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Joshua Tree National Park calls California home and is made of 800,000 acres. It is a Rain Shadow Desert is typically humid. It is home to many species of cacti and rare plants, it is also homed to mosses, ferns, and and liverworts.The terrain consists of sand dunes, dry lakes, flat valleys, rugged mountains inside the park. The National Park has nearly 3,000,000 visitors a year and Native tribes named Cahuilla,

Chemehuevi, and Serrano once called this Park home

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Ovis canadensis nelsoni

Traits

They have a light-colored coat that reflects sunlight to help regulate body temperature and reduce heat absorption. Their hooves are designed for climbing rocky terrain, enabling them to navigate steep cliffs and rugged landscapes with ease.

Lifecycle

The life cycle begins with the birth of a lamb, typically in the spring. Female bighorn sheep, known as ewes, give birth to one or occasionally two lambs after a gestation period of about 6 months. Newborn lambs are precocial, meaning they are relatively well-developed at birth. They are able to stand and walk shortly after birth and rely on their mothers for nourishment and protection. Ewes are highly protective of their offspring during this vulnerable stage. As the lamb grows, it enters the juvenile stage. During this time, it continues to rely on its mother for guidance and protection while gradually learning important survival skills such as foraging for food and navigating the rugged terrain of the desert habitat. Around the age of 1 to 2 years old, the bighorn sheep enters the subadult stage. During this period, it begins to become more independent from its mother and may join other young sheep in small groups. Once bighorn sheep reach adulthood, they are fully mature and capable of reproducing. Adult rams may continue to compete for dominance within their social hierarchy, while ewes focus on raising their offspring and contributing to the survival of the herd.

Habitat

Desert bighorn sheep inhabit steep, rocky mountainsides, cliffs, canyons, and ridges. They are agile climbers and are often found in areas with rugged topography that provides escape routes and protection from predators. The Big Horn sheep can be found throughout the park as the park is desert.

Food Web

Desert bighorn sheep play a crucial role as primary consumers, regulating plant populations through grazing and shaping the vegetation structure of their habitat. Predators such as coyotes, mountain lions, bobcats, and golden eagles rely on desert bighorn sheep as a food source, contributing to population dynamics within the ecosystem. They eat grass, forbs, shrubs, cacti and pretty much consume anything when it is in season making it a herbivore .Desert bighorn sheep face predation from various carnivores within their habitat, including predators such as coyotes, mountain lions (pumas), bobcats, and golden eagles. These predators may hunt bighorn sheep, particularly young lambs or individuals that are weakened or vulnerable due to age, injury, or illness.

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Crotalus scutulatus

Traits

Mojave rattlesnakes typically have a light tan to olive-brown background color with darker diamond-shaped blotches along their back. A distinguishing feature is the presence of light-colored bands or rings encircling their tail, which contrasts with the dark bands on the rest of their body.

Lifecycle

Female Mojave rattlesnakes typically give birth to a litter of 2 to 14 offspring, although litter sizes can vary based on factors such as maternal health and environmental conditions. Birth usually occurs in late summer or early fall, with newborn rattlesnakes emerging from the mother's cloaca.

After birth, juvenile Mojave rattlesnakes are independent and must fend for themselves. They are miniature versions of adult rattlesnakes and possess fully functional venom glands, allowing them to hunt and capture prey. Juveniles grow rapidly during their first few years of life, feeding primarily on small rodents, lizards, and other small vertebrates.

Growth and Maturation: Mojave rattlesnakes continue to grow and develop over the next several years, gradually reaching sexual maturity. The exact age at which individuals reach maturity can vary depending on factors such as food availability, environmental conditions, and individual growth rates. Typically, Mojave rattlesnakes reach sexual maturity at around 2 to 4 years of age.

Habitat

Mojave rattlesnakes inhabit arid and semi-arid desert environments characterized by low rainfall, high temperatures, and sparse vegetation. These habitats typically include sandy or rocky desert terrain with various elevations, ranging from low desert valleys to higher mountain foothills.

Food Web

The diet of the Mojave rattlesnake comes down to anything besides a plant. They eat rodents, rabbits, lizards, birds, and even other snakes and insects. They are carnivores and they are prayed upon by red-tailed hawks, coyotes, foxes, and bobcats and larger snakes

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Geococcyx californianus

Traits

Long Legs: It has long, sturdy legs adapted for running at high speeds across the desert terrain. These legs enable the roadrunner to cover large distances quickly while chasing prey or avoiding predators.

Strong Feet and Claws: The roadrunner's feet are equipped with strong toes and sharp claws, which are used for grasping prey, perching on branches, and navigating rocky or sandy surfaces. The claws also aid in digging for food or excavating nesting sites.

Lifecycle

Greater Roadrunners typically breed from late March to early August, although timing may vary depending on location and environmental conditions. Over the next few weeks, the chicks grow rapidly and develop their flight feathers and other physical characteristics. They remain in the nest for about 18 to 21 days, after which they fledge and begin to explore their surroundings. Greater Roadrunners typically reach sexual maturity at around one year of age, although some individuals may mature slightly earlier or later depending on environmental factors and population density.

Habitat

Greater Roadrunners are commonly found in desert scrub habitats, which consist of low-growing shrubs, cacti, and drought-tolerant plants. These habitats provide cover, nesting sites, and food sources for roadrunners. Roadrunners also inhabit chaparral habitats, which are characterized by dense, woody shrubs and small trees. Chaparral areas often have a mix of scrubland and open spaces, providing suitable foraging grounds for roadrunners.

Food Web

The great Road runner eats insects, small reptiles, small rodents like mice and rats, birds and bird nests and amphibians. The road runner is a carnivore as non of its food source is plants, and are prey of hawks, falcons, coyotes, foxes, bobcats, and large snakes.

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pseudoscience regilla

Traits

Coloration: These frogs exhibit considerable variation in coloration, which can range from shades of green, brown, gray, or reddish-brown to a vibrant lime green. They often have mottled or speckled patterns on their dorsal surface, providing camouflage against their surroundings.

Skin Texture: The skin of California tree frogs is smooth and moist, aiding in respiration and water absorption through the skin. Their skin may also secrete toxins as a defense mechanism against predators.

Life Cycle

California tree frogs typically breed from late winter to early spring, although breeding may occur throughout the year in areas with mild climates. The fertilized eggs develop into tadpoles within a few days to weeks, depending on water temperature and other environmental factors. As tadpoles complete metamorphosis, they emerge from the water as juvenile frogs. Juvenile frogs have fully formed limbs and lungs for breathing air. Over the next several months to years, juvenile frogs continue to grow and develop until they reach sexual maturity. The lifespan of California tree frogs in the wild varies, but they can live for several years, with some individuals surviving up to five years or more under favorable conditions.

Habitat

California tree frogs are associated with habitats that offer ample vegetation for shelter, foraging, and breeding:

Riparian Vegetation: Trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants along the banks of streams, rivers, and ponds. Woodland and Forest Edges: Transition zones between open habitats and forested areas, offering a mix of vegetation types and microhabitats.

Food Web

Insects: California tree frogs are insectivorous and feed on a wide range of small insects and arthropods like flies, beetles, and ants. The frog is mainly a carnivore and doesn't consume any plant like materials. This frog has a long list of predators such as herons, kingfishers, egrets, garter snakes, racer snakes, trout, raccoons, and opossums.

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Paralichthys californicus

Traits

All California Halibut have an oval-shaped, flattened body, and  Its underside is white, and its upper side is usually mottled and spotted with a brown to olive-green color. The California Halibut is ectothermic, meaning it relies on external sources to regulate its body temperature.

Lifecycle

Egg Stage: It all begins when adult female halibut release their eggs into the water, where they are fertilized by the males. The eggs are buoyant and float near the surface.

Larval Stage: After about two weeks, the eggs hatch into larvae. At this stage, the larvae are tiny, transparent, and have one eye on each side of their head, swimming upright like typical fish. They drift along with the ocean currents, feeding on plankton.

Metamorphosis: As the larvae grow, they undergo a remarkable transformation called metamorphosis. During this process, one eye migrates to the other side of the head, and the fish begins to swim horizontally, lying on one side. The coloration also changes to match the ocean floor, providing camouflage.

Adult Stage: As the halibut grows, it continues to feed and mature. California halibut can reach lengths of up to 60 inches and weights exceeding 70 pounds. They are predatory fish, lying in wait on the ocean floor and ambushing their prey.

Habitat

Shallow Coastal Waters: Juvenile California halibut are often found in shallow coastal waters, including bays, estuaries, and lagoons. These areas provide abundant food sources and protection from larger predators.

Sandy and Mud Bottoms: Adult California halibut prefer sandy or muddy bottoms along the continental shelf. They are well adapted for camouflage in these environments, using their flattened bodies and coloration to blend in with the substrate.

These can be found in places like Quillayute River, British Columbia, south to Magdalena Bay, Baja, California

Food Web

California halibut prey on a variety of small fish, including anchovies, smelt, sardines, herring, surfperch, and juvenile flatfish. They are known to ambush their prey from the ocean floor. Crabs and shrimp are also part of the California halibut's diet. They also eat squid, octopus, and various species of clams and snails. They are carnivores and Adult California halibut are apex predators in their ecosystem. They use ambush tactics, lying camouflaged on the ocean floor before striking at passing prey. While adult California halibut are formidable predators, they can also become prey themselves. Larger predators such as sharks, sea lions, dolphins, and larger fish species may prey on California halibut, especially juveniles or smaller halibuts