Beauty All Around

Observations:

As I drive up to Merry Lea property from my hometown of Uniondale, I have a long time to reflect on the landscape around me as I drive. As of most of Indiana, I grew up in what is considered rural country, or better yet in farm fields. I drive up State Road 9, all along the drive I am surrounded by field corn, soybeans, wheat, and hay fields. I realize that at one time the land was covered by an immense forest, but there is great beauty in the fields.  I can look out across the vast rolling hills and see miles upon miles of bean plants swaying in the gentle breeze, puppets to the winds' commands. I can drive down a country road in the evening, both sides of the road lines with corn, the sweet aroma of fresh fallen dew mixed with that of the corn and the coolness of the evening. It is a different love that I have for the place I am from, the place I was raised.  Even though it is not “natural”, the fields are something that I have grown to love.

On the other hand, there is the forest, a place all of its own, a place that I will spend my entire life exploring and observing, all the while probably only identifying a glimpse of species. Today, I go back out into my lowland forest for observations; I see change once again. I notice that there are flowers beginning to bloom along the edge of the lowland forest, flowers such as the goldenrod. I also notice that many flowers in the forest are preparing to bloom and eventually spread their seeds for next year’s growth. It is especially hot today, compared to times in the past that I observed, the sun is bright and there is a gentle breeze. The temperature is in the low eighties and I have a strange felling and I walk along the edge of the forest, I see the goldenrods in bloom and it makes me think of how fall is just around the corner. I can't help but wish that summer could be longer, but the fall is my favorite time of the year. The cooler temperatures bring a change to the forest that I long to see every year and that it the changing of the color of the leaves.

New Species:

Swamp White Oak
(Quercus bicolor)

The swamp white oak is a medium to large tree, with broad, lobed leaves. The leaves of the tree are alternate and simple on the twig, broadly ovate with rounded toothed edges and the tops are dark green, with the underside being white. In the autumn, the leaves will turn a yellow-brown. The bark of the swamp white oak is dark gray-brown and deeply fissured on larger trees. 

 The fruit of the swamp white oak is an acorn that matures in a year, this is a nut with a long stalk and has a hairy cup that covers the top of the nut. These acorns are a good food source for wildlife. The swamp white oak is commonly found in bottom land woods and upland wet forests, this is why I am able to find it in my ecosystem. 

 
Jackson, M. T. (2003). 101 Trees of Indiana (pp. 208-209). Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press.

Swamp Goldenrod
(Solidago patula)

This goldenrod is hard to identify due to the fact that there are several goldenrods that grow in the Merry Lea area, I was able to narrow down to the species with help of the surrounding environment. The swamp goldenrod is a perennial wildflower that can vary from two feet to six feet tall, with a hairless stem. The leaves are alternate along the entire stem, but the closer to the top, it is hard to notice the alternating leaves. The leaves are finely toothed and have a ovate shaped, they also are longer and narrow. 

 The flower heads stem from the central stem, composed of long primary braches that are covered with clusters of erect flower heads. They are a yellow or golden color and this is how the goldenrods’ received their name. The swamp golden rod prefers partial sun to light shade, wet to constantly moist soils that consist of loam and sandy loam, with a large amount of organic matter. I am able to find this species of goldenrod in the lowland forest because of the loamy soil and the heavy amount of organic matter, along with wet soils.

Swamp Goldenrod. (n.d.). In Illinois Wildflowers. Retrieved August 17, 2014, from http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/wetland/plants/sw_goldenrod

.html

Boneset
(Eupatorium perfoliatum )

Boneset is a common perennial that is native to eastern United States, they commonly are found in damp environments, in marshes, meadows and along wooded areas. I was able to find this flowering plant along the edge of the lowland forest, here the soil was still very moist and offered shade to the boneset. They can reach a height of five feet, but are most commonly around two feet in height. The most interesting feature of the boneset is that the leaves are opposite of each other and are connected. The leaves are long, spear shaped, finely toothed and the lower leaves are very large and gradually get smaller going upward. The boneset blooms between July and September, with large, numerous white flowers in clusters. The boneset also has a faint aroma and a bitter taste.

Boneset. (2005). In Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine. Retrieved August 17, 2014, from http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Boneset.aspx

Jumpseed
(Persicaria virginiana)

The flowers are broad, around six inches long and three inches wide, rounded at the base and come to a sharp point at the tip. The leaves grow on a short stem and are a vibrant green, usually hairy on both sides, but the underside may be hairless. The flowers are sparsely arranged, in a spike-like raceme pattern, ranging from four to sixteen inches long. Individually, the flowers are white to greenish white, an eighth of an inch long with four pointed-tip petals. The fruit is an oval shape and when the seed ripens, it jumps off of the stem with the slightest touch; this is how it received its name. It is commonly found in wet to moist soils and I am able to find this plant in the lowland forest because of the most, organically rich soil.

Chayka, K. (2014). Jumpseed. In Minnesota Wildflowers. Retrieved August 17, 2014, from http://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/flower/jumpseed

Question:

When observing the lowland forest, I notice how every single organism works together allowing the forest to function, each organism is like a puzzle piece in a giant puzzle and has a perfect fit. If just one piece went missing from the puzzle, then it would not be completed, it may still look good, but people notice a missing piece. It there are several pieces missing, then the puzzle begins to look very poor and it is not very appealing to the eye. I view global climate change as a possible thief of a puzzle piece from the giant puzzle. In this case, I will look at the lowland forest, there are hundreds of scenarios that could play out with global climate change, I want to cover two simple possibilities. 

 The first possibility is that the temperature increases in the lowland forest, this would cause major change because the land could go from being very moist to dry, new species would take over as species that counted on heavy water for survival begin to die of thirst. No longer would there be frogs in abundance, laying eggs and filling the spring evenings with their sounds. The land would most likely give way to a drier, Oak-Hickory forest and the landscape would change drastically.

On the opposite side, the temperature could decrease, leaving the area cooler with more rainfall and less evaporation.  In this case, the area would turn into a wetland or a swampy area. All the trees and plants that now exist would be drowned because they are not equipped to breathe underwater. Most trees that survive in water have root nodules or “knees” that allow the tree to breath. New species would enter the area and take over, changing the entire landscape and look of the lowland forest. In either scenario, global climate change can have a drastically negative effect on the lowland forest and the entire Merry Lea property.  It will lead to changes that we as humans will not be able to completely predict and that could also change our livelihoods.

Global Climate Change Indicators. (n.d.). In NOAA. Retrieved August 17, 2014, from http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/indicators/

Creative Piece:

An Acrostic Poem

Lowland Forest

Little saplings all around
Overbearing trees that shade the ground
Wet soil that smells rotten
Long walks that lead to escape from reality
Appearances may be deceiving
No two visits can be the same
Diverging paths lead to new discoveries

Ferns at every turn
Open skies where trees have died
Rotting logs that soon return to the soil
Entertaining creatures all around
Surely the best place of all
Towering trees to small plants, the lowland forest is where it’s at

Preparation for the Upcoming Winter

Observations:

Today I go back out into the lowland forest once again for observations as well as to identify new species for this week. I walk deep into the forest, noticing small changes all around me as I walk deeper and deeper. I really like walking as deep as I can into the lowland forest in order to get a full view of all forms of life and death. Today I notice something that hasn’t been there before;

a few plants are beginning to change. It could be for one of two reasons, one is that there haven’t been extensive amounts of rain and the plants may be conserving water due to the higher temperatures lately. The other reason may be that select plants are already preparing for fall and winter this year. One plant that I notice on my walk to the lowland forest is a May Apple; it is brown and dying, in preparation for the harsh winter to come. This is the first plant species that I have noticed preparing, soon many others will follow suite.

As I walk towards the forest, I hear a few animal species that I can’t get a good picture of, but their sounds are distinct. I hear a loud thumping on a tree high up, tap, tap, tap. This sound grows louder as I come closer to the tree, it is a dead ash tree, and up towards the top, I am able to spot a Downy Woodpecker. I try to get a good photo of the woodpecker, but I almost get a clear picture. The other animal that I saw and heard in the lowland forest is a Fox squirrel; it is running from tree top to treetop, in search of food. I watch as the squirrel grabs food and would run to another area in search of more food. The lowland forest is alive with the hustle and bustle of the last full weeks of summer, as the plants and animals are beginning to prepare for the upcoming winter.

New Species:

Downy Woodpecker

(Picoides pubescens)

The downy woodpecker is smaller than most woodpeckers of the area, they have a strait, chisel-like bill, a block like head with wide shoulders and leans on its tail feathers while pecking at a tree. The bill tends to be smaller than most woodpeckers in this area. It has a checkered black and white pattern, the upper parts are black and checkered on the wings. The back of the bird has a white stripe that runs down the center and the males had a red batch on the back of the head. In the summer you can clearly hear the downy woodpecker because it makes lots of noise with its high pitch shrill and the drumming rhythm on the tree. The most common habitat for the woodpecker is in woodlands, particularly among deciduous trees and along bushy or weedy areas. It is not common to find the woodpecker in the lowland forest, but I spotted this woodpecker along the edge of the lowland forest as I entered I looked up and found the woodpecker. 

Downy Woodpecker. (2014). In The Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Retrieved August 10, 2014, from http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/downy_woodpecker/id

A downy woodpecker, picture provided by: http://windsor.towns.pressdemocrat.com/2012/04/news/fast-class-windsors-birds/attachment/downy_woodpecker-male/

Fox Squirrel

(Sciurus niger)

The fox squirrel is found throughout the eastern and central United states, it can be found into Mexico and up into Canada. Fox squirrels are like other tree squirrels, they use the trees for escaping from predators, and they are fast and agile in the trees. The squirrels escape from predators on the ground and from birds of prey. They are medium-sized tree squirrels, they have an orange color, especially the tail. The tail is well furred and they often develop tufts on the ears in the winter. They have special adaptations for climbing, sharp recurved claws, well developed extensors and abdominal musculature, this allows them to jump from tree to tree so quickly and with precision. The average lifespan is eight to eighteen years long. Fox squirrels 

have a wide variety of food choice, they eat vegetables, insects, bird eggs, dead fish, nuts from trees and they are known for caching seeds away for the winter months. Squirrels in general play a large role in the ecosystem in which they inhabit, mainly because they will cache seeds for later use in the winter, but most of the time they either can’t find the seeds when they need them or they forget where they are located. In the spring, the seeds will sprout in the location that the squirrels stashed them. This is how some tree spread, by the squirrels carrying their seeds to a different location and planting them in a sense. Fox squirrels are found is diverse array of deciduous and mixed forests, areas with a good variety of trees and large masting of seeds. I was able to spot the fox squirrel in the lowland forest because of these very reasons. 

Fox squirrel picture provided by: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tulsa_Fox_Squirrel.jpg

Fahey, B. (n.d.). Sciurus niger. In National Science Foundation. Retrieved August 10, 2014, from http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Sciurus_niger/

Northern Leopard Frog

(Rana pipiens)

This frog is most noted by the dark spots on the backs, especially on the hind legs. The spots are mostly larger than the eyes; they have dark spots on snouts and can vary from green, tan to brown. The bellies of the northern leopard frogs are white and are slender with a narrow head. The frog can be heard deep into the forest, by a deep rattling snore that can last two to three seconds, followed by a chuckling with a heavy creaking door sound. The northern leopard frog is difficult to distinguish from southern frogs, unless they are heard at the same time. The northern leopard ranges from the north, to extreme southeastern part of the state and this species is of special concern. 

 They tend to eat insects, insect larvae, spiders, slugs, snails and earthworms, the large adults eat other frogs. They are very common in marshes, bogs, moist fields, lakes and ponds, also in areas surrounded by wet meadows. In addition, the frogs tend to breed in the same areas and the breeding season is in mid-march to May. The females can lie between three and five thousand eggs at one time, laid in shallow water and hatch in one to two weeks. The tad poles vary from olive brown to green with dark spots and the tail is transparent with dark lines. This frog was spotted in the lowland forest because in the spring it has standing water, it is very wet and is commonly found in the lowland forest. Northern

Leopard Frog . (n.d.). In Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved August 10, 2014, from http://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/3335.htm

Green Ash

(Fraxinus pennsylvanica)



The green ash is a medium sized tree, usually with straight trunks and at the base, it can sometimes have a swollen look. The leaves of the green ash are oppositely compounded, with a seven to nine ladder like lance shaped leaflets. The leaves are toothed to smooth edges, being green and hairless on both sides. The bark is 

a light brown to medium gray; it can sometimes be flat or have shallow fissures. The fruit of the green ash are clustered on hairy stalks, they are narrow, paddle like and are single winged and are scattered by the wind. The typical habitat for the green ash is moist bottomland forests and moist upland forest. It can be commonly found in the lowland forest due to the heavy amounts of moisture.

Question:

In the lowland forest, there is one aspect of the forest that I noticed from the very first time that I explored the area of stud, was the almost complete death of all ash trees present. The ash trees are attacked by a 

beetle called the Emerald Ash Borer. It is invasive exotic betel, not only invasive to lowland forests of this area, but it is spreading to all the ash trees across the country at alarming rates. It was first discovered in 2002 in southeastern Michigan, near Detroit and in northern Indiana in 2004. It has killed tens of millions of ash trees in Michigan, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Iowa, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and has traveled into Canada. This beetle as an adult does little damage to the foliage of the tree, but its’ larvae is the most damaging. The beetles hatch beneath the bark of the tree and slowly eat the pre-cambium layer of the tree, causing the tree to lose the ability to transport water and nutrients. In essences, it is starving the tree to death. The picture featured to the left shows the areas of where the Emerald Ash Borer has been officially documented since 2002 (Emerald Ash Borer).

In addition to the Emerald Ash borer, I have spotted other invasive or non-native species to the lowland forest. One invasive species that can be found almost anywhere on the property at Merry Lea is the Japanese beetle. On the other hand, there is a non-native species that can be found in the lowland forest, it is the bush honeysuckle. There is a non-native species of honeysuckle that I can see if I walk into the woods and walk along an old fence line where there used to be a distinct edge. I can find this plant located here because bush honeysuckle grows from six to twenty feet tall, it is deciduous with opposite, entire leaves and the older branches are hollow, commonly found along fence rows. The main spread of the bush honeysuckle comes from bird’s excrement, so it is understandable those is commonly found along fence row and open areas where birds perch and rest. In addition to being found along fence rows, it thrives in wetlands and forested communities (Bush Honeysuckles).

There are problems that arise with invasive and non-native species growing and being introduced into the lowland forest. One main problem is that these plants, animals, or insects can take over with no predator to slow the spread of the invasive or non-native species and this can lead to a decline in biodiversity. This is a key for keeping a healthy ecosystem, in this case, the lowland forest. If the emerald ash bore wipes out all of the ash trees in the lowland forest, then what will takes its place? The ash tree composes some forty percent of the lowland canopy. If the canopy suddenly has huge gaps, then this might allow for more non-native and invasive species to thrive. With this happening, the entire structure of the forest may change and could potentialally set back natural succession or even causes the ecosystem to change as a whole. Overall, the invasive and non-native species are a huge problem and can have major effects on the ecosystems health.

Bush Honeysuckles. (n.d.). In Missouri Department Of Conservation. Retrieved August 11, 2014, from http://mdc.mo.gov/your-property/problem-plants-and-animals/invasive-plants/bush-honeysuckles-control

Emerald Ash Borer. (n.d.). In Coalition for Urban Ash Tree Conservation EAB Management. Retrieved August 11, 2014, from http://www.emeraldashborer.info/#sthash.yTDhD9W6.dpbs

Creative Piece:

There are many little insects that crawl all over the lowland forest, some of the most common are the harvest men. They may be common, but I find them interesting even though you can find them anywhere. They are so interesting because they have eight legs, but only one body segment and this is what makes them difference from the spider family. The Harvestmen can be found almost anywhere at Merry Lea, but they still are very enjoyable to observe. 

 

A Change in the Air

Observations:

              
Today I went to the lowland forest for some more observations, but today I had a mission. I wanted to identify some species that I had been seeing several times, but are a bit hard for me to identify. So, I tip-toed my way through the forest, trying to get “inside” the forest to find these hidden treasures. I was able to spot three species that I want to identify for the first time. To me, trying to identify the new species can be a very frustrating task, but when I find the correct one, it is a really good feeling. I enjoy being able to learn a new plant or animal and hopefully remember it for future identification. I tried to identify all the new species and found another one, one that I didn't expect to find due to the high level of moisture and low sunlight.

The sun is shining down very intensely today and it is warmer than it has been in the last few weeks. I am sweating, which hasn't happened in a long time, today it once again feels like a hot August day. It is in the upper seventies with no breeze and a powerful sun beating down. I do notice one change in the lowland forest, it is the smell. The forest has a distinct smell, one that I have grown to enjoy, but today it has changed. It is more pungent and smells of decaying organic material. I think that the rise in the smell is a result of the moisture and higher temperatures. This summer has been a very cool summer, and with the increase in temperature, it has caused a different smell to emerge.

New Species:

Clinton’s Wood Fern
(Dryopteris clintoniana)


This fern is a unique fern; it is often mistaken as the common crested wood fern. The difference is that the fertile pinnae are not turned at an angle to the plane, as the common crested wood fern. Clinton’s wood fern can grow from one and a half feet tall to three feet tall. It has fertile fronds that contain reproductive spores on the underside; they are deciduous and stand erect. The sterile fronds are smaller, evergreen and mostly prostrate on the ground. The leaves are divided into leaflets and are lobed or toothed themselves. Clinton’s wood fern ranges from eastern Canada, south to the Mid-Atlantic States. It is found in swampy woodlands, that is why I am able to find it in my lowland forest.


Clinton's Wood Fern. (n.d.). In Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program. Retrieved August 4, 2014, from http://www.naturalheritage.state.pa.us/factsheets/15854.pdf

Common Spice Bush
(Lindera benzoin)

This is a bush that grows anywhere from five feet tall to twenty feet tall. It spreads rapidly and is a native bush of the laurel family, spreading by its roots. The leaves are bright green, alternate, toothless and have a pointed tip. They are also elliptical, usually around two to six inches long. The biggest identifier to this bush, when the leaves are crushed, it gives off a lemony-spicy fragrance. It flowers in early spring, before the leaves have a chance to appear and they grow in dense clusters. The flowers are very small and are yellow, adding an enjoyable scent in the spring. The berries can be harvested and are used as species; the branches can be used to make tea. It is found often in damp, shaded areas with nutrient rich soils. They can be found along stream banks and on mountains’ lower slopes. Since the lowland forest is moist and very nutrient rich, I am able to find the spice bush very regularly.

Brill, S., & Dean, E. (n.d.). Identifying and Harvesting Edible and Medicinal Plants in Wild (and Not So Wild) Places. Retrieved August 4, 2014, from http://www.wildmanstevebrill.com/Books.Folder/I%20%26%20H%20Folder/Id'g%20%26%20Hvst'g.html



Shagbark Hickory
(Carya ovata)
The shagbark hickory tree is a large deciduous tree that typically grows from seventy to ninety feet tall, with an irregular, oval crown. The leaves are small, smooth, medium to yellow green, odd-pinnate and compound. The have seven to nine finely toothed, lance shaped and pointed leaflets. The leaves turn yellow to golden brown in the fall and make their way to the forest floor. It receives its name from the bark, it grows gray and smooth, but over time in a loose form, creating long strips. It has a nut that is edible and has a tough husk surrounding the seed, when it falls and dries it splits into four parts. It commonly occurs in dry upland forests and in wooded slopes and hills, with moist valleys. It also occurs in lowland forest with rich and moist soil. This is why it was able to be found in the lowland forest, but it has a large tap root. Most trees in the lowland forest have shallow roots that extend horizontally from the tree. I was not expecting to find this tree in the lowland forest because of the root system and the fact that it needs a lot of room and sunlight to grow.

Cary ovata. (n.d.). In Missouri Botanical Garden . Retrieved August 4, 2014, from http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=a854



Wood Frog
(Rana sylvatica)



The wood frog can come in various shapes, sizes and color schemes. The average size of a wood frog ranges from 1.4 to 3.5 inches in length. They tend to feed of insects, arachnid, worms and snails, in the tadpole stage they are completely herbivores. They usually live in woodlands, laying their eggs in vernal pools and their lifespan is usually around three years. In the winter, they will burrow down below the leaf litter to take shelter. The wood frog has a very special adaptation for survival, in the winter, they stop breathing and their heart beat will cease. They produce a special “antifreeze” substance that prevents ice from forming in their cells. When the weather then warms, the frogs thaw and begin to mate, the wood frog is one of the first to emerge in spring. Wood frogs have many predators which include: snakes, snapping turtles, raccoons, skunks, foxes and birds. The tadpoles on the other hand have even more challenges as beetles, salamanders and wood turtles feed upon them. They can come in varying shades of brown and red, the distinguishing mark being the black around their eyes. This black mark around the eye looks like a robber mask and helped me to identify it more easily. It thrives in moist soils with shade, this is why I am able to spot it in the lowland forest.

Wood Frog. (2014). In National Wildlife Federation. Retrieved August 4, 2014, from http://www.nwf.org/wildlife/wildlife-library/amphibians-reptiles-and-fish/wood-frog.aspx

Question:

In the northern deciduous forest, there are a few main strategies that the plants in the lowland forest practice in order to survive the harsh winter. Temperate deciduous forests are found in the middle latitudes with temperate climates. Deciduous forest means that the trees will experience seasons and each year the leaves will fall to the ground, creating a layer of organic material. In addition to leaves falling, the deciduous forest experiences long term freezing and snow fall. The trees will stop photosynthesis in the fall when the leaves fall off; they will keep all energy until spring when the leaves reemerge. Some tree species that lose their leaves yearly include: maples, hickories, oaks and cottonwoods. Other plants in the lowland forest will die back in the fall and will reemerge in the spring. Some plants appear early in the spring because there is limited sunlight in the forest, they will be broad and low to the ground. The plants are low to the ground for heat and are broad to gather the sunlight before all the tree’s leaves appear. Many of these plants will die off as summer comes around.  Other plant species will appear later in the spring and continue to grow throughout the summer, surviving throughout the summer with limited lighting. Some examples include the sensitive fern royal fern and false nettle.

Deciduous Forest . (n.d.). In Populations and Ecosystems. Retrieved August 4, 2014, from http://www.fossweb.com/delegate/ssi-foss-ucm/contribution%20Folders/FOSS/multimedia_ms_1E/PopulationsandEcosystems/ecoregion/deciduous_forest/index.html

Creative Piece:

The many amphibians of the lowland forest

There are many frogs and toads in the lowland forest, I have caught a few over the weeks and want to share the many amphibians I've found.