Diario de truthseqr

This project presents a unique opportunity to verify species by DNA analysis. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife analyzed 300 scat samples for this project.

PUBLICATION - JANUARY 2018
Results of the study were published in" Oikos - Synthesizing Ecology" in January 2018:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/oik.04592

SUMMER COLLECTION - 2014

Journal Post: https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/truthseqr/6167-conservation-scats-project-2014-2016

https://www.inaturalist.org/calendar/truthseqr/2014/6/8

WINTER COLLECTION - 2015

Journal Post: https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/truthseqr/6167-conservation-scats-project-2014-2016

Photos: https://www.inaturalist.org/calendar/truthseqr/2015/1/17

SPRING COLLECTION - 2015

Journal Post: https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/truthseqr/6167-conservation-scats-project-2014-2016

Photos: https://www.inaturalist.org/calendar/truthseqr/2015/3/1

Conservation Scats Project – Field Notes

• The latrines along Upper Wildcat Canyon and Upper High Meadow seem to have been washed out by yesterday’s rainstorm. I found relatively few scats in the area that has yielded the most samples in the past. And several of the scats I collected from this area were in poor condition due to the rain.
• I was hoping to get a picture of the partial mountain lion track we saw last week in Upper Wildcat Canyon, but it was washed away with the rain.
• I thought I saw porcupine quills in two of the scats, but Justine thinks they’re bird feathers. Makes sense. On closer inspection you can see part of the fluffy feather.
• I noticed two places along Hammond-Snyder Loop Trail where animals have dug holes under the fence to get into the cemetery where there’s a pool of standing water near the fence at the south end.
• One of the coyote scats was deposited on top of horse droppings – so funny!
• One of the coyote scats on Hammond-Snyder Loop Trail has those peculiar seeds/nuts that are oblong with a crease down the center. I wish I knew what those were.
• I didn't see any bobcat scat this week (3/1/2015)

Species identified by DNA Analysis

The Conservation Scats Project, conducted by a team at the University of California, Santa Cruz presented a rare opportunity to identify scats by DNA analysis. See the following link for more information about the project:

http://www.conservationscats.com/

Over 300 scat samples were collected and analyzed for DNA content of both predator and prey. I created the following project on iNaturalist for the samples I collected and had photos for:

https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/conservation-scats-rancho-san-antonio-osp

Results of the study were published in Oikos - Synthesizing Ecology in January 2018:

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/oik.04592

Now is the ideal time for identifying buttercups by species since both flowers and fruits are present. I would really like to become proficient in identifying these beautiful flowers.

California Buttercup (Ranunculus californicus)

Petals: 9-17 or more
Fat, oval seeds have a short, stout, curved beak.
Widely spaced, lightly paired, pinnate leaves

References:
http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-calrecnum=7032
Peterson Field Guides: Pacific States Wildflowers, 1976

Observations:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/truthseqr?utf8=%E2%9C%93&q=california+buttercup&search_on=names&quality_grade=any&reviewed=&geoprivacy=&identifications=any&captive=&place_id=&swlat=&swlng=&nelat=&nelng=&taxon_name=&taxon_id=&day=&month=&year=&order_by=observations.id&order=desc&rank=&hrank=&lrank=&taxon_ids%5B%5D=&d1=&d2=&created_on=&site=&tdate=&list_id=&filters_open=true&view=map

Western Buttercup (Ranunculus occidentalis)

Petals: 5-6
Hemispheric seedheads. Flat, oval seeds are smooth to slightly hairy and have a strongly curved beak.
Sepals are reflexed.
Widely spaced, 3-part leaves.
Moist soil below 6000 ft.

References:
http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-calrecnum=7049
Peterson Field Guides: Pacific States Wildflowers, 1976

Observations:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/truthseqr?utf8=%E2%9C%93&q=western+buttercup&search_on=names&quality_grade=any&reviewed=&geoprivacy=&identifications=any&captive=&place_id=&swlat=&swlng=&nelat=&nelng=&taxon_name=&taxon_id=&day=&month=&year=&order_by=observations.id&order=desc&rank=&hrank=&lrank=&taxon_ids%5B%5D=&d1=&d2=&created_on=&site=&tdate=&list_id=&filters_open=true&view=map

Rough-fruited Buttercup (Ranunculus muricatus)

Petals: 5

References:
http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-calrecnum=7048

Observations:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/truthseqr?utf8=%E2%9C%93&q=rough-fruited+buttercup&search_on=names&quality_grade=any&reviewed=&geoprivacy=&identifications=any&captive=&place_id=&swlat=&swlng=&nelat=&nelng=&taxon_name=&taxon_id=&day=&month=&year=&order_by=observations.id&order=desc&rank=&hrank=&lrank=&taxon_ids%5B%5D=&d1=&d2=&created_on=&site=&tdate=&list_id=&filters_open=true&view=map