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Nestled within the protective crook of Sweden and Norway's outstretched arms, perched atop Germany's northernmost border, Denmark marks the seam between the North and the Baltic seas, Most Americans would [...]

The article discusses the efforts done for the conservation of Western Pond Turtles or Clemmys marmorata. The western pond turtle is the only native fresh water turtle in the U.S. Pacific Coast. In 1993, several scientists petitioned the U.S. government to place the turtle in the list of threatened or endangered species, but, the petition was rejected. In 2008, a team was assembled by the California Department of Fish and Game to develop a pond turtle conservation strategy.

The article focuses on the protection program for the yelloweye rockfish in California. It says that restrictions and regulations for groundfish fishery have been tightened after being exploited by fishermen as a fallback fishery due to the closure of salmon fishing in California's coast. It presents comparative data on yelloweye landings in the fish market from the 1940s up to 2001. The Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) manages yelloweye habitats and harvests as strategies to rebuild the fish stock to a sustainable level by 2084.

The article discusses the history of the Chinook fishery, for which the first salmon cannery was launched in 1864 in the West Coast, and known as Yolo County's West Sacramento in 2009. The number of canneries was declining by 1890 and production fell to 25,000 cases or 1.2 million pounds. The last Klamath cannery production closed in 1933. Around 1,500 commercial salmon fishermen fish the oceans off the coast of Oregon, California and Washington until a commercial fishery failure was declared for the Pacific Coast in 2008 and 2009.

The article discusses the closures, the first time in 150 years, by the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) of all commercial and recreational salmon fisheries off the coast of California and southern Oregon. It states that the closures were needed due to the crash of the Sacramento River Chinook and the coho run that dropped throughout California. The 2008-2009 collapse will end as warning or as an omen of catastrophe. Also discussed are the landscape change that affected the salmon and people and the actions needed to restore future salmon runs.

This article presents information on animals and plants in the U.S. that have been presumed extinct by scientists in the country. It reports on the rediscovery by botanist Michael Park in 2005 of the buckwheat plant in California. The plant was last seen in 1936. In May 2005 botanists Brad D. Schafer and Margaret Widdowson also rediscovered the bearded popcorn flower which was long thought extict. It presents other plants and animals that are thought extict but which scientists hope to be able to find remaining species.

The article discusses the Great San Francisco Earthquake of 1906. The shifting of the earth during the quake had offset the fence lines by eight feet or more. An explanation of plate tectonics, the concept that nothing on the earth's surface is really fixed and that everything is mobile. What a century ago was described as a rift zone of unknown origin is today a fault line separating two of the giant plates of the earth's upper layer. The San Andreas Fault is the demarcation line between the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate.

Features the Antioch Dunes National Wildlife Refuge in California. Reasons behind the development of the Antioch Dunes refuge; Species of plants and animals found in the area; Historical background of the place; Factors that led to the gradual isolation of the Antioch Dunes.

Explores the sea creatures found at Richmond Inner Harbor in California. Description of anemones; Information on sea squirt; Background on bivalves.

Provides information on several locations in California that are recommended for mushroom viewing. Albany Hill Park in Alameda; Salt Point State Park in Sonoma; Portola Redwoods State Park in San Mateo.

This article provides information resources related to woodrats. People who want to see a real woodrat should visit the Lindsay Wildlife Museum in Walnut Creek in California. At Lafayette Reservoir in the East Bay or Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve in the hills above San Carlos, people can see more woodrat nests. At Tilden Park's Environmental Education Center, visitors can see an exhibit with a "step-in" nest--put your head inside and come face to face with a woodrat.

The article provides information on how native plants in California spread their seeds. It cites that there are plants that produce the most offspring when their seeds spread as far as possible, where they cannot compete with them for soil, sunlight, water and nutrients. Bay area sedges drop their seeds in the water, to be carried downstream until the seeds lodge in a place where they can sprout and grow. Purple needlegrass broadcasts its seeds short distances through the wind before they come to rest on the ground.

The article features the Yosmite Falls in California. Tucked away along a stretch of Alameda Creek, the falls has been made accessible to the public by an agreement between the San Francisco Water Department and the East Bay Regional Park District. The falls is a leisurely, mostly flat 1.5-mile hike along the Camp Ohlone Road fire trail as it roughly parallels Alameda Creek. Directions in getting to the site is also detailed.

The article presents an interview with Vladimir Provosudov, biology professor at University of California, Davis. He shares his objectives in researching food caching behavior of various birds. He describes the survival skills of Bay Area bird species. He explains food cashing and its relationship to animal intelligence. He presents his views on anthromorphizing the animals.

Reports on the possible impact of the proposed northerly Diablo train routes and the southerly Pacheco Pass train route on open spaces near the Henry Coe State Park in California, as of April 2005. Background on the habitat that will be affected by the train routes; Migration corridors of animals that could be blocked by the fenced-off routes.

Presents a correction to the article "More Dams Coming," that was previously published in the July/September 2003 issue of "Bay Nature."

Provides information on several ways to experience the San Francisco Bay in California. Description of the Aquatic Park; Clubs that offer tips on outdoor recreation; List of favorite beaches along the area; Examples of outdoor activities and opportunities.