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This photo was taken in the parking lot of my local Target store. The poor birch tree in the photo has been compromised by a form of "gall". Gall is caused by various parasites (insects, bacteria, mites, fungi, etc.). These parasites usually lay eggs onto plants and the larvae feed on the plant cells. A large structure forms from the disruption of cellular division caused by the parasite and it creates a protective barrier for the parasite and its larvae. These large structures are usually concentrated with starches and nutrients that the parasites can feed on. These parasites can have both endo- and ectoparasitic tendencies which is displayed in their choice to lay eggs on the outside of the plant or feed and live inside the gall formation.
This photo was taken on June 12th near Randall Library on UNCW campus. Red-tailed Hawks (Buteo jamaicensis) occupy almost every open habitat type in North America. These habitat types include grasslands, scrublands, fields, pastures, roadsides, parks, broken woodlands, deserts, and even tropical rainforests in Mexico. Some Red-tailed Hawks that reside in desert areas practice commensalism with the Saguaro Cactus. The Red-tailed Hawk benefits from the relationship because the Saguaro Cactus provides a place for it to build its nest, and the Saguaro Cactus is neither helped nor harmed by the Red-tailed Hawk. There is no effect from the nest building on the Saguaro Cactus. The Red-tailed hawk utilizes the cactus height as a way to help provide a commanding view of the landscape.
Sources:
www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-tailed_Hawk/lifehistory
grove.ccsd59.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/05/Rela...
Very fun find in the Bluethenthal Wildflower preserve last week. This is Aseroë rubra (Starfish Fungus) and it produces a very foul odor. Many fungi thrive on decomposing plant matter on the O horizon (organic layer) of the soil column. These organisms assist in recycling the chemical nutrients (like nitrogen and carbon). These nutrients are then re-inserted back into the soil--providing a rich habitat for many bacteria, fungi, and plants to flourish.
During spring break I took a trip to Dayton Beach Florida. While I was there I was walking on the beach and ran into this Man-of-war. After I saw this one, more kept showing up on-shore. Seeing all of these hydrozoans on shore confused me because these man-of-wars do not usually appear in Florida until July or August. This could be due to climate change, or the fact that there was a strong storm in Daytona a few days before I got there. I asked one of my friends that live there and she said that every time there is a strong storm these Man-Of-Wars get washed up all over Florida. They travel with the wind and current, and they do not swim.
Man-of-wars tend to travel in packs so this is why I saw so many washed up on the beach.
This is a short clip of a periwinkle on my boyfriend's hand. We were at the salt march on Wrightsville beach on Feb 19 around 3pm (this was just before low tide which was at 3:40)
I believe the scientific name of this periwinkle is Littoraria irrorata, or the Marsh Periwinkle is another common name.
Periwinkles' shells are often white or light in color because of their exposure to the sun, the light color reflects the light helping to keep them cool. Their shells often are also structured (have ridges) this provides more surface area again helping to keep them cool in the sun. During high tide periwinkles climb up the grass in the marsh, this is done so they can get up out of the water.
Periwinkles are the only known species to practice fungiculture (source below) Periwinkles produce wounds and maintain them on the marsh grass which are then infected by fungi. The fungi that infects the grass is then what these snails feed on.
Fungiculture source : Brian R. Silliman , Steven Y. Newell (2003). "Fungal farming in a snail". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 100 (26): 15643–15648.
Two weekends ago I took the ferry to Southport for a fun trip with my friends! As we were waiting for the next ferry, we parked the car and walked to the edge of the dock where they had these orange cones. In almost all of them, there was plants growing through them. I thought this was sad yet beautiful. It is sad that ugly orange construction cones were taking up such a beautiful scenery, but it was also incredible that this plant species still found a way to grow! Throughout nature, it is very common for species to show resiliency or respond to environmental stress this way. Like we talked about in class, zonation is found everywhere and some species being present in a preferred zone causes another species to be shifted elsewhere. The plant species in this cone is shifted upwards, so it may not be dealing with much competition of other species since it is off the ground, leading to a huge benefit for this species. When it rains, the water will trickle inside the cone and cause the plant to receive more water and perhaps even absorb more nutrients than the species surrounding it. Since it is surrounding by a huge orange cone, it may be harder for pests and insects to get to the plant, also.
I took this picture of the bearded fireworm (Hermodice carunculata) at the center for marine science. The bearded fireworm is under the Annelida phylum. They typically live in tropical waters and reside in corals, rocks, mud or sand. It uses its parapodia to move around and it is slow. It feeds mostly on plants, but if touched it can release a powerful toxin that can penetrate human skin which will cause the skin to burn and become irritated.
One of the perks of working at the Fort Fisher Aquarium is that everyday I am surrounded by marvelous creatures and many diversities of ecology. On January 21,2018 our beautiful Green Moray Eel (Gymnothorax funebrix) decided to make an appearance from under his hiding place in the Cape Fear Shoals tank for feeding time. This demonstrates the ecological concept of an individual in its habitat during feeding time and how it interacts with its surroundings. The Green Moray Eel is actually a brown color but covers itself in mucus for protection from predators. He feeds on fish, crab, octopus, shrimp and squid. They also like to hide under ledges to be protected from predators and when under those ledges they feel more protected from the larger predators. They actually have sharp teeth that they like to show off when breathing in and out water to stay alive and show off to others as a warning that they are a threat.
Source:https://aqua.org/explore/animals/green-moray-eel
Fort Fisher Aquarium
This photo was taken Sunday January 21, 2018 on the South End of Wrightsville Beach. Coastal sand dunes play an important part in the ecology for North Carolina’s coast. The dunes help protect the coastal environment from wind and waves which cause erosion. They also help support life. I think the plant pictured is Uniola paniculata due to the PDF referenced. Sea oats, Uniola paniculata, play a huge role in the stabilization of coastal sand dunes. They have large root systems helping them retain water while securing sand dunes in place. Sea oats help trap more sand on the dune which stimulate its growth. The sand dunes create a niche for the sea oats by providing the conditions and resources needed for growth. The relationship between the sand dunes and the organism also help the surrounding environment by increasing protection from erosion.
Shadow, R. A. 2007.. Plant fact sheet for Sea oats (Uniola paniculata L. Published October, 2007 . USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, East Texas Plant Material Center, Nacogdoches, TX 75964. plants.usda.gov/factsheet/pdf/fs_unpa.pdf
Tillandsia is a genus commonly known as Airplants. This particular plant is from Guatemala, but Tillandsia can be found in Central and South America. These plants are epiphytes, meaning they absorb their nutrients and water through their leaves as opposed to soil. They use the CAM cycle to prevent water loss and accumulate carbon dioxide. Temperature is not a huge factor in the survival of Tillandsia, but frost may have harmful affects depending on the species. They have small roots that are used to anchor the plant to just about anything. These plants are extremely versatile and can thrive under many conditions, and may even be glued or stuck to a number of objects in a decorative fashion. In fact, I have glued this Tillandsia ionantha to a cork to simply hang on a wall. These plants are extremely easy to care for, as they survive using indirect sunlight or fluorescent lighting and only need to be watered 1-2 times per week. My Tillandsia ionantha have been living with mainly fluorescent lighting and watering 2 times a week, and have about doubled in size in the month and a half that I have had them. Unfortunately, my plants are not in bloom right now, but when they are some of their leaves turn a pink/red color and they may sprout purple and yellow flowers.
The Ilex Genus in the Aquifoliaceae family is easily recognized as a symbol for the Christmas season even when they grow all year long. They range in sizes from little shrubs to trees. Most species of holly are evergreen, but there are others that can be deciduous. Both male and female trees are required for the growth of berries, but not all species has berries. The spiny leaves provide as protection for the plant . The waxy cuticle on the leaf provides water storage. The cuticle also provides protection from any other diseased organism that happens to stop by. aces.nmsu.edu/ces/yard/2002/101202.html
www.thespruce.com/eighteen-species-holly-trees-and-shrubs...
The salt marshes in North Carolina are known for their teaming amounts of biodiversity and the ecological roles that they play in the oceanic environment.
The marsh is home to several different species of plants and animals that each fill certain ecological niches for that ecosystem. An example of this would be the cordgrass (Spartina alteriflora) that is all over the marsh. These plants have special adaptations that allow them to deal with high amounts of salt and low amounts of water during the day, due to the tidal patterns and the high salinity content of the salt marshes themselves. There are also larger amounts of oysters (crassostrea virginica) which help filter out toxins and other harmful things in the waters. The oysters also aid in the process of adding calcium carbonate to the ocean when they die. This calcium carbonate works as a pH buffer which can help resist a change in pH if an acidic or basic solution is present in the environment.
Sources: plants.usda.gov
This is a photograph of Spanish Moss, Tillandsia usneoides, growing on a pine tree. This plant is not actually a moss as it's more closely related to pineapples and succulents. They are sometimes called "air plants" because small scales, called trichomes, that envelop the entire plant absorb nutrients and water from the atmosphere. This plant grows on other trees in warm, humid areas. It's most often found growing on oaks or pines. Spanish Moss growing on other trees is an example of commensalism because while it does use another tree as support, it does not harm the larger tree in the process. Commensalism is a type of symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits and there is no effect on the other. Only on rare occasions does the weight of the moss break a branch or the sheer mass of the plant block sunlight. Spanish Moss also provides a habitat for an array of other organisms, including rat snakes, chiggers, several species of bats, and spiders.
This is a luna moth (Actias luna) that I found outside behind my work a few days ago. Luna moths are typically found all along the eastern United States and up into some southern parts of Canada. Their preferred habitat is deciduous forests, and there is a fairly wooded area behind my work. They aren’t seen very often since their lifespan is relatively short; because of this, luna moths in the same population tend to emerge around the same time as each other.
The moth’s color and wing pattern is a great example of an adaptation to predation. The “eye-spots” on the wings are to confuse anything wanting to eat them into thinking that the moth is a larger predator. The bright colors also perform the same job.
Citations:
Blazer, Cassandra. Luna Moth. 2007. bioweb.uwlax.edu/bio203/f2012/blazer_cass/index.htm.
Staake, Jill. "The Lovely Luna Moth." Birds & Blooms.” June 2015. Website birdsandblooms.com. Jan 2018. (www.birdsandblooms.com/blog/lovely-luna-moth/)
Although there are plenty of individual components of an ecosystem in this photo, the main one is the rain-filled cloud. The water cycle is one of the four fundamental ecological processes widely accepted in the world today. It consists of evaporation, condensation, precipitation, transpiration, runoff, and infiltration. In the first step, evaporation, water absorbs heat energy from the sun and turns into vapor. The main sources of evaporation include oceans, seas, lakes, and rivers. The process of evaporation causes these sources to decrease in temperature. Clouds are formed during the process of condensation. The evaporated water particles move from the hydrosphere to the atmosphere at high altitudes, which causes water vapor to come together to form masses known as clouds. The clouds then pour down as precipitation due to wind or temperature change. The condensed water vapor (clouds) combine to make bigger droplets hence the rain, snow, sleet, or hail. Once the precipitation has fallen, it can go into three different places. Transpiration is a similar process to evaporation where liquid water is turned into water vapor by the plants. The water is absorbed through the roots of the plant and pushed toward the leaves where it is used for photosynthesis. The extra water not used for photosynthesis moves out of the leaves through stomata (very tiny openings on leaves) as water vapor. Another path the water could take after precipitation is runoff. Runoff is the process where water runs over the surface of the earth and displaces the top soil and moves the minerals along with the stream. Infiltration is also a possibility in which the water seeps down and increases the level of ground water table. Although it might seem fairly simple, the water cycle continues to baffle people and can be explained in much more detail than this. There are many articles and videos on the internet talking about specifics and how it all comes together in a quite a bit of more detail.
The dune grass, or what I think is dune grass, surviving next to salt or brackish water having to deal with salty water to use during photosynthesis. That is if plants have to worry about the water being salty or not.
This photo was taken on the campus of UNCW. This is not a stinging insect, it is in fact a fly mimicking a stinging insect so predators will stay away. This is an example of Mullerian mimicry.
The duck in the video above recently began visiting the duck pond at The Reserve at Forest Hills at the corner of Darlington Ave and Covil here in Wilmington NC February 11th 2018. This particular pond is a home to many waterfowl that come and go. Spotted in this community include; Canadian geese, Greater white geese, Mallard ducks, Blue heron, Snowy egrets, Hooded merganser, Little blue heron, and the occasional Sandpiper.
Cairina Moschata more commonly known as the Muscovy Duck originate in South America but can be found naturally in the wild in Southern Texas since the 1980s. The Muscovy Duck is widespread throughout the world in domesticated settings for their meat and eggs. They resemble a goose in size and the male can reach up to 7 kg. Small feral populations throughout the United States but particularly in Florida are reported, and are considered to be invasive by the Florida Fish and Wildlife conservation Commission. An invasive species is a species that is not native to an area, and is more popularly defined as a nonnative species that is harmful to the native wildlife or environment. Although Muscovy ducks are not that different from your typical mallard, and have even been bred with mallards to increase mallard size . However they can have a very negative impact on bird species that they share their wetland ecosystems. Not only do they often displace native species but they also are known to carry a disease called duck viral enteritis. This disease is not normally encountered by native birds and can cause devastation to their communities. Consider the competitive exclusion principle, where Muscovy and other wetland birds compete for the same resource. Unfortunately Muscovy are well adapted to their wetland environments and as an invasive species often displace or exclude the native species. We could predict a inter-specific competition to be scramble exploitative, where both species have access but Muscovy are better adapted to use more of the resource, pushing out other species out . The result in Southern Florida has been many debates on the best method to rid themselves of Muscovy ducks, and demand for laws to address humane ways to do so. Considering the effect the Muscovy duck can have on local bird populations finding an appropriate way to contain them as domestic species and reduce their feral populations.
www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/fl-pines-muscovy-ducks...
Longleaf Pine (Pinus Palustris) thrives in humid regions with long, hot summers and mild winters. Longleaf pines participate in sexual reproduction. The male and female cones are both on the same tree. Typically, the male cones are located on the lower branches of the tree and produce pollen. While the female cones are located at the top of the tree and are responsible for producing the eggs. One way to tell the male and female cones apart is by comparing the sizes. The male cones are considerably smaller than the female cones. The development of a substantial seed count requires three growing seasons from the time of flower bud initiation. In the first year, flower buds grow during midsummer, reaching maturity during winter. The next spring, the female flowers are fertilized by pollen carried in the wind. Those seeds reach maturity in early October of the third growing season. The seeds are then disseminated by the wind. Because if this, most of the seeds are carried less than 120 feet away from its parent tree.
www.dnr.sc.gov/marine/mrri/acechar/speciesgallery/Plants/...
sciencing.com/do-pine-trees-reproduce-5173107.html
www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/united...
Grasses are monocotyledonous flowering plants in the family Poaceae. Members of this family are some of the most ecologically successful and economically important plants in the world.
Members of Poaceae include: Wheat, barley, oats, rice, corn, and sugarcane... making Poaceae the most important source of calories for humans and animals.
Grasses grow on all continents, and make up about 24 percent of the earths vegetation. The economical importance of grasses is due to their role as an important food source. About 70% of agricultural land is found in the form of crop grasses and more than 50% of calories that are consumed are found in the form of grasses. This includes grains that are used in cereals and other food sources such as bread wheat, barley, oats, rye, rice, corn, sugarcane, etc.
Cultivation of members of this family began about ten thousand years ago, allowing human beings to shift from being hunter gathers, to domesticating animals and plants.
The relationship between humans and agricultural plants is mutualistic due to agricultural plant modifications that have occurred as a result of cultural selection by humans. Many of these plants no longer have the ability to survive in the wild and without humans to plant and care for them, they would become extinct. One example of these agricultural plant modifications can be found in maize, although they are apparent in many other agricultural plants as well.
Over time, human maize selection has been those that have fruiting bodies (kernals) enclosed inside leaf structures that do not open, with seeds that do not separate easily from the cob. These modifications make seed dispersal particularly difficult for natural reproduction.
Grasses are photosynthetic organisms, creating a consumer-herbivory interaction with humans that use grasses as a food source. Herbivores are classified based on the part of the plant that they consume. Grazers are a type of herbivore that consume grasses and low shrubs. This is also a form of interspecific interaction that involves the consumption of primary producers--the foundation of most food webs.
Grasses have adapted to persist in a wide range of environmental conditions including some of the coldest regions, areas of high elevation, deserts, aquatic environments, and more. They can survive in a variety of communities such as those found in freshwater and saltwater marshes, tundras, meadows, and disturbed habitats. While they can survive in many habitats, grass persistence is inhibited with the presence of some woody competitors.
Grasses rely on wind for dispersal of seeds and produce hollow stems that grow from the base of the plant as a form of predation adaptation. The difference between cool-season and warm-season grasses is based on the carbon fixation of the plant. Cool-season grasses utilize the C3 carbon fixation pathway, with most of the photosynthetic processes occurring in the mesophyll cells on the leaf surface. Warm-season grasses use C4 carbon fixation, which performs the initial CO2 fixation and Calvin Cycle as separate steps in different cell types.
Sources:
www.britannica.com/plant/Poaceae
Symbiosis - Symbioses Between Humans And Other Species
Jennifer M. Lang (University of Dayton) & M. Eric Benbow (University of Dayton) © 2013 Nature Education
Citation: Lang, J. M. & Benbow, M. E. (2013) Species Interactions and Competition. Nature Education Knowledge 4(4):8
Chimney Rock is a 535-million-year old rock formation located at the edge of Blue Ridge Mountains. This geological structure came about through a mass of granite that was formed when the Earth’s molten interior welled up, cooled and solidified. Through billions of years of high temperatures and extreme pressure, the granite became a form of Gneiss. Followed by a slow process of erosion by wind, water and extreme temperatures, Chimney Rock was carved out from its surrounding cliffs.
www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC1H7EB_chimney-rock-park-geo...
I took this photo today at Hugh MacRae Park around 7pm. Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides) is a beautiful and very unique plant. It is not even a moss, it is actually apart of the same family as a pineapple. It does not have a root system and grows on the surface of other plants for support. I have always thought that Spanish moss had a parasitic relationship with the trees it grows on (usually oak or cypress trees). There is no need for the Spanish moss to grow into the host tree because it can perform photosynthesis independently. It uses the sunlight to make energy and it flourishes on fog, rain, and debris. Since the Spanish moss benefits from draping over other plants and the plants are neither harmed nor benefited, it is considered a commensalism symbiotic relationship.
Sources:
www.reference.com/science/relationship-between-spanish-mo...
mentalfloss.com/article/67807/10-things-you-should-know-a...
The Ginkgo tree (Ginkgo biloba) outside of Carrabbas Italian Grill in Wilmington. The distinctive fan shaped leaves are unfortunately not present because of the season. The Ginkgo is the only remaining species in its family and is endangered. The interesting thing about the Ginkgo is a dioecious species with distinctive male and female characteristics. The females are actually banned in areas due to their rotting smell of the fruit that they produce. In an ecological concept, the male species is manually cloned and therefore every Ginkgo tree is genetically identical and male. This is critical as there is no genetic variation in the population leaving it at risk of becoming eliminated via processes of natural selection.
This bird, presumed to be a Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias), was spotted at a gate on the perimeter of the Port of Wilmington on 19 January 2018. As the port is located on the Cape Fear River, it is no surprise to see a numerous amount of wildlife passing through. It was surprising to see this guy all the way on the outskirts where there are tons of cargo trucks, people and traffic as they are known to be more shy than some of their other avian cousins. Upon research, I found that the Great Blue Heron are able to adapt to many different environments and are found in numerous types of habitats. They can survive in both freshwater and saltwater habitats to include marshes and coastlines. As they hunt during the day, I would assume this bird was looking for potential prey. Though they frequent bodies of water and stalk aquatic animals, they also consume reptiles, invertebrates, insects, small mammals and other birds. If hunting wasn’t on his agenda, then perhaps he was looking for sticks to begin building a nest for their upcoming breeding season. These birds frequently nest in tall trees located near a body of water. The Port of Wilmington seems to be an area which these birds can flourish. They have plenty of resources from both land and water, the climate does not force them to migrate and they can seek shelter in the foliage and trees surrounding the port. One condition which may affect the survival of these birds in this area is the amount of pollutants in the river due to the ships that dock and sail on a regular basis. These ships also increase the waves and affect the river current. There are not many predators of the Great Blue Heron in this area. Their main concern would most likely be an alligator. Other animals such as crows and raccoons are known to steal their eggs. All of these conditions are potentially hazardous to the Great Blue Heron but this one seems to have adapted to his surroundings quite well.
References:
“Great Blue Heron.” The Cornell Lab of Ornithology , www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Great_Blue_Heron/id.
“Great Blue Heron Information, Photos, and Facts.” American Expedition , americanexpedition.us/learn-about-wildlife/great-blue-heron-facts-info-and-pictures/.
This coquina outcrop is located at Fort Fisher, taken on January 20th. In this photo is the coquina outcrop which is formed over many years from pieces of shell from different organisms. Gulls are also visible, and so is algea growing on the outcrop. While I was taking picture the gulls were eating the algae, or at least poking something in it. What I thought was cool was the coquina outcrop gave the algae something to anchor too and grow off of, and gulls got something to eat from it. Also, there are probably many other organisms that live around or use the outcrop as a source for shelter or food.
This photo was taken at Randall Pond which is part of the Burnst Mill Creek Watershed in Wilmington, NC. The green aquatic organism located throughout this photo is known as Myriophyllum aquaticum also known by its common name, Parrotfeather (deq.nc.gov/aquatic-weeds-found-north-carolina). Initial observations regarding this organism are that much of its structure is located beneath the surface of the water while the very top flower-like portion of the plant protrudes from the surface of the water. From an ecological perspective this type of orientation by the plant is interesting because it differs from many terrestrial plants and changes the possible resources and conditions that the organism will come in contact with. Parrotfeather is an important organism for ecological studies because it is not native to the United States and is considered to be an invasive species. This organism has spread throughout much of the United States and displays a wide range of habitable locations (Wersal, et al., 195). Wilmington, NC happens to be one of the many locations that the plant has been able to spread to and survive in. The organism has been able to fulfill its realized niche by satisfying its necessary survival and reproduction requirements in many parts of North America. One reason that this organism is highly capable of successfully surviving in various locations is that it uses seasonal allocation to vary its biomass, nitrogen, and phosphorus based on the changing seasonal weather patterns that occur in its many habitats. This organism has evolved to use this method of allocation in order to conserve energy and resources throughout the year to account for changing temperatures in seasonal climates (Sytsma and Anderson, 244). Invasive species become an issue ecologically when they begin to influence the other organisms or the environment that they become locally surrounded by. Myriophyllum aquaticum can become problematic in certain locations due to its invasive nature. One problem caused by this organism is that it can increase mosquito populations by providing larvae with an escape from predators. This in turn can affect human populations as well as others that are susceptible to disease by mosquitoes (Sytsma and Anderson, 244). In this case this plant is enhancing the niche of one organism while hurting that of others. Other negative effects that this organism can have on its environment is that it can block adequate flow of water resulting in increased flood waters (Wersal et al., 195). Overall this photo displays many ecological concepts such as niche, evolutionary adaptations, resource/condition tolerance, climate/temperature variation, and relationships among organisms. All these concepts are equally important in determining the organism's relationship to its physical, chemical, and biological surroundings.
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality. Aquatic Weeds found in North Carolina.
deq.nc.gov/aquatic-weeds-found-north-carolina.
Sytsma, Mark D., L. W. Anderson. "Biomass, Nitrogen, and Phosphorous Allocation in
Parrotfeather (Mryiophyllum aquaticum)." Plant Manage, vol. 31, pp. 244-248, 1993.
Accessed 22 Jan. 2018.
Wersal, Ryan M., Joshua C. Cheshier, John D. Madsen, Patrick D. Gerard. "Phenology, Starch
Allocation, and Environmental Effects on Myriophyllum acquaticum." Aquatic Botany,
vol. 95, pp. 194-199, 2011. Accessed 22 Jan. 2018.
On Saturday, June 2, 2018, I took my 5-year old daughter to Greenfield Lake and walked the bike path to go left away from the paddle boats heading towards Turtle Bridge. Along the path, we saw several different species of plants and animals. At 1407 we spotted a very large vine spiraled counterclockwise around a Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda L.) tree trunk climbing towards the treetop, but about halfway up the vine split and branched over to a neighboring Pond Cypress (Taxodium ascendens). The vine has pulled the two trees together as the new vine climbed to the top of the Pond Cypress. My daughter first thought it was a huge snake climbing a tree, but once I assured her it wasn’t we took a closer look at the interesting plant. My Daughter asked me how the vine was able to reach over and climb the other tree and pull it over. I told her what probably happened was that the vine fell from its tree during a storm and the wind pushed the vine into the near-by tree. She thought the vine just reached over and grabbed, it like in cartoons. After I explained it to her she told me that made more sense and really enjoyed learning about nature.
The vine was an invasive species known as Chinese Wisteria which is different from our native American Wisteria (Wisteria frutescens). The Chinese Wisteria is a deciduous woody vine capable of growing to a height of 40 ft. (12.2 m). Stems can be up to 10 in. (25.4 cm) in diameter with smooth, gray-brown. You can properly identify the Chinese Wisteria by when you are looking down on the vine, it twines in a counterclockwise direction around the host. The Japanese Wisteria (Wisteria floribunda) twines clockwise. The foliage has an Alternate, pinnately compound (7-13 leaflets) leaves which are tapered at the tip with wavy edges. The Leaflets are approximately 7.6 cm in length. Chinese Wisteria flowers lavender, purple or white flowers what that have a pleasant smell. The flowers dangle in clusters in the spring between 15-30 cm in length. The seeds are poisonous and are contained in hairy flattened bean-like pods that are 15.2 cm long. Wisteria prefers full sun and well-drained soils but will grow in less than desirable conditions. Once a native of China, it was first introduced into the United States in 1800’s for ornamental purposes. It is mainly found growing along roadsides, forest edges, and rights-of-ways.
This Invasive species is an ecological threat to our native forests. Chinese Wisteria is highly aggressive and can displace native species. An Individual wisteria plant could survive for more than 50 years. Wisteria can reproduce quickly by rooting at each node and will produce new shoots if cut back or trimmed. Chinese Wisteria can displace native vegetation and kill trees and shrubs by girdling them. The vine can change the structure of a forest by killing large trees and altering the light availability to the forest floor.
After doing some research on Chinese Wisteria, I have noticed it in many of our forests and wonder why gardeners and people would introduce such a devastating plant into our ecosystem. This species has no natural predators in our ecosystem and the only way to manage it is by cutting the stump and applying a 25% solution of glyphosate or triclopyr to the stem or for larger infestations a wisteria foliar herbicide may be necessary. The best time to apply this method is during the spring and summer when the plant is actually growing so that during winter the herbicide can move back into the underground portion as the plant moves sugars back into the roots.
Citations
1. Identification and Biology of Nonnative Plants in Florida’s Natural Areas – Second Edition, by K.A. Langeland, H.M. Cherry, et al. University of Florida-IFAS Publication # SP 257. 2008.
2. Strangers in Paradise, Impact and Management of Nonindigenous Species in Florida, Chapter 2: Florida’s Invasion by Nonindigenous Plants: History, Screening, and Regulation, by D.R. Gordon and K.P. Thomas, pp. 21-37. Island Press, Washington, DC, 1997.
3. Invasive and Non-native Plants You Should Know – Recognition Cards, by A. Richard and V. Ramey. University of Florida-IFAS Publication # SP 431. 2007.
4. Integrated Management of Nonnative Plants in Natural Areas of Florida, by K. A. Langeland, J. A. Ferrell, B. Sellers, G. E. MacDonald, and R. K. Stocker. University of Florida-IFAS Publication # SP 242. 2011.
5. Google. (2018). Google images. Retrieved from Google.
Taken today, January 23rd, this Eastern Redbud tree located outside of Morton Hall is able to grow in the sandhill soil common in Coastal Plain region of North Carolina where Wilmington is found. If you look closely, ants that I assume to be black carpenter ants are traveling along its bark. This species of ants live in wood instead of consume it. As I was observing their pathway of movement, I noticed that they were venturing under the looser layers of bark, so at first glance I assumed this was their home. However, I later read that black carpenter ants typically live in rotted wood over a live tree. Upon further research, I came upon an article in americanforests.org that states how over time an aging tree's bark starts to open up due to factors like weathering creating an opportunity for water to enter and make for a habitable place for fungi. This process also welcomes ants and other insects to come in and start to investigate eating at that now softening bark to make paths that their colony could live in. Now, this is what I presume is occurring since I do see loose and cracked bark. The black carpenter ants meeting their need of shelter by utilizing the Eastern Redbud shows their ecological niche and an interaction with a biotic factor of their environment.
sources: www.americanforests.org/magazine/article/ants-and-trees-a...
Pictured is an Eastern Oyster, Crassostrea virginica, sampled from the Intercoastal Waterway in Masonboro. This species is a keystone species for our marine environment because they provide three important roles: food, fish habitats, and filtering. Oysters are a growing revenue in North Carolina due to the local's passion for consuming these bivalves. According to the North Carolina Coastal Federation, oyster reefs can be home of up to 300 species including flounder, shrimp, and blue crabs. Most importantly, oysters are filter feeders, taking nutrients out of the water column and deposit them into the sediments, linking the food chain. Also pictured is the colonial organism, the Boring Sponge or Cliona celata. This organism is also a filter feeder; however, it competes for hard surfaces in which to burrow. This boring does not benefit the sponge nutritionally; however, it does provide an amount of shelter and protection for the colony. A study on the coast of Beaufort, North Carolina shows that this weakens the shells of shellfish by up to 28% allowing greater predation. Attached are the locations to read more from the studies on the two organisms from which I received my information, and hopefully for you to learn much more about the organisms on North Carolina's coast!
Sources:
This is a Little Stint who is pecking at the sand for food at North Topsail Beach around 6:30 AM Sunday, May 24, 2015. This indiviual is in a prime area for a resource of food. With all the small invertebrates that live in the sand it has a great opportunity to be able to mature, reproduce, and survive.
I'm pink, and so are my flowery friends. Our relationship is interesting; some days I walk by them and notice them very little, while other days I stop for their beauty and smile. And still other days I take a selfie with them to use for my eco project. We're so different and yet so similar, both just trying to survive, although I doubt the flowers stop to adoringly gaze at me as often as I do to them. But our relationship is more than a superficial attraction based on looks. No, it's much, much more than that. The flowers receive light from the sun and use this light to photosynthesize, and with the help of our old pals H2O and CO2, these flowers derive power, releasing O2 in the process. I then use the O2 this flower released to respirate, releasing CO2 as a byproduct, that the flower then.... yeah, you get the point. Now, of course our relationship isn't quite as intimate as I've described it, but on a holistic level, we are totally dependent on each other. We're nothing more than two organisms, both evolved to fit a specific niche (even though us humans often times way overdo our role). But at the end of the day, we're both living things. So next time you blatantly disrespect the validity of a plant, just sit back and ask yourself why your form of life is any better? Than thank the plants for all they have to offer you, and go on with your day.
This green tree frog (Hyla cinerea) was spotted in the parking lot of my apartment complex on Tuesday, May 23rd 2017 after the masses of rain we received here in Wilmington, North Carolina this week. The small and vibrant frogs are usually found in a more vegetated environment but come out into the open like such when either looking to mate or looking for prey. More than likely, the abundance of water by the road had him out seeking to attempt to reproduce. Having just covered r strategists in lecture, this little guy is a perfect example, making a quick home here and looking to reproduce often and fast. Another interesting fact is that the green tree frog and the squirrel tree frog often get mistaken for each other, but the white stripe on both sides of the body indicate that it is in fact a green tree frog.
Acknowledgments: eol.org/pages/1025215/hierarchy_entries/24938261/details
Taracacum officianale, or the common dandelion, is a flower we’ve all seen and recognize. While some view it as the source of childhood wishes, others view it was a nuisance or a weed. The plant was believed to be introduced to North America by Europe and was intended to be a food crop since it possesses nutritional and medicinal value. Commonly used as a diuretic and a liver treatment today, it also offered vitamins A, C, and K. Although it is commonly thought of as a weed, the flower also provides a food source to a large array of wildlife including ladybugs, bees, and even bears. The Taracacum officianale also has a strong taproot which allows the plant to regenerate even if the flower is removed. So although many mind find the flower to be a nuisance, it is a resistant plant with many useful qualities.
I was at beach access 38 in Wrightsville Beach this past Saturday (1/20/18). I decided to take a walk to go look for seashells when I came across this awesome creature. This is a Blue Crab, also know as Callinectes sapidus. I was able to identify the type of crab from a picture that I found off Google (Figure 1). On the front of the shell, they have something called anterolateral teeth. The Blue Crab has eight of these teeth. When I first saw the blue crab, I immediately started thinking about why the shell was pink. After doing a little bit of research, I could not really find anything that specifically stated why the shell turned pink. My theory is that when the organism died, it lost all the oxygen that normally regulated within it’s body. Perhaps the oxygen had something to do with the color pigments that makeup the shell or it could have been something as simple as long exposure in the sun which caused it to bleach. I do know that crabs will camouflage through color change in order to fit in with their surroundings. A lot of the time it’s so they can hide from predators. Maybe this crab wanted to blend in with the seashells.
Figure 1 -http://njscuba.net/biology/sw_crabs.php
#ecology #uncw #bio366 #uncweteal #Sp2018 #image1 #Wilmington #NC #Wrightsvillebeach
This picture was taken on January 21, 2018 on the Oceanic pier of Wrightsville beach. In the picture, there is a pod of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops Truncatus) chasing schools of bait fish about 50-100 feet offshore, presumably either Herring or Mullet. Dolphins live together in a pod of typically 10-30 dolphins where they work together to hunt down food. They use echolocation to find and track down bait fish in the ocean to then feed on. They emit a high-pitched sound that travels through the water, and then once it encounters an object it bounces back to the dolphin. The signal is then used by the dolphin to determine if the object is prey or not and how far away the object is from the dolphin. The dolphins in the picture were using a predation method to hunt fish where the pod circles around a school of baitfish and push the school towards shore, so they can more easily catch and eat the bait fish. The teeth of the dolphin are cone-like so they can grab onto nearby fish and then swallow them whole. The bottlenose dolphin is commonly found throughout the world in temperate water.
Lichens, like the one in this photo, can grow on different locations such as the bark on trees, rocks, and ground. They are formed from a mutualistic relationship between a fungus and an alga or cyanobacterium. The fungus provides the structure that allows for support, absorption of moisture and the collection of minerals from the air. Since fungi cannot produce their own food, the lichen uses the alga or cyanobacterium’s ability to photosynthesize in order to obtain its food. An interesting thing about these organisms is that they are widely used as bio-indicators. Since lichens are sensitive to Sulphur dioxide pollution in the air, they tend to grow in areas with cleaner air. Lichens such as Ramalina, Usnea and Lobaria species are highly sensitive than other lichens and are never found in areas polluted by industrialization. However, other species of lichens aren’t as sensitive. I believe this one is of the species Lepraria incana which can tolerate poor air quality meaning that this area in Thomasville, NC may not have the best air quality.
Sources:
When it rains, it emits a pleasant scent called petrichor. Scientists have identified a few sources for this smell, one being bacteria found in the soil. When it rains, the drops land on bacteria called actinomycetes that release a chemical into the atmosphere, creating the scent. Another cause of the earthy aroma is ozone. During large thunderstorms, lightning breaks oxygen and nitrogen molecules to create nitric oxide, which interacts with other compounds it the atmosphere to produce ozone.
For Spring Break this year I was fortunate enough to be able to go on a cruise to the Bahamas. Before we left though we were warned that there might be a slight possibility of Zika being present in the Bahamas. We were advised to wear mosquito repellant and to wear long clothing whenever possible. Since Zika is a virus it can be considered a microparasite that uses an intermediate vector to infect humans. Humans can then pass the virus on to each other. This virus causes birth defects in babies, fever, rash, joint pain, and red eyes. The symptoms usually aren't bad enough that the person infected becomes hospitalized, but once infected you shouldn't be able to be infected again.
Sciurus carolinensis (animaldiversity.org) lives in a tree of the genus Quercus (web.archive.org). It's unclear whether the interaction between the two organisms is commensal or mutualistic, as the tree is not being harmed but it is unclear whether it's obtaining any measurable gain from the squirrel's residence; the squirrel, however, gets shelter and possibly food from the tree. There is also a coating lichen covering almost the entirety of the tree. Lichen is not an organism in and of itself, but rather a reaction between moss and bacteria. Therefore, it was impossible to identify the name every organism in the sample taxonomically or colloquially. Many lichens are known to secrete an acidic byproduct that may harm the tree; however, without a proper identification its impossible to tell. Pandion haliaetus (animaldiversity.org) has been known to eat small rodents such as squirrels. As such, the tree, in which I've seen ospreys roosting, helps support both the squirrel and osprey populations in Wilmington.
The image above was taken on January 19th by the Intracoastal near Wrightsville Beach. The image is of a southern live oak tree (Quercus virginiana) with Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides) hanging from its limbs. Spanish moss is common in tropical and subtropical climates growing on larger trees, such as the southern live oak, and is most popular in the southeastern and southwestern United States. Spanish moss is considered an epiphyte-- a plant that lives on a fellow plant but does not cause harm to its host. Because Spanish moss benefits from living on live oaks, but live oaks neither benefit nor are harmed, they interact in a relationship called commensalism. On occasion though, Spanish moss can cause harm to live oaks by growing to a point where it blocks the sunlight from reaching the tree's leaves.
This photo was taken on January 8th, 2018. Even though most of the snow dissolved before I took the photo, it amazed me seeing this combination. The ecology I would like to focus on here are the stratus clouds; shown is the base of stratocumulus clouds moving towards the ocean. Stratus meaning "flattened" and cumulus meaning "heap". Stratus clouds are identified as being the lowest lying cloud type. The thickness in stratus clouds can vary. I always used to think stratus clouds indicated rainfall. Yet, I come to find out that stratus clouds are usually accompanied by little to no precipitation.
www.metoffice.gov.uk/binaries/content/assets/mohippo/pdf/...
Found on the floor of the pine forests located on the campus of UNC-Wilmington, this little guy is an embryo who's well on its way to developing into a mature conifer tree. With its green tendrils extending out and hoping to take root, this little sprout exhibits a gymnosperm in action.
"Gymnosperm" comes from the composition of the Greek words "gymnos" meaning "naked" and "sperma", meaning "seed". But don't let the name fool you, these "naked seeds" are far from vulnerable.
Thanks to evolution, gymnosperms were perhaps the first type of plants to produce seeds, rather than spores and utilized hard coatings to protect their seeds to ensure their reproductive success. Additionally, gymnosperms broadcast their male gametes in the form of pollen, using wind, instead of only water as a means to "sow their oats". This adaption really favored the success of gymnosperms- in fact, fossil records indicate that relatives of gymnosperms emerged around 380 million years ago, and true gymnosperms (which produced seeds, such as this) appeared about 365 million years ago- and if you take a look around, you'll see that they've been doing pretty well for themselves ever since.
Of the 4 gymnosperm phyla, conifers, like our little buddy here (most likely Pinus palustris) have become the most one of the abundant, hardy and diverse types of plants on the planet.
The adaptations and good biological design of these plants have made them extremely successful over millions of years, and if a little long-leaf pine spout like this can take hold, it may have the potential to shoot upwards to heights of 120 feet, and live up 400-500 years, which in the history of gymnosperms is just a blink of an eye.
Read more about plant evolution:
www.biologyreference.com/Ep-Fl/Evolution-of-Plants.html
Gymnosperm overview:
www.theplantlist.org/browse/G/
Read more about adaptations of the Long Leaf Pine:
(Behind UNCW campus) I spotted this Buck Moth (Quercus laurifolia) caterpillar behind UNCW campus. The Buck Moth spends much of its juvenile stage on Oak trees canopies feeding on leaves. Normally this feeding is not life-threatening for the oak but year after year of heavy feeding will damage the tree. Six to eight weeks after hatching the caterpillars drop from the tree and look for places to pupate. At this point Buck Moth Caterpillars rely on their spines to protect themselves from predators. The spines are hollow and connected to a poison sac and can cause painful stings. These spines are known as constitutive defenses.
Galls are structures that leaves make when they are attached by a consumer or parasite. They are intended to isolate the invader and its impact. These leaves were observed at Hanging Rock State Park in North Carolina
The Village Pond is a pond on UNCW campus right behind Seahawk Village apartments. It is Home to frog, turtles, possibly fish, and the occasional goose. On warm humid nights you can find frogs that have managed to climb on the apartment building. The ecological significance is that it is a water source for aquatic animals, plants, and geese. The vegetation around the pond particularly grass, is a good food source for geese, it’s a main part of their diet. There is plenty because of the water. Image 1.
This picture was taken on 1-29-16 at 4:51 PM in the Bluethenthal Wildflower Preserve on campus. After only a few minutes of walking the trails, I spotted the bones on top of a dirt mound created from a fallen tree. After making the discovery, I removed the leaves that had fallen on top of the bones and found the remainder of the skeleton, along with tufts of hair from the decomposed animal. After closer inspection of the skull and teeth, I concluded the animal had to have been an omnivorous mammal of relatively small size, most likely a North American opossum (Didelphis virginiana). Opossums are the only marsupials found north of Mexico in North America, and can be found across most of the continental US. This opossum was likely the victim of one of the many birds of prey found in the Wilmington area, who took the animal to the dirt mound to eat it. Opossums fill an interesting role in the food web as they are secondary consumers, meaning they consume both primary producers and primary consumers. They serve as a food source for tertiary consumers, such as owls, hawks, foxes, etc. Not only did this opossum supply energy to a higher entity in the food chain, it also supplied energy and nutrients to the lower levels of the food chain as well. Whatever flesh was left on the bones after the predator was done was likely eaten by flies, ants, and other insects. Bacteria were also likely present on the flesh, breaking it down even further and supplying the soil with nutrients that it would have otherwise not had. Plants and fungi can then use those nutrients to flourish on the otherwise barren tree mound.
This is an Atlantic Yellow Stingray in the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher. The Yellow stingray has a mouth that is on the underside of its body, which is an inferior mouth location. With a inferior mouth placement, the Yellow Stingray would eat food that lives at the bottom of the ocean, making them an important predator of the ocean floor ecosystem. For example, the diet of this Stingray consists of shrimp, underwater worms, small fish, and clams.
www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/fish/discover/species-profiles/...