV) – was highly prevalent in all three reserves. These findings show that viral infection affects traits likely relevant to multi-year survival. As the largest and least "disturbed” by human activity of the three study reserves, Tessa predicted that the plants in ABDSP would be the least likely to host crop viruses. However, that's not what she found. Because of these findings, Tessa and the team wanted to determine whether crop virus infection harmed the wild plants. She infected buffalo gourd and coyote melon seedlings in a UCR greenhouse with CABYV to determine how infection impacts plant health. She found that the roots and shoots of the infected squash weighed less than their healthy counterparts. Since these plants rely on large taproots to survive the winter and hot summers, they predict that virus infection might affect traits tied to multi-year survival. "This work is relevant for Anza-Borrego Desert State Park because the three target plants grow within and around the Park. They provide resources for animals such as pollinating insects and other animals," says Tessa. "The plants I studied are also culturally significant – buffalo gourd was a food source for indigenous communities through the southwest and a likely progenitor of cultivated squash. Sacred thorn-apple has medicinal and religious uses."
Tessa in Anza-Borrego posing with a coyote melon plant.
Tessa's initial research was published in Frontiers in Microbiology in January 2019, and the paper on the expanded research in ABDSP is under peer review. Last June, she also presented her research at the "Anza-Borrego: In Focus" lecture series. In 2021, Tessa completed her PhD, focused on insecttransmitted plant viruses in the agricultural- and urban-natural interface. Currently, she is a Scientist in R&D Infectious Disease at Quest Diagnostics, working with a very different kind of bug! If you would like to reach Tessa, visit her professional website, or contact her at Tshat003@ucr.edu .
Watch Tessa’s Anza-Borrego: In Focus Webinar recording here!
JUMPING SPIDERS REVEAL A WEB OF CONNECTEDNESS BETWEEN DESERT OASES By Susana Rinderle As part of the Mojave drainage basin, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park has undergone multiple dramatic ecological shifts over the eons. By turns, it's been inland sea, desert, An adult Habronattus tarsalis male riparian habitat, and from Anza-Borrego Desert State Park desert again. It's therefore a natural lab for studying evolutionary dynamics in animals due to the natural isolation that occurs when a group of organisms is isolated by its ecosystem – into desert oases. Brendan Rajah-Boyer, MS, MEd and his colleagues at the Hedin Lab at San Diego State University, saw an opportunity to explore these dynamics through a common, yet important group of jumping spiders known as the Habronattus tarsalis species complex. These spiders have been subject to separation and isolation over space and time by the appearance and disappearance of bodies of water in the desert. This can offer insight not only into the ecological history of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, but the broader processes of how organisms change and evolve in relation to geography, and when periodically separated into oases by the ebb and flow of water. Brendan and his colleagues posed two questions: (1) What patterns of diversification can be observed among desert populations of Habronattus tarsalis through genetic, morphological, and geographic data? (2) What genetic lineages exist within the Habronattus tarsalis species complex, and how do these lineages compare to those established in previous literature? Using genetic and morphological data, the researchers analyzed geographic patterns and esthimated the relationships between different
populations and the timing for when they separated. Evolutionary relationships among the specimens were estimated by running phylogenomic analyses, which groups more similar populations together into genetic clusters. Additionally, Brendan and colleagues studied the physical morphology of 73 male H. tarsalis specimens, and
identified 24 discrete morphological characters, which were used to group populations by physical characteristics. The findings show a rapid evolution in both the morphology and genetics of H. tarsalis jumping spiders. While many of the populations in this species complex were initially thought to be the same species, the adult males show characteristics unique to specific populations that likely evolved due to female preference (sexual selection). The research illustrates the changes that have occurred geographically in southwestern deserts, highlighting the shifting nature of land and oases over deep geologic time. Due to this, some current populations are genetically unique, which is vital in preserving genetic diversity across living organisms and understanding how life has changed over time. The results also show that many of these populations experienced rapid evolutionary divergence that coincides with the desertification of their habitats during the last 600,000 years.
An adult Habronattus tarsalis male from Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.
Brendan's study was published in Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution in March 2020, and he also presented at the "Anza-Borrego: In Focus" lecture series last February. "This research highlights the intermittent connectivity of aquatic habitats in western North American deserts, including during the late Pliocene and Pleistocene epochs," says Brendan, "It suggests a deeper connectedness beyond modern isolation and that population kinship and connectivity can be inferred from paleoclimatic and geologic data.” Brendan believes researchers should focus on recognizing the ongoing processes of active and rapid evolution occurring presently. He sees opportunities to expand the study's sampling to additional geographies and drainage basins. This expansion may result in a deeper understanding of how species change in relation to geography and even the discovery of new spider species. Brendan earned a Master's in Evolutionary Biology from San Diego State University in 2019, where he developed a passion for teaching. Last year, he obtained a Master's in Education and a math teaching credential. He currently teaches math and science at High Tech Middle North County, where he enjoys teaching his students about how science and math can relate to the real world. If you would like to reach Brendan, please email him at boyermisc@gmail.com.
"This research highlights the intermittent connectivity of aquatic habitats in western North American deserts, including during the late Pliocene and Pleistocene epochs," says Brendan
An adult Habronattus tarsalis male from Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
THE CHARISMATIC CHUCKWALLA: CONSERVATION THROUGH GENOMICS BY SUSANA RINDERLE
"Our desert ecosystems are currently facing unprecedented levels of habitat destruction due to development and climate change.” - Alexandra Sumarli
Alexandra Sumarli is on a mission to influence conservation strategies through hard science. "Our desert ecosystems are currently facing unprecedented levels of habitat destruction due to development and climate change," she says. "In order to protect [desert species], we need to understand their basic biology. This includes understanding the evolutionary history of species and their population genetic structure. By doing this, we can prioritize protecting genetically distinct and vulnerable populations or species." A PhD. student in ecology, evolution, and organismal biology at the University of California at Riverside, Alex is doing her part by revealing the evolutionary history of a widespread and charismatic lizard using genomic methods. That lizard, the common chuckwalla (Sauromalus ater), occupies the arid lands of southwestern North America and contains
significant morphological variation in body size and color pattern. It is one of five species of Sauromalus. The other species are S. varius, S. hispidus, S. klauberi, and S. slevini, which are endemic to islands in the Gulf of California. To conduct their research, Alex and her colleagues acquired tissue samples for DNA extractions from across the range of S. ater. These tissues were obtained from existing museum collections and through their own fieldwork in the southwestern USA and northern Mexico, including Borrego Springs and near Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Next, they generated genomic sequence data using a library preparation technique called double-digest Restriction-Associated DNA sequencing (ddRADseq). Once they obtained and processed the genomic sequences, they looked for differences and similarities across populations of chuckwallas using population genomic methods. Finally, they inferred evolutionary relationships within the chuckwallas by building “phylogenetic trees,” which show evolutionary history and relationships over deep time. Their findings strongly suggest that the common chuckwalla (S. ater) is comprised of two major evolutionary lineages: a continental group found mostly in North America (California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, and Sonora) and a peninsular group found exclusively in the Baja California Peninsula. These species diversified in northeastern Baja California in the early Pliocene to late Miocene (approximately 5-6 mya) during the formation of the Gulf of California. There also appears to be additional biodiversity within both continental and peninsular lineages of S. ater. This suggests there may be other genetically distinct populations within these lineages that require further study.
“These findings highlight that our southwestern deserts harbor significant biodiversity, and that we need descriptive studies of this nature to understand how species diversify and persist over time,” - Alexandra Sumarli
“These findings highlight that our southwestern deserts harbor significant biodiversity, and that we need descriptive studies of this nature to understand how species diversify and persist over time,” says Sumarli. To that end, she’d like to collect more samples from the contact zone in northern Baja California where peninsular and continental S. ater meet to determine if there is ongoing gene flow. Alex presented her research at the and at the “Anza-Borrego: In Focus” lecture series last April, highlighting the ways the biogeographic history of the Gulf of California influences the diversity of reptiles and amphibians in southwestern deserts. Her work was recently accepted for publication at The Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. If you would like to reach Alex, please contact her at asuma001@ucr.edu.
WHAT DO FRINGE-TOED LIZARDS, UMA THURMAN AND THE SAN ANDREAS FAULT HAVE IN COMMON? By Susana Rinderle What does a six-inch lizard with fringelike scales on their hind toes have to do with the star of the "Kill Bill" films? And what can these animals teach us about plate tectonics? Apparently, a lot!
Getty Images
Fringe-toed lizards, one of the more iconic species, have a story to tell not only about the desert's ecology but also its geological and hydrological history. As a graduate student in evolutionary biology at San Diego State University and a postdoctoral fellow at the Smithsonian Institute, Andrew Gottscho, PhD., studied fringe-toed lizards in the Colorado Desert for nearly ten years, funded in part by the Howie Wier Memorial Grant from Anza-Borrego Foundation. Fringe-toed lizards are specialized for living in the wind-blown sand habitats of the Colorado Desert, so their evolution is deeply impacted by tectonic features like the San Andreas fault system, which runs throughout. Andy focused his research on the following questions: (1) How important were glacial cycles and plate tectonics in shaping the genetic patterns within this group? (2) How many species of fringe-toed lizards are
there really, and why is this a tricky question? (3) What are the conservation implications of genetic research on lizards? To answer these questions, Andy and his colleagues analyzed genomewide data collected using "restriction-associated DNA sequencing," which involves randomly sampling thousands of short sequences of DNA scattered across the genome. A combination of species discovery methods and species validation approaches were used to delimit species, infer phylogenetic relationships, and estimate the lizard's population sizes, migration rates, and speciation times. The research was published in Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution in January 2017 and Zootaxa in May 2020. Andy also presented at the "AnzaBorrego: In Focus" lecture series last March. They found that the four lineages within this complex (Uma inornata, Uma notata, Uma cowlesi, and U. sp.) are, in fact, distinct species. Because fringe-toed lizards only live in fine wind-blown sand, mountains created by tectonic plate activity are significant barriers to their migration over deep time. The best example is the way the Coachella Valley fringe-toed lizard (U. inornata) separated from the Colorado Desert fringe-toed lizard (U. notata) due to the activity of the San Jacinto fault zone.
Map: USGS
there really, and why is this a tricky question? (3) What are the conservation implications of genetic research on lizards?
In the second publication, they followed up and named the new species. "Ultimately, after ten years of research," says Andy, "We described a new species of fringe-toed lizard from Mohawk Dunes, Arizona. We named it Uma thurmanae in honor of the actress Uma Thurman." The name started as a lunchroom joke at the Smithsonian because of the pun: genus Uma and the actress's first name. But all four authors admire Uma Thurman's career as an actress and philanthropist, so the name stuck. Andy currently resides in Northern California, where he works as a scientific writer for 10x Genomics in Pleasanton and teaches part-time a few weekends a year at Merritt College in Oakland. However, he continues to be fascinated by his discoveries in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, which led him to his current quest to understand better and write about the San Andreas fault system. "I hope to change how people think about the San Andreas fault," he says. "It's more than a giant crack in the ground that causes earthquakes. It has shaped the topography of the whole west coast of North America from Cape Mendocino to Cabo San Lucas and the evolution of species like the fringe-toed lizard. Anza-Borrego is one of the best places to learn more, and I hope to show how my studies in lizards open up bigger questions, still to be answered." If you would like to reach Andy, please contact him at andrew.gottscho@gmail.com .
VOLUNTEER NATURALIST CONDUCTS GROUNDBREAKING BAT RESEARCH BY SUSANA RINDERLE
Often misunderstood or feared, bats are actually invaluable members of the global animal kingdom. While in some places, they pollinate many nightblooming plants and cacti, at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park (ABDSP), they mostly provide natural insect control, eliminating the need for harmful pesticides. Stable bat populations are also important indicators of an ecosystem’s overall health, and leading indicators of negative environmental trends. On January 18, 2020, a humancaused fire at Borrego Palm Canyon's First Grove burned a majority of the mature California fan palms known to provide roost habitat for bats, NOMADIC | 24 particularly western yellow bats.
"This research effort establishes baseline data to help guide future Park land management and serves as a prototype for expanded bat monitoring throughout the Park," - Don Endicott
Photo: California State Parks
The press reported a fatal impact on resident bats, but since there were no prior baseline data on the bats' presence or activity, district scientists had no way to assess the validity of these reports or the fire's impact on the bat population. In partnership with the Colorado Desert District of the California State Parks, volunteer naturalist Don Endicott set out to establish that baseline. He positioned an ultrasonic microphone and battery-powered acoustic recorder near the center of First Grove, where bat calls triggered digital recordings. Every month for 14 consecutive nights, Don conducted acoustic sampling of the recordings starting 30 minutes before sunset and ending 30 minutes after sunrise. He analyzed the recordings with Wildlife Acoustics Kaleidoscope Pro software, utilizing batch processing methods, species-specific reference calls, and auto-identification functionality with manual spot checks to verify auto-identifications and rare species. Results were then organized, tallied, and entered into a spreadsheet to show daily and monthly activity trends. The good news? Despite the fire, First Grove supports a diverse variety of bat species, including western yellow bats, at seasonally appropriate activity levels. In fact, drought, extreme temperatures, and lower availability of insect prey are probably more harmful to bat populations than localized fire damage! In addition, he established a baseline for bat species activity and continues to monitor weekly, monthly, and yearto-year trends, which show higher May-through-June activity in years two and three compared to the first year. All told,15 different species of native bats have been detected, with over 80,000 acoustically triggered echolocation calls annually for each of the first three years. Canyon bats, Western small-footed myotis, Pallid bats and Big brown bats were the most active in terms of the number of acoustic detections, while infrequent detections of Western mastiff bats and California leaf-nosed bats suggest these were likely transients. Western yellow bats, the focus species, were seasonally abundant and active. NOMADIC | 24
A retired civilian research engineer and executive in the Navy Communications and Network Technologies field in San Diego, Don is a long-time hiker and explorer who discovered a second career as a volunteer naturalist. He's been interested in bats for some time, partly because they are a good indicator of the ecological health of a natural area. He is a National Association of Interpretation (NAI) Certified Interpretive Guide who trained in ABDSP. He received The Anza-Borrego Foundation's second annual ABF Achievement Award in 2015 and was recognized as the Park's Volunteer Naturalist of the Year in 2018. "This research effort establishes baseline data to help guide future Park land management and serves as a prototype for expanded bat monitoring throughout the Park," he says. "In fact, during the third year of the study and based on its methodology and findings, Colorado Desert District environmental scientists pursued equipment acquisitions to deploy and replicate similar efforts in other sectors of ABDSP." This research is unpublished, but Don has presented the findings to Colorado Desert District environmental scientists, San Diego Natural History Museum research staff, and at the "Anza-Borrego: In Focus" lecture series last May. If you would like to reach Don, please get in touch with him at dlejr@yahoo.com.
Don Endicott at Borrego Palm Canyon Grove
“To be whole. To be complete. Wildness reminds us what it means to be human, what we are connected to rather than what we are separate from.” ― Terry Tempest Williams
Photo: Paulette Donnellon
San Diego is the most biologically rich county in the continental U.S. according to the Nature Conservancy. Scott Tremor, Author of San Diego County Mammal Atlas
The 1st Journal Estelle Darcy Imagine living in a county with the greatest diversity ofBymammals of any 24 September, 2014 county in the United States. Now imagine this county also experiences
immense stress through human expansion and climate change. But despite this, imagine there was no comprehensive guide to those mammals' identification, distribution, natural history, or conservation challenges.
That was San Diego County --- before 2017. That December, the San Diego County Mammal Atlas was published through a partnership among various agencies and local organizations. More than a decade in the making, the 432-page, full-color book is now the definitive guide to the mammals of San Diego County. It covers the biology of all 91 terrestrial species and 31 inshore marine visitors known to have occurred here since 1769. Scott Tremor, a Mammologist at the San Diego Natural History Museum, was the principal author and editor of the Atlas. He specializes in surveying for and identifying southern California mammals, and his expertise, especially with rare rodents, spans Southern California and the Baja California Peninsula. This local experience and Scott's relationships with the experts in the region were essential to bringing this important book to life, which relies on historical and current survey data that he gathered over many years.
Photo: Sicco Rood
"Before the Atlas's creation, little information was publicly available on our region's mammals," he says. "Even more concerning is San Diego County's designation as a biodiversity hotspot—an area with immense biodiversity and human impact. This high-risk situation prompted us to compile everything we could fit into a single, user-friendly compendium." The Atlas, therefore, serves as an invaluable reference for mammals within Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and its surrounding areas. The book addresses all mammals, especially the less charismatic, like rodents and bats, that often don't receive as much attention as the bigger, showier mammals like coyotes, bobcats, and bighorn sheep. The Atlas is a compilation of written accounts and point data starting with 18th-century Spanish explorers who first documented San Diego's wildlife. Those point data are utilized in the mapping section for each species account. Also included in each account is comprehensive detailed information, including physical descriptions, "Before the Atlas's comparisons, distribution, habitat, diet, creation, little reproduction, space-use patterns, activity information was publicly patterns, predators, behavior, detection in available on our region's the field, conservation status and research needs. In addition, body part Themeasurements 1st Journal mammals," - Scott such as range and average length of body, By Estelle Darcy Tremor tail, hind foot, ear, and skull features are September, 2014 often included to help24 readers distinguish specimens to the species or subspecies level. The San Diego County Mammal Atlas is cited on Research Gate and described in detail on the San Diego Natural History Museum website. It's available for purchase at the Museum and through Sunbelt Publications. Scott also presented on the Atlas and at the "Anza-Borrego: In Focus" lecture series last March. "This book is written for a general audience as well as the professional biologist/wildlife manager," he says. "There are hundreds of full-color photographs, rich descriptions and fascinating tidbits on each species' natural history. For anyone curious about our region's local mammals, this book offers more than just a basic introduction without getting too far into the weeds. It is comprehensive, well-organized, yet aesthetic enough for a coffee table." Scott is currently working on other projects studying rare species. He and other researchers are investigating why the San Bernardino flying squirrel now appears extirpated from the San Jacinto Mountains but remains in the San Bernardino Mountains. Scott also rediscovered the San Quintin kangaroo rat that was thought extinct near San Quintin in Baja,
California. He continues to study animals in the region likely affected by climate change. He's also excited to study the range and taxonomy of the chaparral chipmunk, which occurs only in Southern California and on isolated Baja California peninsula mountain ranges. If you would like to reach Scott, please get in touch with him at stremor@sdnhm.org
STEELE/BURNAND ANZA-BORREGO DESERT RESEARCH CENTER: A PARTNER IN RESEARCH By Jim Dice, Reserve Manager Steele/Burnand Anza-Borrego Desert Research Center
Since the opening of the Steele/Burnand Anza-Borrego Desert Research Center in April 2012, the Center has provided lodging, meeting space, and classroom/lab space for researchers and classes from 140 different institutions and Photo: Elaine Tulving organizations around the world - including 27 California universities, 41 other U.S. universities, and 14 different international universities. The Research Center is a partnership between University of California Irvine, the UC Natural Reserve System, California State Parks, AnzaBorrego Desert State Park, and Anza-Borrego Foundation. In addition to providing low-cost lodging to university classes and researchers, studies conducted by researchers using the Center have resulted in several new scientific discoveries in the fields of botany, entomology, ornithology and geology. Repeat annual visits by classes in geology (UC Irvine, Occidental College, North Carolina State University, University of Texas, University of Chicago), ecology (UC Irvine, UC Natural Reserve System, University of Florida, Colorado College, University of San Diego) and lab and program retreats (UC Irvine, University of Connecticut, CalTech, USC) have occurred throughout our first decade. We have continually provided a venue for Anza-Borrego Foundation educational programs, board meetings and training sessions, as well as meeting space for State Parks staff and volunteer organizations (AnzaBorrego Botany Society, Anza-Borrego Paleontology Society, Colorado Desert Archeology Society). The Research Center and staff have provided meeting space for, and participated in, the annual Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count and the ABDSP 4th of July Bighorn Sheep Count. Additionally, we have hosted numerous meetings for
community organizations (Borrego Valley Stewardship Council, Borrego Water District, Soroptimist International of Borrego Springs, and others) and annually host the Summer Learning Academy for elementary and middle school students staged by the non-profit BASIC in conjunction with the Borrego Springs Unified School District. The University of California, Irvine and the UC Natural Reserve System have established a climate monitoring network of 9 weather stations within northwestern Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and adjacent lands that include air quality monitoring equipment (provided by Borrego Water District) on five of the stations within Borrego Valley. UCI scientists have collaborated (under contract) with California State Parks on studies concerning invasive species, vegetation monitoring and wetland ecology and restoration in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, and with the Borrego Water District and the Borrego Valley Endowment Fund on air quality monitoring studies.
Photo: David Lynch
Introducing CO-AUTHOR & MAGAZINE INTERN, SUSANA RINDERLE
Susana Rinderle, MA, PCC, is part of the team that created this inaugural issue of the Research Magazine. In partnership with Samantha Young, Anza-Borrego Foundation (ABF) Education Manager, Susana served as writer, researcher and thought partner to bring the important science happening in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park to life and your inbox! In June, she completed her certification as a California Naturalist through the University of California and volunteered with ABF to create the Magazine for her capstone project. Professionally, Susana is a writer, transformational life and leadership coach and trauma-informed resilience practitioner. She and her team also bring efficiency, effectiveness and equity to conservation and green organizations through E3 Solutions. After nearly 30 years working in the diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and leadership development fields across the U.S. and abroad, she's seeking new ways to help create a world that works better for more of us by expanding the "us” beyond the human species. A native of the San Gabriel Valley in Los Angeles, she has also called Guadalajara (Mexico), northern California, and New Mexico home. A self-described “bird nerd” and “desert rat” she considers Anza-Borrego one of her favorite places in the United States.
Susana has long felt deeply connected to and intrigued by wild places and wild species, from exploring her backyard and nearby canyons as a child to living in a tent working as a farm apprentice in New Mexico to hiking and backpacking in various geographies and climates. She trained as a raptor rescuer and educator in New Mexico and has volunteered as a raptor field monitor for the Griffith Park Raptor Survey for five years. She has volunteered with Arroyos & Foothills Conservancy and worked with wolves at Apex Protection Project. She is a member of the Monterey Road Eco-Community Gardens where she lives in Glendale, California, and engaged in urban farming at her home in Albuquerque. If you would like to reach Susana, visit her professional website, or contact her at susana@susanarinderle.com.
THE COMPLICATED STORY OF QUIET IN ANZA-BORREGO By Matthew Mikkelsen and Samantha Young
Have you ever had a moment where you went from a noisy room into a quiet one and heaved a sigh of relief? Or perhaps you just began a road trip and found yourself outside in nature with the sounds of the city suddenly gone and a chorus of wind, birds, or silence surrounding you? And in that moment, where your mind finds peace and breathes a sigh of relief at the settling of noise, you discover the power of quiet. In the wilderness, soundscapes are generated by a naturally functioning landscape, which is not the equivalent of complete silence (the absence of sound altogether). Nature is noisy, but these ecosystem sounds soothe the soul and connect us to our source of life. Additionally, noise pollution is critically damaging to wildlife and is an ongoing area of study. By understanding the noise in a region, we gain an understanding of the health of the ecosystems. In March of 2022, Matt Mikkelsen and his team set out on a quest to understand quiet and the soundscapes of Anza-Borrego. They began to listen to and record the sounds in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and ultimately determine whether it qualified under the Quiet Parks International (QPI) Assessment Criteria for being a Wilderness Quiet Park. Matt is the Executive Director of Wilderness Quiet Parks, a subdivision of QPI, which is on a mission to save quiet for the benefit of all life. Some seriously stringent criteria define only a handful of parks across the globe as Wilderness Quiet Parks. (continued on page 48)
To accomplish this task, Matt and his team traveled to four locations within the Park on four days. They were ready with their equipment set up to listen and record sounds before the sunrise and dawn chorus, as early as 4:00 a.m. After recording several hours of soundscape for each location, the team returned to their studio with the data to assess what they'd captured. They repeated this the following year and compared the data across both years. While Anza-Borrego Desert State Park (ABDSP) has many incredible opportunities for visitors to revel in the beauty and solitude of the desert, there are several sources of human generated noise, depending on where you are in the Park. While Matt had hoped to name the Park as a Wilderness Quiet Park, but ABDSP unfortunately does not qualify for this status given the current assessment criteria. But there is hope to continue working with the Park and Anza-Borrego Foundation to find other ways of recognizing, protecting and uplifting the beautiful soundscapes in the Park. One such way is through the naming of ABDSP as a Quiet Conservation Area. Deep quiet CAN be found in the Park, and most consistently in the State Wilderness Areas. The Park will be the first public land to be classified as a Quiet Conservation Area making it clear that the natural soundscapes are a priority to its caretakers. In line with ABDSP’s designation as a Dark Sky International Park, we are committed to preserving the land, its flora, fauna and the sounds that come with a natural landscape. To do this, communicating the importance of quiet with those who love and visit the Park is a priority. Hosting education programs, such as quiet hikes and a Quiet Research Retreat, and encouraging Park users to respectfully visit the quietest (and most remote) areas of the Park will help them to experience profound quiet for themselves. If you'd like to reach Matt, please email him at Matt@quietparks.org .
A NOTE FROM THE EDUCATION MANAGER Thank you for reading through this magazine! We're proud of how this first issue has come together. It's been a labor of love based on the strong desire to share current research and conservation in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park with you. While research might be the first line of defense in conserving nature, sharing that work with the community is the ultimate decider of whether our natural resources will remain intact for present-day and future generations to enjoy. And it's not just about enjoying nature. I know from experience (and from the research) that nature is the best medicine for humans: we need the outdoors to be happy, healthy and to remember our humanity. Education is our greatest hope of protecting the natural spaces in this world. By sharing this research and facilitating experiences in Anza-Borrego with school children, teachers, and the public, Anza-Borrego Foundation is working to break down barriers, increase awareness of conservation issues, spread wellness, and build future leaders. Our education programs span six areas:
Guided Hikes and Drives Research-based Education Virtual Access Teacher Professional Development K-12 Field Trips Developing Career Pathways
We're committed to increasing access to this incredible State Park and outdoor recreation by providing scholarships, student discounts, grant funds, virtual programming and working with underserved populations. We hope you agree that Anza-Borrego Foundation provides a vital service to our community - that of directly protecting the land and facilitating others to want to protect the land. We are the official State Park partner, with programs vetted and approved by the Colorado Desert District Superintendent. We work with the Park to create lifelong desert lovers, bring experiences in nature to those who haven't had them, and create new desert advocates who will steward and benefit from this incredible natural resource for years to come. If you feel called to join us on this mission, you can attend one of our programs, join us as a volunteer, or donate here. All donations received at this link will directly support our growing Education programs. I do this work that I love because I feel called to protect this magical desert with a team who I know also loves their work, and we are honored to serve this community. Thank you, and I hope to see you in the desert soon!
Samantha Young Anza-Borrego Foundation, Education Manager
