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Found within the Bluethenthal Wildflower Preserve on the campus of UNCW this Leaf-footed bug (most likely Acanthocephala terminalis, of the Coreidae family ) was briefly taking shelter from spring showers.
All species of Coreidae feed off of plants, and have piercing/sucking beaks that enables them to feed off of sap of seeds, fruits, stems or leaves of an astonishing variety of plant species. Their ability to feed off of such a array of plants has enabled them to have a large variety of feeding resources, thus expanding the range of habitats they may inhabit. This particular species' (Acanthocephala terminalis) range extends from the eastern US and southern Ontario west to Colorado and Texas.
The family of Coreidae is large, with more than 1,900 species in over 270 genera. The Hutchinson niche concept allows a wide niche for this particular family of animals. The tolerance and requirements for conditions and resources for the Coreidae can be met on almost every continent of earth (with the exception of Antartica), making the Coreidae family cosmopolitan*.
*Cosmopolitan distribution:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmopolitan_distribution
Species Identification: bugguide.net/node/view/188405
General info about Coreidae:
Both plants are succulents, which means that they have fleshy tissue that sustains water. I keep them both in my room, but I put them on the porch a few times a week to give them more sunlight and fresh air. The top plant is a barrel cactus, specifically an Echinocactus. The environmental resources are relatively simple; it needs direct sunlight and does not need to be watered frequently. An environmental condition that is important is humidity because in the presence of high humidity it will rot. The bottom plant is commonly known as a panda plant, but the scientific name is Kalanchoe tomentosa. Some environmental conditions it requires would be that the temperature range are between 60-75°F and humidity is average but can tolerate dry air. The resources it requires consist of a balance of direct and indirect sunlight, diluted fertilizer once every 4 weeks from spring until summer, and very little water. You only need to water it when the soil becomes dry. Also, you can cut off one of the leaves, re-pot it, and it will begin rooting within 4 weeks. #UNCW #ecology #bio366 #uncwteal #Sp2017 #image1
This photo on the left is bamboo found in the woods near my house, while the photo on the right is bamboo that divides the yard between me and my neighbor. We learned in ecology lab that bamboo is a non-native invasive species that can take over entire forests. There has been construction near the woods which has caused a lot of thinning in the area, including the bamboo, but you can still see the thick and tall stalks. The bamboo from my yard is not nearly as tall or thick, but you can see that it is very abundant and could easily overtake the garden around it.
This mushroom was found outside of friday hall on the UNCW campus on january 23 2017. I have identified it as American Caesar's Amanita (Amanita jacksonii) by using "The mushroom observer" and "mushroom appreciation". These mushrooms extend from eastern Quebec Canada to Mexico state of Hidalgo.
The ecological process comes from the type of mushroom, Mycorrhizal. This means they form symbiotic relationships with rootlets of surrounding trees. The mushroom covers the rootlets with a sheath and helps with nutrient and water absorption. The tree provides amino acids and sugars to the mushroom. The relationship is essential for both the tree and the mushrooms. mushrooms are unable to produce their own energy. They must rely on other organisms. (mushroom expert)
www.mushroomexpert.com/glossary.html#mycorrhizal
www.mushroom-appreciation.com/learning-about-mushrooms-in...
This photo was taken on January 20th at Wrightsville Beach. You can see the habitat the sand dunes provides for many plants. The vegetation has adapted to withstand high salt concentrations, sand that covers and uncovers its roots, and desiccation.
The following image is one I took earlier in the semester when I took a trip to Grandfather Mountain. Streams, not matter how big or small, play an important ecological role in their ecosystems. First off, they are a very important resource for non aquatic species as they serve as a source of drinking water. For aquatic species, they provide habitats and pathways to other rivers, streams, etc… They are also crucial in transporting nutrients and other goods throughout the area. If a tree falls, it can move materials/ debris downstream for species to make use of. For example, the beaver can use the branches to create dams. Which in turn are beneficial in preventing erosion and can provide valuable habitats for other species. Streams can also improve productivity throughout the environment. Streams with higher velocities can transport more sediments quicker providing and replenishing nutrients downstream. Another benefit of streams is pollution prevention. They are able to filter out less beneficial nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen leaving the water that flows into a larger body of water healthier.
It shows a lot about ecology. Overall it is showing part of the hydrosphere. The ocean also affects the Earths climate. The heat that is exchanged between the ocean and the atmosphere that drives atmospheric circulation over Earths surface. The oceans also modify air temperature. Finally another important thing oceans are responsible for is that they form the clouds that carry fresh water to land. We then use that water to drink, and for crop growth. Oceans play a huge role in ecology and this picture shows a effect ocean view! #UNCW #ecology #bio366 #uncwteal #Sp2018 #image1
This picture was taken this past weekend while I was doing yard work for one of my neighbors in porters neck. This image is of a Carpenter Bee ( Xylocopa Xylocopinae) pollinating tiny flowers on this tree. A few fun facts about the carpenter bee. Although most people thing that carpenter bees feed on wood at no time during their life do they actually consume any sort of wood. Another interesting thing about carpenter bees is that Males lack stingers and have no way of protecting themselves, instead they rely on their close coloration patter to the females to warn off predators. Carpenter Bees are generally considered to be solitary insects but in some cases are known to live in small colonies consisting mostly of females. The reason Carpenter Bees bear holes in wood is because they use the wood shavings to form breaks in their nests.
Carpenter bees are an extremely important species when it comes to pollination.
They feed primarily on the sector of plants and transport pollen from one plant to another. Some plants rely only on the carpenter be for pollination and will not exist without them. Overall the carpenter bee along with many other bee species are extremely important in our food chain and conduct the valuable ecosystem service of pollination
Sources
This Catalpa (Catalpa bignonioides) is afflicted with Leaf Curl, also known as Leaf Blister. Notice the small bumps on the leaf and discoloration of these bumps. This infamous disease affects oaks, but primarily peach and plum trees. Though not life threatening for the tree, it does disfigure the leaves and fruits causing bumps along the leaf (or fruit) with discoloration ranging from pale green, red or purple. This is caused by a fungus, (Taphrina deformans), which remains dormant in the Autumn and Winter, once early Spring comes around it waits for favorable condition such as rainfall and cool temperatures. During the Winter, spores cling to the branches or ends of twigs, once conditions are suitable these spores afflict leaf buds, and as the leaf matures symptoms present themselves. (“Oak Leaf Blister and Peach Leaf Curl’’)
Another noticeable disfiguration of this leaf is the many holes, possibly a large meal for a little Catalpa Sphynx caterpillar. This caterpillar grows into a Catalpa Sphynx Moth that’s native through Florida to New York. Its diet mostly consists of the Catalpa itself, a large mass of caterpillars may even strip most of the tree bare. (“The Catalpa Sphynx”) Lastly, this picture was taken at the Onslow Pine Park, on May 27th, 2018.
Reference:
granville.ces.ncsu.edu/2012/05/oak-leaf-blister-and-peach...
www.ag.auburn.edu/enpl/bulletins/catalpasphinx/catalpasph...
The landscape of our coastal communities has been ever shifting over centuries. However, in recent years as salt water has crept ever further into freshwater ecosystems these ghostly figures have been left in their wake. Areas such as this were once dominated by entire forests of Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum), moisture loving woody plants (ie; river birch- Betula nigra) and various shrubbery. Today these "ghost forests" are the still-standing skeletons of these trees.
Ghost forests are growing in area and in concern for much of the east coast. This photo of a stretch of creek extended out from the Cape Fear River depicts the impact of encroaching salinization and rising sea-levels. Researchers and universities within NC have turned their attention to restoring and/or preserving freshwater communities. Not only has the freshwater ecosystem suffered, the injury can also be felt in some of the rural coastal area's economy. As many people heavily depend of agricultural industries and forestry, salinization changes soil's entire composition in addition for killing off freshwater plant life.
However, ecosystems can be quite resilient- and over time the disappearance of one type of community can give rise to another. Widening channels and other man-made processes (over the last 200 years) have shaped the Cape Fear River to allow ever-larger ships upstream into Wilmington, as well as saltwater from the Atlantic Ocean. Due to this, once freshwater swamps and marshes have transitioned into brackish estuaries, complete with grassy salt-marshes and tidal creeks that are home to richly diverse communities of crabs, shrimp and many kinds of saltwater fishes of commercial, recreational and ecological value.
Read more about ghost trees in Wilmington:
www.wrightsvillebeachmagazine.com/article.asp?aid=965
NC State University land and water issues effect costal systems:
ncseagrant.ncsu.edu/coastwatch/previous-issues/2017-2/hol...
NC State SALT Project (Coastal Sustainability):
ncseagrant.ncsu.edu/coastwatch/previous-issues/2017-2/hol...
List of Backyard Wetland Plants:
brunswick.ces.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Plants-...
This photo is of the sand dunes at Wrightsville Beach taken 1/29/17. Sand dunes are of vital importance in coastal areas. They provide protection to the plants and animals that inhabit from large waves that accompany storms and rising tide. In this respect they help contribute to the fifth key assumption of adaptions due to natural selection, environment. These assumptions were talked about in lecture four. The fifth assumption is that an organism's fitness depends on their interaction with the environment. Grass seen in the photo are able to survive in the sandy soil present on sand dunes help to allow the sand dunes to keep their shape through wind and waves. Sand dunes are also are of key importance to humans as they protect expensive beach front homes from being destroyed by wind and waves.
This picture was taken at Lake Seminole in southern Georgia over spring break. I believe the trees to the left are cypress trees. Cypress trees have several variations and belong to the Cupressaceae family. Different species are found all over the world, but Taxodium ascendens, commonly known as the pond cypress and are found throughout the southeastern United States. Pong cypress are known for growing in/near water and for having attached stumps, known as knees. Knees are stumps that grow upwards through the water from the roots of the tree. It is not completely known what purpose this interesting adaptation serves, but scientists believe that may aid with capturing oxygen, absorbing nutrients, and storing carbohydrates. It is also believed that knees vary height due to water level and the soil density. These stumps can be hazards for swimmers and boaters, as they can be a few inches under the surface water level. Cypress knees also provide shelter and hiding spots for several fish species that inhabit Lake Seminole. Taller knees and other tree stumps also provide homes for large birds of prey. I did have a camera with me on the lake, but I witnessed a bald eagle catch a fish and return to its nest on top of a tree stump in the middle of a channel.
www.lewisginter.org/trees-with-knees/
This is a picture of a carolina anole I found while out in ecology lab earlier this week. Another common name for this species is the red-throated anole. This species of lizard is found mostly in the southeastern united states or other tropical/ Caribbean areas. I was able to observe the lizard climb up and down the tree and extend its dewlap. Due to the size of its dewlap, which is a flap of skin that hangs below the throat of some vertebrates, I believe that this anole was a male. Another reason I believed this anole to be a male was due to its particularly territorial behavioral, which is a common trait among males. Green anole lizards feed on small insects such as flies or small spiders.
Ecological succession is usually thought of as a large scale event. However, it is possible for the term to be applied to a smaller scale event like that shown in the image above. It may be unclear, but what's shown above is a small piece of a massive land clearing (which was difficult to capture due to its size and unusual shape). It appears that, during the construction of the river-to-sea trail, the land on either side of the trail was cleared 50 meters on either side for the entirety of the trail. It appears that there has been another clearing but only to about ten meters on either side. All this is made apparent by the transition from long leaf pine forest to dense foliage to sparse underbrush. In the distance, multiple specimens of P. palustris can be seen. The individuals stand far enough away from each other to indicate that other plants, most likely oak, wiregrass, magnolia, or (most likely) some combination of the three occupy the intervening space. There is a uniform line, beyond which the pines don't grow. This is assumedly the boundary of the original clearing. between that boundary and the trail, there is a dense foliage of magnolia trees (Magnolia grandiflora) interspersed with individual gray oak trees (Quercus grisea). Between this area and the trail is a section composed mostly of leaf litter and pine saplings. At the sapling satge it is difficult to tell whether these are long leaf pines (Pinus palustris) or loblolly pines (Pinus taeda).
The phenomenon taking place in this photo is called secondary succession, and occurs when all life is cleared from an area but the soil is left intact.
Over spring break, I had the opportunity to travel to The beautiful Caribbean nation, Dominican Republic. While visiting, there was an abundance of lush landscape and exotic animals on the resort. One morning, I spotted a male peacock with a vibrant blue body and blue/green feathers indicating that the bird was an Indian peafowl (Pavo cristastus). The peacock wandered the resort with its tail feathers down until it came upon two peahens (females). From here, the bird raised and spread its feathers in an elaborate display. The bird swayed and turned in circles as his form of courtship in an attempt to attract a mate. This went on for approximately 5 minutes until the peahens did not take to the males courtship. He then lowered the feathers and continued to roam the resort. Evolutionary studies, especially some of Darwin, explain the theory of ornaments and weapons evolving on males to compete for mates. In this example, the peacock is an ornament species with beautiful, vibrant coloration patterns for mating purposes. Sources:
www.animalplanet.com/wild-animals/no-2-peacock-courtship-...
During one of the recent lab sessions out in the longleaf pine forest, I came across what first appeared to be a pile of mush. Upon further investigation I realized that what I had found was 2 pinecones that had been picked apart by squirrels looking for seeds. The squirrels play a major role in seed dispersal for the pine tree and renewal for the area. Squirrels do not just eat and disperse pine seeds, they eat a wide variety of seeds helping to spread the population of species that otherwise would not be able to disperse their seeds on their own.
This photo was taken on January 15, 2017 at the river walk downtown, Wilmington. It is an example of water's unique properties that is essential to life on earth. Because of the cohesion and adhesion of water molecules, surface tension is formed. Surface tension provides a more solid surface of water making it possible for some aquatic invertebrates, like the Pond Skater, to "walk" on water.
I found this little fellow hanging out on the stairs beside me while I was waiting for class to start. This wasp species is also known as Polistes Carolina, or red paper wasp. Because this wasp species is a social species, they undergo extensive grooming using their mandibles to clean themselves and each other. This grooming process removes debris and parasites from the organism, which in return helps maintain a disease-free nest. These nests are usually found in protected areas, like tree cavities or man-made structures. To build their nest, they chew on plant fibers and use their saliva to create a paper like substance, hence their name. When finished, these nests look like an upside-down umbrella. Also, Polistes Carolina’s diet consists of smaller insects and plant nectar, making it economically important. Not only do they rid the plant of parasites (e.g. caterpillars), but also assist in the pollination process by flying from plant to plant trying to retrieve their nectar.
Squirrels don't only use forests to live and eat but they also help the forest in the process of its renewal. The squirrels will take the seeds and then burry them so nothing else will find them, but sometimes they do not get dug back up and so the seed will then grow to be whatever plant the seed came from, in this case it will be a pine tree. So this picture depicts the residue of the squirrels picking out the seeds and eating some but also helping the forests process of renewal.
This photo, taken outside of Building 6 of the UNCW Landing apartments exhibits a group of pink Azaleas (Rhododendron Pentanthera). A prominent factor that influences interspecific competition with Azaleas is the environmental condition in which they are grown. According to the Middle Atlantic Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society, Azalea seeds germinate best with temperatures between 70 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Azaleas are also prevalent defenders against predation. These plants contain grayanotoxins throughout their entire surfaces which provide a chemically constitutive defense. Ingestion of these plants can cause: a burning sensation on the tongue followed by excess saliva, vomiting, lethargy, and mild paralysis to name a few dangers. Through all of these hazards, multiple pests such as caterpillars, weevils, and whiteflies display herbivory and defoliate portions of Azaleas.
This photo was taken on January 15th at an organic farm near Black River in North Carolina. There is a lot going on in this photo. First, the crops are using the sun and CO2 to photosynthesize and produce food/energy. Also, intra and interspecific competition can be seen here with crops competing with each other and with weeds for resources. Since this is an organic farm, no harmful chemicals are used maintain these crops. This means a lot for the surrounding ecosystem. Unnatural pesticides and fertilizers runoff into the water system and end up polluting the water that other wildlife uses. It is important that a farm like this, close to a river, uses environmentally friendly practices. An excess of elements, like nitrogen, running into the water may stimulate too much growth in organisms like algae. If an algal bloom were to occur, it could cause the water to become anoxic, and result in the death of aquatic life. This process impacts the whole ecosystem, which is why this farm is careful about what they put on the land. Furthermore, Black River is actually a dark black color due to tannins being released from trees and plants nearby. Tannins are an organic material that come from decaying vegetation.
Sources:
www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/united...
This photo, takes outside of UNCW’s Morton Hall, features a fully blossomed Sasanqua camellia (Camellia sasanqua). The yellow strands stemming outward from the center are stamens, the male reproductive organs of the flower. As we have discussed in lecture, energy allocation and plant form influence Net Primary Productivity (NPP). Plants like these exhibit growth in the form of a positive feedback loop where an increase in carbon in the plant’s photosynthetic tissue will cause an increase in net carbon gain which will induce more plant growth (Borrett’s Ecosystem Energetics and Organization slides). Furthermore, these plants also participate in nutrient cycling which transfers carbon inorganically from the decomposition and mineralization of nutrients within the plant soil. Did you know that camellias can survive from 100 to 200 years old in the wild? (www.softschools.com/facts/plants/camellia_facts/1452/).
Crickets are found in fields, lawns and forests. They have a very broad range of habitat selection which can help them survive in many different environments. I believe this is a field cricket which would mean that it is omnivorous. They eat plant matter, fruits, and seeds. Because of their diet they can do real damage to agricultural crops and household products such as wool, cotton, silk, nylon and many other materials. They are mostly nocturnal, they feed at night and spend most of the day in warm dark places. They get eaten by most birds, red foxes, box turtles, american toads and other mammals and reptiles. They are very important to many ecosystems because they are agents in the decomposer community. They eat large amounts and poop out pellets that are easily decomposed by bacteria and fungi.
www.behaecol.amu.edu.pl/papers/downloads2014/files/NWJZ14...
www.researchgate.net/publication/264047795_Ecology_of_the...
www.psu.edu/dept/nkbiology/naturetrail/speciespages/crick...
This red cushion sea star or West Indian sea star was found off the coast of Calabash Caye in Belize and was taken on January 9th 2018. It is the largest sea star in its range, the red cushion star can grow to 50 cm in diameter. Adults are found on sandy bottoms up to 37m, juveniles are more found in seagrass beds to have more protection from predators. The lifespan of this sea star is all dependent on the availability of food. In places with lower food available the star will re-absorb its own tissue, leading to a smaller size. This can show the stability of the environment where they are found. They can only move 0.12-0.33m per minute and mostly active during the day therefore it can be used to look at the environment. They also turn over sediment at a rate of 1.9 times in a day. This can help stir up food and micro-organisms for other animals.
This is a collection of flowers of the genus Galanthus, also known as snowdrops. Flowers of the genus Galanthus are herbacous plants that stem from underground bulbs. Galanthus nivalis is the most well known species, and although not native to North America they have been naturalized here. This photo was taken in an abandoned graveyard in the woods in Hampstead, NC.
This photo of a pear tree was taken in Hampstead NC on April 10, 2018. From the photo you can see the fruit of the tree (the pear) at the beginning stages of its growth. Plants like this one use the process of photosynthesis to convert CO2 from the atmosphere into carbohydrates and sugars to provide themselves with energy. As a byproduct they produce oxygen which is essential for animal life. Plants have helped keep CO2 levels regulated. With growing concerns about rising CO2 levels in the atmosphere the push for planting trees has increased. Carbon Reallocation Hypothesis states that if rising CO2 causes plants to reallocate carbon into storage pools (wood, soil) that are longer-term, then more CO2 would be sequestered. Unfortunately, there is little to no supporting evidence for this. Although a positive step towards reducing CO2 levels, plants alone can not reduce atmospheric CO2.
Sources:
www.dec.ny.gov/lands/41794.html
people.uncw.edu/borretts/courses/bio366/lectures/23-bioge...(Encrypted).pdf
If you ever walked around campus or anywhere in Wilmington and looked up to the trees you have probably noticed a gray looking moss plant. This plant is called Spanish Moss, but it actually is not a moss at all. It's a member of the same taxonomic family as pineapples. Spanish Moss absorbs nutrients and water through the air and rainfall, and although Spanish Moss does not normally kill the tree it is on, it can completely cover a tree and lower the growth rate of the tree.
This photo was taken on the outside of a fire pit where all plants and grasses were burnt. It is a great picture to help show secondary succession in action. Secondary succession happens after a disturbance such as a fire takes place. All roots and preexisting soil remains after a fire burns, nutrients etc all depend on the intensity and frequency of the disturbance as well. This is how we see the definition of secondary succession come in. Since the roots and existing soil are still there, and could be called an intermediate disturbance, all the plants and grasses will grow back after the fire with great diversity. So, the grass community outside the fire pit will be reestablished over time. If we think about it on a larger scale such as a forest fire we would also see smaller understory plants begin to grown back. Eventually the forest community will be reestablished and that’s secondary succession. This picture helps to see it on a smaller scale but also helps to get the point and see secondary succession happening outside the classroom.
This photo was taken on January 12th, 2017 at the Carolina Beach State Park. It depicts a dead leaf that will soon drop to the ground to begin the decomposition process. Decomposition and decay of the leaves provides the nutrients essential for the growth of new organisms. Bacteria, fungi, and various invertebrates draw nourishment from the decaying plant material. According to the EPA, dead plant leaves and stems break down in the water to form small particles of organic material called "detritus." The nutrient filled material feeds many small aquatic insects, shellfish and small fish. These organisms are food for larger predatory fish, reptiles, amphibians, birds and mammals.
This photo was taken in Bluethenthal Wildflower Preserve. This depicts a Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris) trunk that has been eaten out by termites. Many species of termite eat cellulose which they can breakdown in their body by either small microbes in their gut or producing their own cellulose enzyme. The high consumption of cellulose has caused termites to become one of the major sources of methane in the atmosphere (11%).
This picture was taken on my back porch on January 24th 2018. Pictured is a millipede, its one of the least studied animal groups on Earth as well as being some of the oldest known land animals. They have a huge ecological role, which plays an important part in decomposition of leaf litter. Leaf litter contains leaves, rotten wood, rocks and other debris on top of soil. If millipedes aren’t in a moist environment they will die. So during the day millipedes are crawling around under the leaf litter where it’s moist. So they help spread nutrients throughout the soil and are beneficial in breaking down decaying plant matter. The downfall is that millipedes will eat certain fruits lying around on the ground such as in gardens.
After doing some research I have come to the conclusion that this houseplant is the weeping fig tree. These plants can either be grown outdoors or indoors. When they are outdoors, they can grow very tall and get plenty of water. When they are gown indoors things get a little trickier for the plants to stay alive. You have to make sure it gets enough sunlight, has the right temperature to survive as well as get plenty of water. Being in Wilmington the water has multiple chemicals that the plant is not used to and is unable to process them leaving the plant not being able to distribute the water properly through the plant. So in this picture the leaves are turning brown due to the lack to proper water amount and excess chemicals staying in the plant.
Sources:
Turkey Oak also known as Quercus laevis , is a tree native to the Coastal South Eastern United States from Louisiana to Central Florida as well as the Atlantic Coast to Virginia. This tree gains its name not for its origins or where it is from, but from its leaves, which are three lobed, resembling a turkey's foot. The Turkey Oak also has many different names such as Catesby Oak or Scrub Oak, as well as having a counterpart in Europe, which is why it is often called American Turkey Oak in order to avoid confusion. It is a drought tolerant species growing in dry and infertile land, such as sandy dunes, soil ridges, and high pinelands where the scrub can grow up to 150m in altitude. This is a great comparison to the turkey oaks who generally will grow between 6-9m, but can occasionally grow larger. The tallest known Turkey Oak individual can be found in Branford, Florida and has grown to an astonishing 25m. Turkey Oaks are known for their competition with the plants and trees around them and will often times be found with Long Leaf Pines (Pinus palustris) as illustrated in the photo above as well as Blackjack Oak (Q. incana). Turkey Oaks love sunlight and as such will try to outcompete its competitors (Long Leaf Pine) and need regular forest fires to keep the tree in check. Which is due to the Turkey Oak being less resistant to forest fires than the pines. Due to this the areas that are suppressed from the forest fires will go so far as to replace the places where the Long Leaf Pines grow with their own stands. These trees grow primarily in Northwest Florida and are even thought to cover 9 to 10 million acres there alone.
This photo was taken in the maritime forest down at fort fisher. Maritime forests are found along coasts near the ocean and are a huge contributor to the vast range of both plant and animal biodiversity in the area. The wooded are provides a home for species that otherwise would not have a habitat to live in on the coast. Increased winds and sandy soil make it especially difficult for there to be a variety of plants found within the area however this forest provides the opportunity. The forest also plays a part in protecting the island further inland by offering the same type of protection as dunes do. If you look carefully at the image, you can see that the trees are bent slightly forward. this is due to the winds blowing up off of the shore and on to the forest. It causes the trees to grow in this "slanted" kind of patters creating an inclosed type of habitat.
This moss was interesting because from a distance it looked like an animal perched on a rock. Moss is a type of pioneer species. It anchors itself to the rock using small holes created by lichens growing on the rocks surface. As the moss grows back and dies year after year, it slowly builds up a layer of soil. This moss is located precariously on a crack in the side of a cliff, in Grandfather Mountain state park. In enough time the soil layer will be thick enough to support larger life. This is known as Ecological Succession, where a community of organisms will build on pioneer species over time as it moves closer to a climax community.
This photo was taken on a brisk morning walk in February. The Cape Fear River Basin is home to many aquatic ecosystems. It is a nursery area for crabs, shrimp and fish. A few major tributaries flow into the basin including the Black River and Northeast Cape Fear River, both of which are "blackwater streams" that "drain the acidic soils of hardwood swamps". Within the basin are 95+ species of fish as well as "42 rare aquatic species". Unfortunately, the Cape Fear River Basin is located close to many hog farms as well as growing cities and takes in their polluted runoff. This increases the amount of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus in the water, which in turn can stimulate algae growth and decrease available oxygen. The river basin is of great importance ecologically as well as commercially to North Carolina. We should all remember that the river is not only beautiful on the surface, but also hosts diverse ecosystems and organisms that should be protected.
www.eenorthcarolina.org/Documents/RiverBasin_pdfs/final_w...
This photo was taken on April 13th, 2018 at Piney Ridge Nature Preserve. The photo illustrates an example of a Venus flytrap in its natural habitat. The Venus flytrap is a carnivorous plant species that naturally occupies the southeastern United States, primarily in North and South Carolina. In fact, according to NC State Parks the Venus flytrap can only be found within a 75-100 mile radius of Wilmington, North Carolina and are not found anywhere else in the world. Another interesting fact about Venus flytraps is that they can go up to one to two months without eating. This is likely because these plants are photosynthetic and do not completely rely on carnivory for energy but use the nitrogen they gather from these animals to enable their survival in poor soil conditions. The Venus flytrap is highly adapted to conditions where, soil levels tend to be acidic, humidity is high and there are abundant amounts of full sunlight. Therefore, this plant is a good indicator to determine soil quality and tells you about conditions along the southeastern coast. In addition, this particular Venus flytrap was found in a Pocosin environment bordering a Longleaf Pine Forest. What’s interesting about this is that a Pocosin environment is a type of wetland habitat that possess sandy soils and thick peat which make it an ideal environment for many rare plants. Plants found in this region also tend to be highly water dependent, but also need regular burns from wildfires to survive. This is similar to the Longleaf Pine Forest meaning Pocosin Forests also have high biodiversity levels as a result of these continuous fires. The peat also makes up a key component in this habitat in several ways. Peat is the thick organic layer of soil that builds up over hundreds of years and once the top layer becomes dry it serves as an excellent fuel source for the many wildfires. In addition, the peat provides a healthy layer of soil to feed the plants as well as a sponge to soak up water. Without the peat the water would runoff and the plants would not be able to survive.
Sources: www.britannica.com/plant/Venus-flytrap
NC State Park of Piney Ridge Nature Preserve
The photo was taken over spring break of my boxer Ghost (who loves the beach). Among species, body size is a huge indicator of long life span. Typically, as size increases, life span increases. An interesting exception exists within species. The cost of larger size is especially evident in dog breeds. While the average poodle can live until 15, most Great Danes have a life span of only 6-8 years. Perhaps, artificial selection plays a large role in this as selective breeding of dogs, "has led to breeds that vary in body size by almost two orders of magnitude and in average life expectancy by a factor of two". While it is still mostly a mystery exactly why larger dogs have shorter life spans, many theories exists. Studies have shown that there is an increased baseline hazard for larger breeds; however, the true culprit is quicker aging. It appears that within species, a trade-off for larger size is an increased rate of aging.
Kraus, Cornelia, et al. “The Size–Life Span Trade-Off Decomposed: Why Large Dogs Die Young.” The American Naturalist, vol. 181, no. 4, 2013, pp. 492–505., www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/669665.
This long leaf pine was found in a clearing in a small forest on the side of UNCW campus. there was a gap in the forest where a big tree must have once stood. there were many baby long leaf pines taking advantage of the clearing, they are competing for resources and light. This is known as intraspecific competition meaning competition between the same species. There are many baby pines competing for the space that once housed only one large adult tree, not all of them will make it to adulthood. This tree got my attention due to its shape. These kinds of shapes in the trees can occur due to damage along the tip and sides of the tree while the tree is young. This is sometimes done on purpose by loggers to make trees for unique furniture. It is also possible for this shape to form naturally if the tree freezes to its side during the winter.
This is a photo taken of a live oak, specifically the species Quercus virginiana, which is specific to live oaks found in the deep south. This specific live oak has a great many adaptations that allow it to best survive the environment, such as a moderate resistance to salt spray from the waterway and also grow well in high moisture environments (this specific live oak is pictured on the Intercoastal Waterway). Southern live oaks also have a great fire resistance because of their large size and in result provide a good barrier to forests to prevent their spreading. Their large and well adapted root system allows for optimal nutrient absorption, and their wood is so strong it was used as the prime building material for the USS Constitution!
This photo shows what I think is a Carolina anole (Anolis carolinensis) lizard sunbathing on the front steps of Dobo hall. He/she is doing so because lizards are ectothermic meaning that they acquire heat from an outside source because they can not produce it themselves. They do this because they have to maintain homeostasis.This acquisition of energy is a product of the fundamental concept called scaling. This contributes to a predictable manner in which their physiological and morphological features promote their ectothermic regulations. For example, the anoles have very long slender bodies and according to the fundamental concept of scaling, this small and cylinder like body maximizes the surface area relative to volume ratio. This promotes them capturing as much sunlight as possible. The interplay of morphological and physiological features promotes the lizards saving energy by not having to produce their own heat. This leads to a fundamental trade-off due to their constraint to regions that on average receive more sunlight than places far North or South. This need for sunlight acts as a constraint to their geographical range. This restricts the anoles to the Southern regions of the United States.
Here is a great little example of a Green Anole I spotted on my back from ecology lab last Thursday, 06/04/15. I spotted him right outside Bear Hall, UNCW, near a bike rack. He had a brown colored little friend hanging out on the bike rack. Anoles are common throughout most of North Carolina and can often be found on fences, the ground, tree branches or even your back porch. They eat insects like butterflies, grasshoppers, etc. They have very few young, normally laying 1 egg at a time during spring and summer, partially burying it in soil, leaf litter or other similar material. The males usually express dominancy during mating season by expanding their dewlaps and bobbing their heads, oddly enough, this also serves for courting females. Anoles represent some of the colorful, yet harmless, reptiles in North Carolina we can all look at and enjoy. Anoles can be a variety of colors, often called "chameleons" but their color changing is more a response to temperature, stress, and environmental/behavioral factors. Lizards such as the anole are often prey to small carnivorous animals, sometimes birds, foxes, other lizards, snakes, or even your house cat. While they are territorial, you can often find several within a single area. If you see one, there are likely several others close by. These little guys offer many benefits to the ecosystem they inhabit because they help control insect poplutions and are a prey item for larger animals that may be carnivorous or omnivorous. They can gte between 5-8 inches longe and are very fast. One of their primary defenses is to flee. Most animals' instincts tell them to run when confronted with danger. Small reptiles like the Green Anole run like grease lightning when frightened. So if you have these little guys in your yard, don't mow them or scare them off! They are your garden's helpers, plus they are just fun to look at.
Here is a little treasure that I caught on 05/30/15 behind my parent's house in Pine Level, NC. It is a little blurry, but the picture is of a mother Red Fox and her pup. Initially there were 2 adult sized foxes accompanied by the single pup. One adult ran across the road and towards a growth of trees to the right of the picture, between 2 of my neighbors' homes. The mother stayed with the pup and acrossed the road as a unit. The little family stopped where you see them, in front of my backdoor neighbor's driveway. While the mother stood in broad daylight, the pup repeatedly ducked into the ditch to the lower right, going in and out of the drainage pipe for cover. The family stayed at this location for several moments until, off to the far left of the property, a large domestic outdoor cat traveled up the length of fence that surrounds the back yard. The mother fox caught the scent quickly and whisked the pup to the other side of the house, where they disappearred into a separate growth of trees. There are woods at the far back area of our neighborhood, as well as farming fields and more woods to the right of the neighborhood. A Red Fox can be considered a top rated predator in this area as there are little other larger predator species in the eastern part of North Carolina. There is plenty prey in this area as we have a large number of rabbits that periodically nibble our grass. The mother fox displays a watchful nature while with the pup due to the large amount of energy it takes to invest in reproduction. Organisms that invest large amounts of effort into producing only a few young, spend more time raising the young and ensuring the young's survival until it reaches an age or development that the young should be able to provide for itself. This protective behavior means that the mother is invested in ensuring that pup makes it to the weaning age and becomes a reproducing, surviving member of the population. The Red Fox aids in controling popultions of rapid-reproducing animals, such as rabbits, as well as rodents and various native shrews. A healthy reproducing female with a young pup shows that the population of Red Fox is not only surviving, but continues to reproduce despite the encroachment of humans into their habitat and destruction of natural habitats to build subdivisions and parking lots. It is unclear what relation the other adult red fox had with the female and the pup. It could have potentially have been a rival fox pushing the overly cautious mother fox and pup out of their territory, or a young fox trying to take advantage of the mother fox by using her providing skills to steal kills or scavenges from her and her pup. The large outdoor cat is an examle of potential prey of the fox, though in this case was more likely to be a predator of the fox pup, and thus a danger to the mother fox. Hopefully I'll get to see the cute little critter when it's all grown up, and perhaps with its own pup in toe.
This photo was taken on April 2, 2018 at Hugh MacRae Park. Tulips originated at the base of the Himalayan Mountains and the eastern side of Turkey. These places typically have very hot and dry summers along with very cold winters, which are the best growing conditions for tulips. Eastern Turkey and the base of the Himalayas are considered to be in a temperate grassland biome. Biomes are zones that are characterized by the plant life and vegetation. Despite their native habitat, tulips now occupy many parts of the world, including the United States, which are not necessarily temperate grasslands. One place tulips thrived are the in Holland which is described to be a temperate deciduous forest, just like Wilmington, North Carolina, where this picture was taken. There are many types of tulips, but this is specifically a picture of a Rembrandt tulip. Rembrandt tulips are characterized by the bi-color petals and are named after a Dutch painter, Rembrandt van Rijn, because the pattern on the petals look like paintbrush strokes.
Sources:
www.burpee.com/gardenadvicecenter/perennials/tulips/rembr...
www.americanmeadows.com/planting-flower-bulbs/about-bulbs...
The picture above was taken on February 23, 2018 at the south end of Wrightsville Beach in Wilmington North Carolina. This picture displays a jetty on the Wrightsville Beach side of the Masonboro Inlet. A jetty is a manmade structure that was constructed to protect beaches and harbors from waves and serves to influence currents (Lewis 2012). Notice how the water to the right side of the jetty is much calmer than that to the left. What’s also interesting about this jetty is that the rock wall doesn’t begin for a few hundred feet. Instead this area has a wood/metal bulkhead which spans the gap and is referred to as a Weir Jetty (Lewis 2012). This Weir Jetty was designed to allow sand to pass over the jetty and be deposited into the basin. This is unlike the other side of the Masonboro Inlet which is a straight solid rock wall spanning from the sound all the way to the inlet (Lewis 2012). Without this gap the sand would have been kept from moving into the inlet, eventually causing a build-up on one side of the jetty causing the other to corrode. The deposited basin also has other practical uses that make it an asset to the city of Wilmington. The deposits are dredged and are then used to supply nutrients and build up the northern end of the island which is slowly being eroded (Ocean Science n.d.). Therefore, these jetties make up a crucial part in keeping the island and beaches maintained.
Sources:
www.oceanscience.net/inletsonline/usa/doc_new/Masonboro_I...
www.myreporter.com/2012/09/why-does-the-jetty-at-the-sout...
While taking a walk along the trails of the Bluethenthal Wildflower Preserve on campus, I came across the bed of either red pitcher plants (Sarracenia rubra), southern purple pitcher plants (Sarracenia purpurea), or mountain purple pitcher plants (Sarracenia jonesii). It was difficult to tell whether the pitcher plants were alive or dead, as the picture was taken late February (February 23rd). I was very excited to start our chapter on ecosystems, because there's nothing better to describe a pitcher plant than the word "ecosystem". They serve as homes to other animals, larvae and bacteria, as well as being an individual organism that feeds on bigger insects that fall into them. Although they aren't extremely common, they are kinds of plants that need specific soil and weather conditions to survive. It just goes to show you that some plants are more than meets the eye.
Sources:
webpages.charter.net/snetherton999/sarracenia.html
www.inquirebotany.org/en/discussions/pitcher-plants-as-ec...
This picture was taken on the last weekend in January at the Albemarle sound in Newport NC. The bay barnacle (Amphibalanus improvises) seen here in the picture was everywhere, on the dock, sailboats and even covering other life forms like the what I believe is the Mya arenaria Mollusk. The Bay barnacle is found in immense numbers on the western Atlantic cost and even up in the surrounding sounds. Its is a filter feed and is a secondary consumer eating on zooplankton, phytoplankton and cyanobacteria found in the water column. The bay barnacle is often found attached to bivalve shells and dead mollusk. The Bay Barnacle is “one of the most successful aquatic invaders worldwide”. It is a powerful interspecies competitor by taking up the most space or territory.
animaldiversity.org/accounts/Mercenaria_mercenaria/#geogr...
This photo was taken on March 12th; the day that we got a little bit of snow in Wilmington. This photo was taken in my front yard and depicts a pile of pollen directly beside a layer of icy snow. I loved the contrast of this photo because pollen is something that is typically associated with Spring and snow is usually associated with Winter. As I was taking this photo, I was thinking about pollination and how the melting of the snow could be an influence. Upon doing some research, I learned that once the ice melts and the pollen is in/on the water it is called surface hydrophily. It turns out that this mode of pollen dispersal in relatively rare too. In fact, this mode of pollination is typically only found in water weeds and pond weeds because they release their seeds directly into the water. Many species that pollinate using this method also become invasive species in the U.S. although I could not obtain any specific species from my research. Considering that the plants in my front yard are not aquatic species, its is unlikely that the water transport of pollen will be successful.
Sources:
This photo of a longleaf pine forest edge was taken March 12, 2018 along US-17. On March 9, 2018, a prescribed burn was conducted by the Camp Lejeune Forestry Division. The division schedules over 20,000 acres of prescribed burning annually. A longleaf pine forest thrives when low-intensity, ground-level fires are implemented every three to eight years. The fire eliminates hardwood and weedy competitors, prepares the longleaf seedbeds, and encourages pine seedling establishment. Farley (2009) argues that restoration of the longleaf pine has become crucial with changing climate conditions. The longleaf pine does well in dry to wet conditions, is more resilient to beetle infestations, and can withstand storms. This adaptive ability, aids other surrounding wildlife to adapt.
Sources:
www.lejeune.marines.mil/Prescribed-Burn-Notice/
www.southernfireexchange.org/SFE_Publications/etc/Clemson...
Farley D. 2009. The importance of longleaf pine restoration. National Wildlife Federation.