Desert holly

Native Americans used desert holly for food, dyes and medicines

March 17, 2022

The San Rafael River cuts through the San Rafael Swell, forming the Little Grand Canyon. In early April, we were hiking upstream in the canyon when we stopped for a rest and a snack and to assess the curtain of rain that appeared to be bearing down on us. My...

Tthree different variations of Redpolls shown in the picture are the Hoary Redpoll (left), the Common Redpoll (center), and the Lesser Redpoll (right).

Redpolls reflect continuous variation influenced by supergene in one species

March 9, 2022

As always, unexpected and important discoveries prompt new questions and suggest new lines of research.

ruddy

Ruddy copper butterflies are sexually dimorphic for color and color vision

Feb. 2, 2022

It seems that reproductive success and sexual dimorphisms for dorsal color and for vision are inexorably interdependent in ruddy copper butterflies.

solstice

Winter solstice dawn from Flagstaff Mountain amphitheater

Jan. 5, 2022

My viewing of winter solstice dawn was quiet, but I had the conviction that this sort of observation reached far back into history, all around the world.

dead tree

A forensic analysis of a dead ponderosa pine

Dec. 19, 2021

Why did that one tree die? An expert is on the case.

cattails

Cattails are on the move in North America

Dec. 7, 2021

Invasive propensities of the various species are enhanced and more successful in disturbed environments. Consequently, both native and introduced cattails are expanding their ranges.

ruby

Late-fall pollination reflects the globally changing climate

Nov. 17, 2021

My observation that fall temperatures and pollination seemed to last longer this year is anecdotal, but the anecdote seems to fit into a documented pattern of climate change altering the onsets and durations of the seasons.

Jeff

The value of national monuments, national parks and wilderness areas

Oct. 28, 2021

Just as we have learned that the cost of freedom is constant vigilance, we must accept the notion that the lands set aside for forever must continually be guarded.

buckwheat

Fremont’s buckwheat supports a community of users

Oct. 6, 2021

Biologists initially thought the distribution of Fremont’s buckwheat was determined by a requirement for gypsum in the surface soils.

a strand of mushrooms showing the variability in the field Amanita muscaria young & old shows more variability

Fly Agaric and related death cap mushrooms synthesize dangerous chemicals

Aug. 31, 2021

Amanita species can be described as edible, inedible, poisonous, deadly poisonous, and psychoactive.

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