University of California
Tecopa’s Endangered Voles Tell a Water Story Written in DNA
A University of California research team found in 2016 that Tecopa’s California vole—Microtus californicus scirpensis—is one of the most genetically unique animals in the Mojave Desert, and that its survival depends on something deceptively simple: keeping local springs wet. The study, conducted by biologists from UC Berkeley and other institutions, used DNA samples to map how voles…
House Mice Bring Hidden Parasite Threat to Endangered Amargosa Voles in Tecopa
Welcome to our new science section — a weekly dive into the research shaping our understanding of the Amargosa Basin and the desert communities that call it home. Every Friday we will post a relevant article distilling peer-reviewed studies, field reports, and academic findings into clear, locally relevant stories about Tecopa’s ecology, geology, climate, and history. From…