The California Naturalist Handbook

Acknowledgements
Preface

Chapter 1: Introduction to California Natural History and the World of Naturalists
California's Biodiversity
The Biodiversity Crisis
A Brief History of Natural History and Naturalists
Traditional Ecological Knowledge
Why Be A Naturalist?
Field Notebook: An Essential Record for Every Naturalist
Field notebook
Field journal
General journaling practices
The Language of Naturalists
Linneaus's classification system
Geographic range
Getting Out and About
Explore!

Chapter 2: Geology, Climate, and Soils
Earth's Formation and Plate Tectonics
Shaping California
Rocks in California
California's Climate
Diversity of California Microclimates
Soil Structure and Nutrients
Nutrient Cycling
Decomposition
Mycorrhizal Relationships
Mining in California
Explore!

Chapter 3: Water
Scaling Water: From Molecules to Our Environment
The Water Cycle
Stream Processes
Biological Inputs
Chemical Inputs
Physical Inputs
The Path of a River
Estuaries
Intertidal zone
Wetlands
California's Lakes
California's Freshwater Fish
Rivers Today
California Water Management and Law
Challenges for the Future: Population Growth and Climate Change
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Chapter 4: Plants
Lifestyles of Rich and Famous Plants
Parts of a Plant
Pollination
Seed Dispersal
Plant Communities of California
Plants and People
Native American Plant Uses
California's Plant Communities and Climate Change
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Chapter 5: Forest, Woodland, Range Resources and Management
History of California Forests and Their Management
Forest Dynamics
California Forests and Wildfire
Fragmentation of Forests
Carbon Sequestration
Rangelands and Livestock Grazing Management
Conservation Biology
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Chapter 6: Animals
Evolutionary Groups
Invertebrates
Vertebrates
Fishes
Amphibians
Dinosaurs
Birds
Lizards and Snakes
Mammals
Human Activity and Domestic and Introduced Animals
Explore!

Chapter 7: Energy and Global Environmental Challenges
Forms and Sources of Energy
Forms of Energy
Sources of Energy
The Energetic Basis of Life
Energy Use by People
Global Environmental Challenges
Climate Change
Ozone Depletion
Dead Zones, Fertilizers and Manure Management
Agricultural Issues
Agriculture and Carbon Sequestration
Air Quality
Solid Waste
Population
Explore!

Chapter 8: Interpretation, Communication, and Citizen Science Interpretation: Why, what and how
The Interpretive Talk
A Naturalist Walk
Communication
Communication in the Community
Collaborative Conservation
Citizen Science
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Glossary