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THIS WEEK IN
CALIFORNIA WILD

Summer 2005
Vol. 58:3

A loggerhead turtle, newly fitted with a satellite transmitter, is about to be released into the Bahia de Los Angeles, Sea of Cortez, Mexico.
photograph by Terri Garland

Departments
Life on the Edge
Over the Edge
Keith K. Howell

Horizons
The Americas' First Cities
Kathleen M. Wong

Habitats
Uncorking the Wild
Gordy Slack

Counterpoints in Science
Chocolate Rx
Jerold M. Lowenstein

Letters to the Editor
On Teaching Evolution
Gum Trees

Reviews
Jack Dumbacher
on Birdsong
Gail Hewson-Hull
on Vanilla
Adrian Barnett
on Extinct Parakeets and on Wolves
Kathleen M. Wong
on Food and Genes

Features
Chocolate Empires
Cacao served as tribute, currency, and sacrament in Mesoamerica for more than 2,000 years.
Dave Brian Butvill

The Chocolate Tree
Taming the cacao tree made the chocolate bar possible. But in the move from forest to farm, something critical to the plant's survival may have disappared.
Frank Almeda

The Myth of Sexual Selection
Most species come in several shades of gender. So why do so many believe the primary force behind evolution is sex?
Joan Roughgarden

The Accidental Reaper
Ravens follow humans into new habitats, endless appetites in tow.
Hugh Powell

In the Bay of Angels
Turtle fishermen turn conservationists.
Wallace J. Nichols with Carl Safina

Tortugueros Unite
Celebrating sea turtles in Baja.
Barbara D. Andrews

Circling Saturn
Cassini's view of the rings and moons.
Bing F. Quock

At Home in the
Natural World

Skyguide
The Milky Way Panorama
Bing F. Quock

Naturalist's Almanac
What to look for this Summer
David Lukas

In Pursuit of Science
Lessons in Leatherbacks
Dave Brian Butvill

Los Artículos en Español
Tortuga Cambiante
Pescadores de tortuga en Baja California se vuelven conservacionistas
Wallace J. Nichols y Carl Safina

Grupo Tortuguero
Rescatando a las Tortugas del desfiladero
Barbara D. Andrews

Not available online:
Here at the Academy
The Unblinking Eye of GORT

Phil Plait

Wild Lives
The Roadrunner
James W. Cornett