Biology Field Trip to Cottonwood Creek
Field Trip April 14, 2008
Destination: Upper Cottonwood Creek Wildlife Area
Directions:
From Los Banos, go west on Hwy 152 approx. 18 miles
and turn right into the Upper Cottonwood Creek Wildlife Area parking lot on the
right (north) side of Hwy 152 (look for the sign the second time the road
widens to three lanes).See map at right. Driving time: 15- 20 minutes.
About the Area: The Upper Cottonwood Creek Wildlife Area is a 4,000 acre parcel of
steep Oak-grassland habitat typical of the higher areas in the interior coast
range. The parking lot is very small, so
please plan to carpool.
Part 1 – Familiarize yourself with your surroundings
1. Name
the locations and habitat(s) that we visit:
2. Name
five wild flowers (scientific and common names).
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
3. Name
two trees or shrubs (scientific and common names).
1.
2.
4. Name
and describe the uses of 2 plants.
1.
2.
5. Name
and describe the effects of two poisonous plants.
1.
2.
6. Describe
two interactions between plants and animals that we see.
1.
2.
7. Use
the Western bird book to identify the scientific and common names of two birds.
1.
2.
8. Give
the scientific and common names of any non-bird animal that we see, and
describe what it was doing.
9. Other
items of interest that are found during the trip.
Part
2 – Understanding Diversity
10. Check off the kingdom when we see a representative:
|
Domain/Kingdom |
Sighted? |
|
Animalia |
|
|
Plantae |
|
|
Fungi |
|
|
Protista |
|
|
Bacteria |
|
|
Archea |
|
11. If we didn’t see a member of a kingdom, why not? Suggest a place at Cottonwood Creek we should have looked.
12. Choose a non-human organism we see and write out its complete scientific classification. For example, if we see a mule deer, I would write out:
Domain: Eukarya
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Cervidae
Genus: Odocoileus
Species: Odocoileus hemionus
13. Choose an organism that we see and sketch it here. Label your sketch with the common and scientific names of the organism.
14. Contemplate the organism you have sketched above. In what ways is it similar to you? How is it different? List 3-5 similarities and differences below.
|
|
Similarities |
Differences |
|
1. |
|
|
|
2. |
|
|
|
3. |
|
|
|
4. |
|
|
|
5. |
|
|
15. Choose any widespread organism we see and examine several representatives. In what ways do they vary? In what other ways might they vary that are hard to see in one afternoon? How might these variations be the basis for natural selection?