Another day in the swamp...

The Canadian geese that were present last week appear to have gone elsewhere, although their scat still remains along the shores.  My hypothesis from last week that they were deterring many of the other birds from being present in the swamp seems all the more likely as the birds were plentiful while I was out.  Within the span of about 5 minutes I managed to sneak up on a green and blue heron while making my way to the south side of the swamp.  Once there I found a magnificent blue-grey feather of the great blue heron over a foot in length and wondered what caused it to lose that feather.  It was strange to see the two of these herons along the swamp simultaneously as it is usually only one or the other that make themselves known.  As can be seen from my picture, the green heron is no more easily capture by photo than the blue, a frustrating fact that I am starting to come to terms with.

The frogs were not as plentiful this week, although I did still kick up a few that got away faster than I could figure out what they were.  The trail has reverted back to what I know as it's original state with far less grassy debris, it's amazing how quickly the bulk of it dispersed.  However, a plethora of cup plants are still holding on for dear life after being trampled by the mower, some more so than others.  It's rather amazing that they're able to survive at all given the damage that some of them have taken to their stems.

The plants of my ecosystem have adapted a number of techniques to ensure survival during the winter.  Deciduous trees such as the red maple, basswood, black walnut and chinquapin oak have developed the strategy of shedding their leaves in the fall to conserve energy during the winter.  This process begins with the leaves developing a corky layer at their base, preventing water from entering the leaves.  As the chlorophyll disappears, the leaves turn their red, orange or yellow colors before eventually falling off completely.  In doing this they are able to conserve energy and focus on using stored energy in their roots for survival. (Source: Wildlife in Winter - Adaptations for Survival :: Environmental Facts :: Young People's Trust for the Environment. (n.d.). Young People's Trust for the Environment - Information for kids on the environment, climate change and wildlife. Retrieved August 7, 2013, from http://www.ypte.org.uk/environmental/wildlife-in-winter-adaptations-for-survival/11)

Flowers have different means of survival during the winter which differs between perennials, biennials and annuals.  Perennials such as cone flowers, spearmint and monkey flowers are capable of surviving due to entering a resting stage during the winter in which they form small low-lying rosettes or transition to below ground structures.  This allows them to store nutrients and water even in the coldest temperatures.  These plants acclimate to their resting periods during the fall while undergoing "winter hardening".  During this process water is pumped out of cells while carbohydrates are accumulated and stored. (Source: Northern latitude plant adaptations allow for winter survival. (n.d.). Penisula Clarion. Retrieved August 7, 2013, from peninsulaclarion.com/stories/122305/outdoors_1223out002.shtm)

Red Milkweed Beetle

Tetraopes tetrophthalmus

Characteristics: Longhorn beetle with red-orange base and black spots.  Red, black coloring is aposematic, advertising it's in-edibility to predators.  This beetle has 4 eyes, one pair situated above the long antennae and the other below.  The un-ringed antennae are distinctive to this species.  Typically, these beetles are host specific to milkweeds incorporating the toxins during early instar becoming distasteful to predators.  Favors prairies and roadsides, but can be found where ever host plant is present.

Adaptations: One of it's most obvious adaptations is the development of two pairs of eyes.  This adaptation allows the beetle to see what is above and below him, making him more weary of lurking predators.  Another important adaptation is it's specificity in plats of the milkweed family.  As milkweed is abundant around the Kesling swamp, this species has no difficultly finding food.  With milkweed consumption during early instar stages, this species is able to use the toxins of the milkweed to its advantage.

Source: " Species Tetraopes tetrophthalmus - Red Milkweed Beetle - BugGuide.Net ." Welcome to BugGuide.Net! - BugGuide.Net . N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Aug. 2013. <http://bugguide.net/node/view/2966>.

Thin-leaved Coneflower or Brown-eyed Susan

 Rudbeckia triloba

Characteristics: Native biennial or perennial that can grow up to
 5' tall, but typically 3'.  Densely branching stems that are red in color, with white hairs near upper section of stem.  Leaves thin and rough on both sides.  Upper leaves with few teeth, smaller and stalkless.  Lower leaves up to 6" long with 3 lobes, course teeth and long stalk.  Flower head 1-2" with purplish brown central disk, yellow petals.  Can be distinguished from a Black-eyed Susan by a more profuse bloom of smaller flowers, typically with fewer rays per flower head.
Adaptations:  This flower is capable of growing in many conditions, although does best in moist, well drained soils free of shade, which makes the Kesling swamp and ideal location for growth.  It is also somewhat tolerant of drought.  It is also tolerant of deer due to its unpleasant taste.
Souce: Rudbeckia triloba. (n.d.). Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved August 7, 2013, from http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/plant-finder/plant-details/kc/b937/rudbeckia-triloba.aspx

American Basswood

Tilia americana

Characteristics: Native, large deciduous tree.  Bark is dark and shallowly grooved when mature, often greyish, smooth near top.  Leaves are alternate, heart shaped, uneven at base and finely toothed.  Buds green to bright red with only 2-3 visible bud scales.  Clear sap with moderate amounts of sugar.  Very unique fruits that form small nutlets clustered beneath large, leafy wings attached to leaf.  Wood easily decays forming cavities which become home to cavity nesting animals like wood ducks, pileated woodpeckers and other small mammals.

Adaptations: Capable of forming large, deep roots allowing for more absorption of water and nutrients.  Grows best in rich, mesic soils making the Kesling swamp an ideal location for water, nutrients and in turn growth.  

Source: Plant Guide. (n.d.). American Basswood. Retrieved August 7, 2013, from plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/cs_tiama.pdf 

Green Heron

Butorides virescens 

Small figure flying away in center.

Characteristics: A small, stocky heron about the size of a large crow, 1 1/2-2" in length.  Short yellow or orange legs and thick necks.  Deep green-grey or blue-grey color on back with rust colored breast and neck.  Dark head with small black crown feathers, sometimes raised into a crest and sharp, daggerlike bill.  Juveniles are more brown with pale streaking on neck and sides.  Unlike larger herons, do not often wade while hunting.  They will remain motionless along waters edge, typically on solid ground of vegetation, while they hunt for fish or amphibians.  Favor wooded wetland areas.

More detailed photo, Wikipedia.

Adaptations: Long legs developed for wading through shallow waders.  Bright orange or yellow color of legs believed to have adapted to attract fish.  The long, daggerlike bill is ideal for catching and controlling large prey.  Their acute vision greatly aids in capturing prey.  While hunting, they remain crouched with neck retracted, swiftly elongating it when capturing prey.

Source:   Green Heron, Identification, All About Birds - Cornell Lab of Ornithology. (n.d.). Your online guide to birds and bird watching. Retrieved August 7, 2013, from http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/green_heron/id; UWL Website. (n.d.). BioWeb Home. Retrieved August 7, 2013, from http://bioweb.uwlax.edu/bio203/2010/ausloos_jane/adaptation.htm

For my creative piece I dedicded to look at pollinators of the South Kesling swamp...