Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution explains not only how creatures became good at securing food sources and surviving in the wilderness, but also how they produce the next generation. A good example of this, explains Anne T. and Robert M. Bass Professor of Natural Sciences Nathaniel T. Wheelwright, is the male wood frog, whose strong thumbs ensure he has a fighting chance when it comes to the mating game.

If you want to make your own natural history observations, The Naturalist’s Notebook (Storey Publishing, 2017) by Wheelwright and Research Associate in Biology Bernd Heinrich, provides guidance and a systematic format, with 100 percent of royalties going to conservation and environmental education.

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