The Urban Pioneers project aims to bring attention to the interesting yet unknown environments created by our urban development.
Urban environments are a haven for organisms that readily adapt to life close to humans since they are able to take advantage of our shelter, food, and other resources. The project focuses on three groups of environments, the night life, a city water feature, and a downtown park. Each environment has its own unique cast of organisms, many of which can be recognized with a few steps from your front door.
Evening Trash Bags, Watercolor
American Cockroach, Periplaneta americana
Norway (Brown) Rat, Rattus norvegicus
House Mouse, Mus musculus
Orange Tabby Cat, Felis catus
The House Gecko, Watercolor
House Gecko, Hemidactylus frenatus
Moths (various species), Lepidoptera
City Park, Watercolor
European Starling, Sturnus vulgaris
Rock Pigeon, Columba livia
Western Scrub Jay, Aphelcoma californica
House Sparrows (female & male), Passer domesticus
California Red-sided Garter Snake, Thamnophis sirtalis internalis
Western Gray Squirrel, Sciurus griseus
Gulf Fritillary Butterfly, Agraulis vanillae
Lantana (flowering plant), Lantana spp.
Yellow Warbler, Setophaga petechia
Sidewalk Crack, Watercolor
Garden Snail, Cornu asperum
Common Dandelion, Taraxacum officinale
Pinnacate Beetle (Stink Beetle), Eleodes spp.
Crab Grass, Digitaria sanguinalis
The Pond, Watercolor
Koi, Cyprinus carpio
Mallard Ducks (male, female, & ducklings), Anas platyrhynchos
Goldfish (fan tail, common, & sarasa comet), Carassius auratus
Hornwort, Ceratophyllum demursum
Water Lily, Nymphaeacea spp.
Red-eared Slider, Chrysemys scripta elegans
Water Hyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes
Mosquito Puddle, Watercolor
Asian Tiger Mosquito (larvae and pupae), Aedes albopictus
