Diario del proyecto California OakWatch

Oaks are vital to supporting biodiversity, but many are in crisis–help us map where they are, especially young oaks! Globally, ⅓ of oaks are vulnerable–in California, that number jumps to nearly ½. Changes in land use and climate contribute to reductions in oak numbers. In many areas, oaks struggle to reproduce, and knowing where seedlings and saplings are is crucial information. This project collects data on oaks native to the California Floristic Province, with a particular focus on young plants.

About
Oaks are messy, but we love them. They hybridize, resprout, and change their leaves depending on herbivory or other stress–so it’s tough to identify them even with good photos! We’ll be posting some identification tips and guides in the coming weeks, but for now are asking for the following:

1) Habitat shot showing oak in context (with an indication of height)

© sea-kangaroo (@sea-kangaroo), some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC-ND)
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/27870963

2) Close-up of twig (color is important in identification)

© Rebekah Shane (@bexicle777), some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/121421917

3) Macro-level shot of upper and underside of leaf (to see the hairs/trichomes), with scale if possible

© docprt (@docprt), some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/107266581

4)Photo of leaf with margin, so we can see waviness, inrolling, etc–also with scale if possible

© JoeJoe Clark (@lilyboy), some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/121168795

5)Add tag, note, or a field on tree life stage: seedling, sapling, mature, resprout, seed
https://www.inaturalist.org/observation_fields/15277
click on the video below to see how to add an observation field to an observation!

6)Put height estimate in notes
If you have young trees with older trees around, make another observation for mature tree with acorn cups

© Mari Villa (@marivillasol) , some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/80325938

You may find it helpful to have a clip-on macro lens and ruler with you, and know that cameras focus in on flesh not leaves so sometimes putting your hand in the picture helps. Here are some other tips and tricks:

Southern Grassland Initiatives: How to Photograph Plants Guide |
https://www.segrasslands.org/recording-species-in-inat-website
UCOaks: Oak Tree Species ID & Ecology |
https://oaks.cnr.berkeley.edu/oak-tree-species-id-ecology/

We’re using height as a proxy for life stage, with seedlings shorter than knee height and saplings below shoulder height, but resprouts can confound that. Resprouts are a separate category–and should be recorded as such. A good indication of resprouting is if they are clustered at the base of an oak trunk or stump!

Jose Esparza, no rights reserved (CC0)
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/120347009

You are tagged in this post because you are among some of the top identifiers and observers of Quercus in California. We hope you take part in this project. Feel free to share this with other Naturalists who you think would like to participate and don't forget to Join and Trust our California OakWatch project.
@marivillasol @mera @hikingsandiego @graysquirrel @ekoberle @gyrrlfalcon @terrydad2 @wildmare64 @sweiser @silversea_starsong @cwbarrows @truthseqr @smfang @cedric_lee @snakeinmypocket @beartracker @edwardrooks @jrmorris @hfabian @finatic @glmory @leslie_flint @sea-kangaroo @gilbertj @alexbinck @clem @dackerly @jaykeller @leptonia @damontighe @lagoondon @kueda @catchang @dlevitis @diego4nature @avocat @mazer @leafybye @tiwane @yerbasanta @justin2 @spifferella @rbelshee @gheaton @garth_harwood @susanmf @abard @alejandrobrambila @fake_id @dgrimmphd @carlosd73 @susanbar @rmoger @ventanaphile @rebeccafay @docprt @awiese @c_michael_hogan @ronvanderhoff @marymchurchill @charlie @danieldas @eogren @lilredhen @georgeafghan @aigner @aaron_echols @manidae @metsa @cheonggaegori @direbecca @ipmteam @heatherstevens @milliebasden @natureali @serpophaga @browntrekker @dpom @goflowers @sandiegomike @vermfly @antrozousamelia @jrebman @carexobnupta @old-bean-adams @pgugger @grnleaf @alaynam @arboretum_amy @boschniakia @flower_prof @matt_g @nelruzam @sgene @lowlander @jprbelli @sapienshane @mickeylong @reodell @ahaislip @velodrome @fjgregory @tularosatabulator @cynestor @loarie @dcoopercem @kevinhintsa @electroencephalograph @sandy_b @tchester @clarkia11 @tmessick @fredwatson @euproserpinus @lilyboy @pleistocene @christinnew @jessblick @oaktopia @squirrelbait @kylenessen @paulexcoff @abcdefgewing @andyjones1 @morganstickrod @jellyfishww @mmarchiano @oxalismtp @jacquelinerose @sessilefielder @steve-beatty @ripple @bbunny @poa @oddirt @jlmartin @woolybear @keirmorse