“Detail-oriented” is the diplomatic way of saying that GBI personnel often seem to obsess over the tiniest things, especially when conducting field research. Of course, this is done with the understanding that even the minutia of a landscape constitutes a part of the larger ecosystem. With that in mind, the theme for November’s media contest was “Small Things with a Big Impact.”
The winning entry above was submitted by GBI Research Associate Sam Woosley, serving as Outdoor Recreation Specialist with the National Park Service at Joshua Tree National Park. It serves as a reminder of the delicate balance that exists in many of our wild places, especially those inhabited by threatened and endangered species. Says Sam, “While the death of one Mojave Desert Tortoise might not seem like a big deal, it is. Because the species is threatened with extinction, one tortoise death could result in the loss of critical genetic data or extirpation. Local Native words for tortoise: ‘Aya (Nüwü or Chemehuevi) Qerperc (Maara’yam or Serrano) I’yeel (Iviatim or Cahuilla).”
Scroll down to see more great submissions to the November contest.
