It is a beautiful morning in the swamp, hardly a cloud in the sky. The air is warm and the ground is damp from last nights dew. The position of the early morning sun perfectly hits the spiderwebs that have been constructed along the trails edges. The air hums with bees and other pollinators which seem to be particularly active, two of which I identified and had not seen in my ecosystem previously! The birds and frog were also quite alive in the swamp and all too quick for my slow hand. One little leopard frog was the exception to this. I had not seen him as I made my way around the swamp until hearing something rustle what seemed to be between my feet, and then not one, but two slimy thuds into my leg. I caught him after the second time and he sat in my hand for what seems like minutes, perhaps dazed from the impact.
Much of the vegetation near the trails edges is still attempting to hold on to life after the disturbance of the lawn mower a few weeks back. It is amazing that some of these plants stems are parallel to the ground with the flower head perched up at a 90 degree angle to get the most from the sunlight. The prairie docks are as tall as ever, achieving heights that make them look like something out of Dr. Seuss. Much of this prairie area is blooming in yellow as most of the purple petals of monarda have fallen, but big bluestem has taken place as the dominant cool color. Many of the grasses are in bloom, showing of their tiny, yet brightly colored flowers.
While native species in my ecosystem appear to out number those invasive and non-native species, there are still a number that are present here. The most recognizable invasive is autumn olive which is occurring in numerous spots along the waters edge, although mostly small in size. This invasive is capable of growing in poor soil conditions, especially in disturbed areas. Has direct effects on the nitrogen cycle which can adversely effect native species. Autumn olive is capable of "chocking out" other species and suppressing sunlight for those species that require it be direct. Queen Anne's lace is also present in some sections of the swamp, but not in high quantities. As this is just a non-native species and it's populations appear to be under control, I do not suspect that this has any negative effects on surrounding species. While I was unable to find evidence of garlic mustard, I do believe it is something I saw near the southern wooded edge of the swamp. Like autumn olive, garlic mustard is capable of "choking out" native herbaceous species and altering the habitat of many native insects, thereby effecting bird and mammal populations. Another common invasive in my ecosystem is the Japanese beetle, which are very difficult and expensive to control. These beetles can be extremely detrimental to many types of vegetation from grasses to flowers to crops.
Sources: Garlic mustard - Invasive species: Minnesota DNR. (n.d.). Minnesota Department of Natural Resources: Minnesota DNR. Retrieved August 12, 2013, from http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/terrestrialplants/herbaceous/garlicmustard.htm; Invasive Plant Species Fact Sheet. (n.d.). Autumn Olive. Retrieved August 12, 2013, from www.in.gov/dnr/files/Autumn_Olive.pd; USDA - APHIS - Plant Health, Plant Protection and Quarantine. (n.d.). USDA - APHIS. Retrieved August 13, 2013, from http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/plant_pest_info/jb/
For my creative piece I chose to do a collage representation of my ecosystem using plants found in my ecosystem (with kudos to Lisa M. for coming up with this in Jonathon's class):
Monarch Butterfly
Danaidae danaus
Characteristics: One of the most commonly known butterflies to North America, the monarch has a wingspan of 3-5" Wings are reddish-orange with black vein like markings and white spots along boarders. Males and females similar in appearance with males being slightly larger and females with thicker black veins. Body is black with circular white spots. Can be distinguished from its mimic viceroy species by black stripes across their hind wing (viceroy has an extra black stripe). Monarchs feed only on milkweeds as larva, nectar from many flowers as adults. Only butterfly that migrates north to south regularly, south in the fall and north in the spring. Life span of a monarch depends on which generation they were born: first three generations like 2-6 weeks while fourth can live up to eight months as they are the generation that begins migration. Their ability to store fat allows them to survive the long trip south and duration of the winter. During the first 5 months of their southern migration, remain mostly still in dense clusters, by mid-February they begin to disperse to gather nectar for their trip north.
Adaptations: Bright red-orange color on the monarch provides warning to predators that it is not a tasty meal. Alkaloids obtained from their milkweed diet in the larval stage gives it an unpleasant taste, providing efficient protection from predators. Due to the vast presence of of milkweed in the Kesling swamp, this is an ideal location for monarchs to lay eggs. Migration allows for continued generations through the cold winter months they would otherwise not survive.
Source: Life Span of a Monarch Butterfly.Monarch Butterfly Site: Life Cycle, Migration, Pictures, News, More!. Retrieved August 11, 2013, from http://www.monarch-butterfly.com/life-span.htm; Monarch Butterfly - Danaus plexippus - NatureWorks. (n.d.). New Hampshire Public Television - Engage. Connect. Celebrate.. Retrieved August 11, 2013, from http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/monarch.htm (n.d.).
American Hazelnut
Corylus americana
Characteristics: Native perennial shrub reaching 8-16' tall that forms in colonial thickets. Leaves are alternate, broadly oval with heart-shaped or rounded base, doubly toothed and hairy beneath. Multi-stemmed with rounded brown-gray twigs. Both male and female parts flower in spring with males producing a 2-3" long yellow-brown catskin, and females a small, reddish catskin. Female flower give way to edible nuts encased in a green husk with ragged edged bracts.
Adaptions: Capable of surviving in numerous environments, but does best in rich, well drained soils. Can be found in dry or moist thickets, woodlands/margins, prairies, streamsides and roadsides. It's location in the Kesling wetland between the swamp and prairie provide optimal growing conditions. A very hardy winter plant and capable of broad climatic adaptation.
Source: Corylus americana. (n.d.). Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved
August 11, 2013, from
http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/plant-finder/plant-details/kc/c350/corylus-americana.aspx; Plant Guide. Retrieved August 11, 2013, from plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/pg_coam3.pdf
American Hazlenut. (n.d.).
Switchgrass
Panicum virgatum
Characteristics: Native perennial grass that grows 2-6" tall. Thick, rounded, columnar form which can have red to straw tint. Leaves are medium sized, green fading to yellow in autumn and beige in winter. During mid-summer produces flowering panicles which are finely textured and tinged with tiny pink flowers. Panicles turn beige as seeds mature into fall with seeds persisting through into winter, providing a valuable food source for birds.
Adaptations: Various climatic adaptations allow for this grass to grow naturally in prairies, open oak, pine woodlands, shores, riverbanks and marshes. Does best in deep soils ranging from dry to poorly drained, and sandy to clay loam soils. These adaptations allow for its occurrence within the Kesling wetland.
Source: Panicum virgatum. (n.d.). Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved
August 11, 2013, from
http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/plant-finder/plant-details/kc/l460/panicum-virgatum.aspx
Red-Spotted Purple
Limenitis arthemis
Characteristics: This butterfly of the Nymphalidae family has 4 known subspecies with wingspans ranging 2-4". These species will often hybridize, creating variations in pattern and color. The astyanax subspecies which I believe I found has a mostly blue, black upperside with brownish coloration on forewing. Some also have red-orange to brown bars near the base of leading edge. Brightest blue and somewhat iridescence can be seen on hindwings. Typically found ini deciduous or mixed forests, moist uplands, valley bottoms and coastal plains. It is a mimic of the poisonous Pipevine Swallowtail. Caterpillar host on a variety of trees and shrubs including aspen, poplar, cottonwood, oak, wild cherry and hawthorn.
Adaptations: Like the viceroy, this butterfly has adapted to mimic its poisonous counterpart, the Pipevine Swallowtail. Adaptions to food sources allow this species to survive under many different conditions. Kesling swamp is an ideal location for females to lay eggs considering the wealth of species in the area caterpillars can feed on: cottonwood, oak, basswood and willows specifically in this area that I have recognized.
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 August 11, 2013, from http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Limenitis-arthemis
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