Prairie Dock
Silphium terbinthinaceum
Adaptations: Primarily attracts long tongued bees including honeybees, bumblebees and Miner bees. Other visitors include Ruby-throated hummingbirds, bee flies and Halictine bees. Prairie cicada (Okanagana balli) feed on large taproot and emerge mid-summer. Both larva and adult
Silphium Beetle (Rynchites) feed on stem and flowerheads. Larvae of Antistrophus rufus and Antistrophus minor (Gall Wasp spp.) feed on the flowering stem of Prairie Dock, forming invisible galls. Larvae of these species attract the hyperparasitic wasp (Eurytoma lutea) whose larvae feed on these gall-formers. The larvae of Tumbling Flower beetle (Mordellistena aethiops) also feed within the stem, while the adults feed on the flowerheads. Goldfinches eat the seeds, and may help to disperse them. Large mammalian herbivores, such as cattle and the American Bison, readily eat the foliage and stems of Prairie Dock; however, the coarse sandpapery leaves of mature plants are not attractive to the Cottontail Rabbit, which prefers vegetation that is shorter and more tender.
Source: Prairie Dock (Silphium terebinthinaceum). (n.d.). Illinois Wildflowers. Retrieved July 16, 2013, from http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/pr_dockx.htm
Gray-headed Coneflower
Ratibida pinnata
Characteristics: Native herbaceous perennial, 3-5ft high. Composite flower with long and narrow rays, strongly dropping. Larger leaves pinnately divided into 3-7 lance-shaped, toothed leaflets. Disk a grey or brown knob, anise-scented when bruised and longer than wide. Found in prairies, thickets, and boarders of woods, summer and fall. Grows best in sandy, loamy soils under medium moisture to dry conditions.
Adaptations: Like many prairie species, highly fire tolerant. Seeds are most active after fire and soil conditions seem to accelerate germination. Large rhizomous root system good at accumulating even minor amount of moisture making this species drought tolerant as well. Small hairs and bumps on leaves help funnel dew and other moisture down to plant. Propagation from seeds or rhizomes gives coneflower two reproductive options.
Source: Grant, B. (n.d.). Grey-Headed Coneflower Adaptations | eHow. eHow | How to Videos, Articles & More - Discover the expert in you.. Retrieved July 16, 2013, from http://www.ehow.com/info_7902536_greyheaded-coneflower-adaptations.html
Chinquapin Oak
Quercus muhlenbergii
Characteristics: Native deciduous tree of the Beech family. Medium sized with leaves containing 8-13 pairs of sharp teeth. Twigs, buds, and acorn cups resemble those of Chestnut Oak, however bark is light grey and flakey, not rigid. Does best in moist, well drained, rich, alkaline soil. Climax tree in dry soils. Moderately shade tolerant when you, intolerant as adults. Leaves 4-9in. Height 20-50ft (160ft). Diameter 6-24in (4ft).
Adaptations: Sprouts readily after disturbances. Fairly drought tolerant.
Source: Quercus muehlenbergii. (n.d.). US Forest Service - Caring for the land and serving people.. Retrieved July 16, 2013, from http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/tree/quemue/all.html
American Bullfrog
Rana catesbeiana
Characteristics: Largest of all North American frogs, can grow up to 8in and weigh more than 1.5lbs (adult females typically larger than male counterparts). Most wide ranging of N.A. amphibians with lifespan of 7-9yrs. Typically green or grey-brown with brown spots. Easily identifiable circular eardrums on either sides of head. Nocturnal predators that will feed on insects, mice, fish, birds and snakes. Group name army or colony. Female can lay upwards of 20,000 eggs.
Adaptations: Green/brown color makes location difficult for predators to distinguish. Hind legs can reach length of 7-10in making bullfrogs excellent jumpers and are capable of jumping 9x its body length. This allows them greater escape from predators, while also enhancing their predation. Teeth on roof of mouth and strong tongue assist in catching prey. Well developed eyes can see in all directions. Are able to distinguish color and have depth perception. Able to breath through skin and excrete toxins through glands when threatened.
Sources: American Bullfrogs, American Bullfrog Pictures, American Bullfrog Facts - National Geographic. (n.d.). Animals - Animal Pictures - Wild Animal Facts - Nat Geo Wild - National Geographic. Retrieved July 16, 2013, from http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/amphibians/american-bullfrog; UWL Website. (n.d.). BioWeb Home. Retrieved July 16, 2013, from http://bioweb.uwlax.edu/bio203/2010/schams_kell/adaptation.htm
My ecosystem is located on the South end of the Kesling swamp, between that and the South Kesling meadow. This being a restored wetland, it is still going through successional stages. What initially drew me to this location was the Great Blue Heron perched on decaying trees within the swamp. Naturally, upon starting my observations of the area for my blog, it was nowhere to be found. Although, what I did find this time was a flock of Canadian geese that didn't want to pose nicely for me. My first couple times around the swamp I was drawn to this area for the shade and moist soils that were nice for running, this being before I had even explored the shorter trails running closer to the swamp. Wondering down those trails and along the swamp edge I was able to turn up numerous frogs and catch glimpses of water snakes.
ReplyDeleteUpon visiting my ecosystem to being this blog, the wildlife has been much more illusive. While there are just as many, if not more frogs, I am much slower than them, resulting in their hopping away before I can identify them. I observed minimal changes in the area, but two that were distinguishable. My first observation was the presence of tire tracks on wetter portions of the trail. Second, the demise of a few wild flowers and smaller bushy shrubs that looks as though they took a beating in previous rains. This time around I noticed a number of different tree species, many Oak, that had not resonated with me when going by in the past. Although not within the swamp, a small prairie area exists between the main trail and small subsets. This area dominated mostly by grasses, sedges and perennials.
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