Observations, Refelctions and Identified Species

It's amazing how much an ecosystem can change in just a weeks time under close observation.  The first and most welcomed observation of my ecosystem was how few deer flies there are in the morning vs. at night.  During my observation last week around 7pm I was surrounded by deer flies dive bombing my head.  However, when out at 9am this morning I only came across one, which soon met it's demise after trying to bite my arm.  The banks of the swamp were littered with new footprints.  Last week I only saw the tracks of a small deer and what looked like the imprint of a large frog which were cleared away by Friday's rain.  This week I found the tracks of our neighborhood Great Blue Heron along with what looked like similar, but smaller tracks, perhaps those of a green heron.  

The prairie on the South side of the swamp has also undergone more changes than I would have imagined.  The cup plants that were hardly blooming last week are now plentiful in the prairie and near impossible to over look.  More prairie dock appears to have sprouted and bloomed as well, although still no where near that of the cup plants.  The showy tick trefoil that was abundant and blooming last week has now lost most of it flowers and beetle friends.  Many of these trefoils have started to sprout their pods, as can be seen in the week 2 picture.  The rain clearly impacted a number of the wild flowers and grasses that are bent, but still holding onto life.  The swamp milkweed that was so easy to overlook last week, is now in full bloom as well.

Week 2 Observation: Showy Tick Trefoil

Week 1 Observation: Showy Tick Trefoil

For my creative piece I chose look at bark and the different stages of life they can incur, with some focus on the varieties of lichen occupying them:

My ecosystem appears to be in the stages of secondary succession as soil is present and moist.  It is mostly dominated by biennials, perennials, woody shrubs and early sucessional tree species such as cottonwood and sumac.  My ecosystem could be subject to a couple of different disturbances, changing the current succession.  Flooding could cause a disturbance which would leave most (if not all) of the tree species in this location dead along with much of the other vegetation that while it like moist soils, will not survive in standing water.   Due to the close proximity of the South Kesling Prairie, my ecosystem could also be subject to fire, which would only temporarily disturb the area as many of the biennial and perennial wildflowers would being to re-emerge and some of the tree species are well resistant to fire.  Future sucessional changes could cause the swamp to fill in completely as trees and other forms of plant life die and sink to the bottom of the swamp.  In turn, after a log period of time this area could potentially become a bog.

Small White Cabbage Butterfly

Pieris rapae

Characteristics: Non-native butterfly species, named because larval stage feeds on members of cabbage family.  Caterpillars are green with faint yellow striping.  As an adult, this butterfly has a black body and white wings with black tips on forewings.  Females have two black spots on wings while males have only one.  Underside of wings appear yellowish-green.  Wingspan of 30-50mm.  Feeds on nectar of many plant varieties such as asters, dandelion, mint, mustard and red clover.  Can be found in numerous habitats with open space including prairies, garden and cities. 

Adaptations: White to yellowish-green color helps to make this butterfly inconspicuous to predators.  In the caterpillar stage, green bodies prevent predators from easily spotting them.

Source: Butterflies and Moths of North America | collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera. Butterflies and Moths of North America | collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera. Retrieved July 21, 2013, from http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Pieris-rapae

Spearmint

Mentha spicata

Characteristics:  Non-native herbaceous perennial.  Rhizomatous plant that typically grows 1-2ft high.  Leaves are opposite, toothed and stalkless (or nearly so).  Flowers grow in slender, interrupted spikes color ranging from lavender to pink to white.  Stem is square like other members of mint family and can be hairless to nearly hairless.  Attracts butterflies and is easily hybridized. 

Adaptations: Capable of adapting to wide range of soils, with exception of very dry soils.  Strong spearmint scent and taste makes it resistant to deer and rabbits.

Source: Mentha spicata Kentucky Colonel. (n.d.). Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved July 21, 2013, from http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/plant-finder/plant-details/kc/a244/mentha-spicata-kentucky-colonel.aspx 

Black Walnut

Juglans nigra

Characteristics:   Native, large deciduous tree achieving height of 70-100ft (150ft).  Leaves are pinnately compound with 7-17 narrow, toothed leaflets that are slightly hairy on underside.  Typically missing end leaflet, which helps to distinguish black walnuts from butternuts.  Crushed leaves produce spicy scent.  Leaf scars are large and lacking hair fringe, scars bundle in three groups.  True end buds are present and buds are whitish woolly.  Bark is dark grey-black, deeply grooved forming diamond like pattern.  Flowers in spring (April-June) with female flowers giving way to edible fruits.  Fruits are large spherical nuts with green husk that blackens in autumn as the husk rots away.  Prefers moist, rich, well drained soils in full sun.

Adaptations: Well adapted to fire.  Thick bark and durable heartwood of mature trees make it relatively resistant to damage and decay following fire.

Sources: Petrides, G. A. (1972). A field guide to trees and shrubs; field marks of all trees, shrubs, and woody vines that grow wild in the northeastern and north-central United States and in southeastern and south-central Canada, (2d ed.). Boston: Houghton Mifflin.; Juglans nigra. (n.d.). US Forest Service - Caring for the land and serving people.. Retrieved July 21, 2013, from http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/tree/jugnig/all.html

Allegheny Monkey Flower

Mimulus ringens

Characteristics: Native, upright perennial which is rhizomatous.  Violet or pinkish flowers about 1in long, lower lip with three wide spreading lobes; snapdragon-like flower.  Grows 1-3ft high on square stem.  Leaves are opposite, toothed and stalkless.  Flower stalk is longer than calyx.   Can be found in swamps, wet meadows, pond/streambanks and low woods.

Adaptions: Due to the numerous species of monkey flower, localized adaptations are likely to occur.  Coastal varieties have shown to be tolerant of salt and copper accumulation.  While red and yellow variations attract different pollinators such as hummingbirds, this purple variety has adapted to butterfly and bee pollination.  Additional adaptations include compact architecture with short internodes.

Sources: Mimulus ringens. (n.d.). Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved July 21, 2013, from http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/plant-finder/plant-details/kc/z410/mimulus-ringens.asp; Common monkey-flower. (n.d.). Plant Rhizomes. Retrieved July 21, 2013, from http://www.plantrhizome.org/species/monkey.html; Mimulus ringens var. colophilus. (n.d.). Center for Plant Conservation. Retrieved July 21, 2013, from www.centerforplantconservation.org/Collection/CPC_ViewProfile.asp?CPCNum=2856