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Antioch Dunes

Sand Dune Habitat

Oak Forest

San Joaquin River

Sedge Dieoff

Plants

Fabaceae
Legume family Nitrogen restorers

Silver Lupine Lupinus albifrons

Dove Lupine Lupinus bicolor

Deer Lotus Lotus scoparius

Facaceae
Oak Family

Coast Live Oak

California Sister on Interior Live Oak

Brassicaceae
Mustard family Four petals per flower

Wallflower

Contra Costa Wallflower Erysimum capitatum angustatum

Polygonaceae
Buckwheat family

Buckwheat Erigonium nudum psychicola

Buckwheat Erigonium nudum psychicola

Onagraceae
Evening Primrose family

Antioch Dunes Evening Primrose Oenothera deltoides howellii

Camissonia micrantha

Cucurbitaceae
Cucumber family

Marah fremontii

Solanaceae
Potato family

Blue Witch Solanum umbelliferum

Datura wrightii

Betulaceae
Birch Family

White Alder Alnus rombifolia

Asteraceae
Composite flower family

Lessingia glandulifera

Telegraph Weed Heterotheca grandiflora

Senecio Senecio flaccidus var. douglasii

Senecio Senecio flaccidus var. douglasii

Euphorbiaceae
Spurge family Lactate

Croton californicus

Boraginaceae
Borage family Four-lobed ovary; 5 stamens White appendages Cymes scorpoid

Salt Heliotrope Heliotropium curassavicum

Butterflies & Other Insects

Swallowtails
Papilonids Anise Swallowtail Adapt genetically to ecotype to form multiple ecological races. Feeds on plants that contain the essential oils, anisic aldehyde or anethole. Introduced fennel may have benefited butterfly as it is edible year round, Angelica = nave umbel used Hill topping species

Anise Swallowtail
Papillo zelicaon

Whites & Sulfurs


Pieridae Yellow, orange, white with black markings Prefer plants that produce mustard oils

Cabbage White
Pieris rapae

Orange Sulfur
Colias eurytheme

Coppers, Hairstreaks, Blues and Metalmarks


Lycaenidae Largest group of butterflies 6,000+ species Fragile looking wings = gossamer-winged butterflies Some have false head near anal opening Most of their caterpillars produce honeydew that attract ants, which in turn, protect them.

Acmon Blue Plebejus acmon


Female Male

Langs Metalmark
Apodemia mormo langei

Gray or Common Hairstreak


Strymon melinus

Western Pygmy Blue (female)


Everes amyntula

Eastern Tailed Blue

Everes comyntas

Inland Bramble Hairstreak


Callophrys drumetorum complex

Skippers
Hesperiidae Broad heads and muscular bodies Recurved hook at end of antennae (apiculus) Territorial and hilltop

Umber Skipper Poanes melane

Fiery Skipper Hylephila phyleus

Common Checkered Skipper


Pyrgus communis

Milkweed Butterflies
Danainae (subfamily of Brushfoots) East of Rockies, overwinter to Mexico; West of Rockies migrate to California Last brood lives 6 months; all others, 2 weeks after metamorphosis Colonial hibernation Spring hatch live 2 weeks as adults; each generation moving further north or east 5th generation= migratory and hibernates.

Monarch Butterfly

Danaus plexippus

Other Insects

Assassin Bug
Insect predators in our area Tropical and southern species are vectors of disease and suck blood True Bugs Hemiptera

Forelegs are used for catching prey


Poor flyers

Praying Mantis
Introduced species Orthoptera Females larger than males Predatory insects, forelegs modified for grasping prothorax accommodates forelimbs

Darkling Beetle
Eloedes Never drink water Live on fungi, detritus

Chemical = various aldehydes


Quinoid secretions make the unpalatable.

Never drink
Coleoptera

Carpenter Bee
Chew holes in sides of flowers robbing them of nectar. Do not disperse pollen Solitary nesting in dead wood

Males territorial, but no stingers Hymenoptera

Ants
200 species in California Workers = modified females Males: short-lived, winged, large eyed Formic acid Hymenoptera

Other Arthropods

Giant California Millipede


Arthropods: Diplopoda Two of legs per appendage First land animals

Can produce toxins that smell or taste bad, but no sting.

Scorpion
Four scorpions in the Bay Area None are dangerous Typically under logs or litter

Among the first land animals


Anthropoda: Arachnida: (class) Scorpiones

Amphibians

Sierran Treefrog Pseudacris sierra


Most common frog Call similar to running a thumb over the teeth of a comb Base color = green or brown Cold temperatures cause frogs to be dark; blotched as temps warm, then sold colored with high temps. Formerly Hyla regilla At least four species in complex

Pseudacris sierra

Reptiles

California Legless Lizard Anniella pulchra


Named for Annie Montague Alexander Antioch Dunes = Northern most range Fossorial Now four species ; following plate tectonics Burrows in loose soil or sand Live-bearing 1-4 young

Anniella pulchra

Anniella pulchra

Western Fence Lizard Scleroporus occidentalis


Most common lizard Blue dominant in males; female less blue without blur on backs Males may be dark during mating season Dark pigment also due to cold; lizards lighten when warmed Occipital eye = indirect temp regulator

Scleroporus occidentalis

Side-blotched Lizard Uta stansburiana


Long, narrow head; side blotch near axillary region Dominant males orange throated; other blue Orange = polygamous; blue = monogamous Females = yellow throated also polygamous males who take advantage of territorial fights among the orange-throats.

Uta stansburiana

Gopher Snake Pituophis catenifer


Generalist Diurnal to crepuscular Will mimic rattlesnakes Saddles vary on coast, inland, and Suisun area has stripes.

Gopher Snake

Racer Coluber constrictor mormon


Young blotched, adults dull green to olive Most common snake o at Antioch Dunes Speeds away, does not hunker for defense Large eyes; very alert snake

Racer

Glossy snake Arizona elegans


Included here as it was once collected from Antioch Dunes Extreme northern part of range Creamy unblotched belly Small head compared to Gopher Snake

Glossy Snake

Birds

Geese
Monogamous Winter residence here, spend summers in Canada and Alaska Vegetarian Males stay with brood for nearly a year.

Canada Geese

Herons & Egrets


GBH and GE Feed on aquatic and terrestrial organisms. Swaying, bobbing, swinging to give them better binocular vision while peering into water. Flush prey by wing-flicking, foot striking, ranking and paddling as well as standing in wait.

Great Egret Snowy Egret

Great Blue Heron

White Pelican
Freshwater : food = fish, crayfish and large salamanders. Fish drives Pouch can hold 17.5 lbs of water (10 liters) Pouch used to dissipate heat via gutter fluttering Develop an epidermal horn at the top of the bill during mating season

White Pelican

Raptors
Eat mammals, birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians and invertebrates depending upon the species. Diurnal or nocturnal Territorial and monogamous Hovering or flight strikes; some scavenging and theft Osprey is in its own family: Pandionidae

Red-tailed Hawk

Coopers Hawk

Osprey

Northern Harrier
Resident

Male

Females

Vultures
Sense of smell Sunning: spread wings to warm body or to dry off. Bare skin is more easily cleaned and may help regulate body temperature.

Turkey Vulture

Dabbling Ducks
Chose mates annually Feed in shallows Flight straight up from water Mostly winter residents Bill shape determines feeding
Mallard: board bill for invertebrates, seed and grains Wigeon: short bills for cutting and digging vegetation (may also thieve). Green-winged teal: Comb-like structures allow for straining tiny invertebrates from mud

Mallard

Killdeer
Most abundant plover in North America Nests in open areas; ground nester Eggs resemble stones Broken wing act to protect nest and young

Killdeer

Gulls
Insectivorous; fishes and scavenges. Ring-billed Gull & Herring Gulls frequently seen inland, but also coastal. Color varies with age. All are winter residents

Western Gull

Doves
Fast flyers 88km per hour Feed almost exclusively on seeds Ground feeders Eurasian Collard Dove: introduced species Larger with white band in tail Effect on mourning dove yet to be determined

Mourning Dove

Owls
Nocturnal Binocular vision under extremely low light conditions Ever better hearing Silent flyers Several subspecies

Great Horned Owl

Hummingbirds
New World species only Nectar feeders + small invertebrates Solitary and territorial Tongue regulated by hyoid apparatus iridescences structural, not due to pigment

Annas Hummingbird

Resident

Belted Kingfisher
Females with rusty belt; males larger, less colorful Build tunnel nests in cliff, slightly upward Eat fish, insects, amphibians, reptiles, crustaceans Resident throughout the year in our area

Belted Kingfisher

Woodpeckers
Feeding behaviors species dependent. Acorn woodpecker caches acorns in larders. Most insectivorous. Sapsuckers wound trees and drink sap. Flight is undulating. Often sexual dimorphism Chisel-shaped bill: Tongue similar to hummingbird with hyoid apparatus 3 reasons for wood beating: excavation, drumming (territorial) and feeding.

Northern Flicker

Falcons
Peregrines can drop up to 200 mph Found on all continents except Antarctica

American Kestrel Feeds on insects; smallest falcon in North America

Peregrine Falcon

Resident

Kestrel

Bushtits
Glean insects form leaves; sometimes eat berries Territorial when nesting, otherwise travel in flocks, sometimes mixed flocks.

Bushtits
Resident

Jays & Crows


Corvids Wide range of habitats Omnivorous Monogamous and may pair for life Most non-migratory Scrub jays cache acorns and are responsible in part for forest regeneration

Scrub Jay

Sparrows
Ground dwelling birds 319 species world wide; 50 species in north Americas Eat insects during breeding seasons and sees all other times (feed insects to young) Some polygamous, but most monogamous during breeding season

Golden-crowned Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Swallows
Aerialists Insectivorous Most often found near water Monogamous

Tree Swallow Barn Swallow

Mockingbird
Mimid Family includes thrashers Mockingbird mimics other species Bills vary in shapes and size between species All have long tails. Insects and small fruits (Often forages on ground)

Northern Mockingbird
Resident

Wood Warblers
Diverse group (116 species) Insectivorous or fruit and nectar eaters (species dependent) Territorial and monogamous with seasonal pairing Migratory species in our area Drab coloration during fall migration

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Mammals

Virginia Opossum Diadelphis viginianus


Our only marsupial Prehensile tail Introduced to California Plays dead Omnivorous 8 to 16 young; 2 gm at birth Can suckle up to 13 young

Virginia Opossum Didelphis virginiana

Beechey Ground Squirrel Spermophilus beecheyi


Also called California Ground Squirrel Individual entrances to burrows Keystone species provides dwelling for a variety of other animals as well as food Mainly vegetarian but can eat eggs, carrion

Beechy Ground Squirrel Spermophilus beecheyi

Bottas Pocket Gopher Thomomys bottae


Males larger than females Vegetarian Food source for predators Keep soils aerated

Bottas Pocket Gopher Thomomys bottae

American Beaver Castor canadensis


Slaps water with tail: warning signal Nocturnal to crepuscular Can stay submerged 15 minutes Makes dams to compensate for ice; keeps water levels high Dens in bank burrows along rivers Vegetarian

Beaver Castor canadensis

Northern River Otter Lontra canadensis


Webbed feet; semiaquatic Travels long distances on land; Carnivorous: eats fish, frogs crayfish, shellfish Refuse piles Dens on banks Males solitary or bachelor groups; females with young Embryo implantation delayed 8-9 months; mating takes place soon after young are born.

Northern River Otter Lontra canadensis

Northern Raccoon Procyon lotor


Nocturnal Solitary, but young remain with mother 6-9 months Omnivorous Wash food = myth

Northern Raccoon Procyon lotor

Striped Skunk Mephitis mephitis


Mainly nocturnal Omnivorous Can spray accurately up to 2 meters Scent gland include mixes of organic Thiols (sulfur compounds)

Striped Skunk Mephitis mephitis

Coyote Canis latrans


Omnivorous Crepuscular but can be nocturnal or diurnal Packs of 3-7 Pups tended to by both parents and older siblings Regurgitate meals to feed young

Coyote

Common Gray Fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus)


Nocturnal or crepuscular Usually silent, may bark Pairs territorial, usually seen alone as only one hunts at a time. Tree climber Underground dens have several entrances

Gray Fox

Black-tailed Jack Rabbit


Nocturnal or crepuscular Thumps ground with hind feet when alarmed Travels 35 mph Usually solitary Each young has its own separate nest; fed by mother during the night.

Black-tailed Jack Rabbit

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