View allAll Photos Tagged pathogens
he koala or, inaccurately, koala bear (Phascolarctos cinereus), is an arboreal herbivorous marsupial native to Australia. It is the only extant representative of the family Phascolarctidae and its closest living relatives are the wombats. The koala is found in coastal areas of the mainland's eastern and southern regions, inhabiting Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia.
Koalas typically inhabit open Eucalyptus woodland, as the leaves of these trees make up most of their diet. This eucalypt diet has low nutritional and caloric content and contains toxins that deter most other mammals from feeding on it. Koalas are largely sedentary and sleep up to twenty hours a day. They are asocial animals, and bonding exists only between mothers and dependent offspring.
Being marsupials, koalas give birth to underdeveloped young that crawl into their mothers' pouches, where they stay for the first six to seven months of their lives. These young koalas, known as joeys, are fully weaned around a year old. Koalas have few natural predators and parasites, but are threatened by various pathogens, such as Chlamydiaceae bacteria and the koala retrovirus. IWikipedia)
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Another classic Australian animal! We found two of these cute and sleepy Koalas in a Brisbane park. Both high in the tree, but at least we could see this one's eyes as he took a bleary look at us before going back to sleep.
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. October 2022.
Eagle-Eye Tours - Eastern Australia.
Le virus de l'influenza aviaire hautement pathogène fait son retour dans l'Hérault . j 'ai vu dans les étangs pas mal de mouettes et de sternes mortes ; c 'est bien triste .
je ne vous montrerai pas un Goéland mort , mais ces beaux mâles en plumage nuptial , avec le poitrail rosé . Ils nichent en compagnie de Mouettes mélanocephales et rieuses
HAIRBASE
[EloS] - K0027 - HAIRBASE v1
FACIAL HAIR
[EloS] - K0027 - FACIAL HAIR v1
FACIAL TATTOO
[EloS] - K0027 - FACETATTOO - 100%
POSE
[pdb] Come Party With Me
Black knot is a fungus that attacks trees in the plum and cherry family. Small black galls are often seen on small branches of infected trees, but in rare cases the fungus moves right into the main trunk. In this case, chemicals released by the pathogen have caused that massive tumor to grow just like a cancer to form a giant knot on the tree. Those red cracks could let other infections into the cherry tree in coming years that would eventually kill it.
A Richardson’s geranium (Geranium richardsonii) leaf glows in a light fleck traveling across the forest floor littered with fallen aspen leaves. The reds of the geranium leaf, along with the strawberry leaves (Frageria virginiana) in the background, are provided by anthocyanin pigments formerly masked by the more dominant green chlorophyll. The yellow and orange aspen leaves are colored by xanthophyll and carotenoid pigments. These non-green pigments help increase light capture for photosynthesis, as well as protect the plant against ultraviolet light, cold temperatures, and pathogens. Whatever their role the combination of the pigments and the resulting diversity of colors makes autumn a lovely season, at least for a few days in this forest.
Today's picture back to 2013....H G Wells the war of the worlds... we all know the story but does the end seem familiar.....all the Martians have been killed by an onslaught of earthly pathogens, to which they had no immunity:....are we the new Martians.
Fungi are manifest in a multiplicity of folktales and fairy tales, and in folk remedies and rituals. They appear as foods, poisons, diseases, decorations, dyes or tinder, and even in insults, compliments, graffiti and video games. These and other impacts of fungi on folkways are here concisely reviewed under categories likely to interest professional and amateur mycologists and accessible to the lay reader. The evolution of popular perceptions of fungi is sketched from Shakespearean times through contemporary European and American cultures. Provided are specific instances of how different cultures utilized or avoided fungi, responded to fungal diseases of crops or humans, or viewed fungi in the context of popular belief, superstition or religion.
fungus (plural: fungi or funguses is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, separately from the other eukaryotic kingdoms, which by one traditional classification include Plantae, Animalia, Protozoa, and Chromista.
A characteristic that places fungi in a different kingdom from plants, bacteria, and some protists is chitin in their cell walls. Fungi, like animals, are heterotrophs; they acquire their food by absorbing dissolved molecules, typically by secreting digestive enzymes into their environment. Fungi do not photosynthesize. Growth is their means of mobility, except for spores (a few of which are flagellated), which may travel through the air or water. Fungi are the principal decomposers in ecological systems. These and other differences place fungi in a single group of related organisms, named the Eumycota (true fungi or Eumycetes), that share a common ancestor (i.e. they form a monophyletic group), an interpretation that is also strongly supported by molecular phylogenetics. This fungal group is distinct from the structurally similar myxomycetes (slime molds) and oomycetes (water molds). The discipline of biology devoted to the study of fungi is known as mycology (from the Greek μύκης mykes, mushroom). In the past, mycology was regarded as a branch of botany, although it is now known fungi are genetically more closely related to animals than to plants.
Abundant worldwide, most fungi are inconspicuous because of the small size of their structures, and their cryptic lifestyles in soil or on dead matter. Fungi include symbionts of plants, animals, or other fungi and also parasites. They may become noticeable when fruiting, either as mushrooms or as molds. Fungi perform an essential role in the decomposition of organic matter and have fundamental roles in nutrient cycling and exchange in the environment. They have long been used as a direct source of human food, in the form of mushrooms and truffles; as a leavening agent for bread; and in the fermentation of various food products, such as wine, beer, and soy sauce. Since the 1940s, fungi have been used for the production of antibiotics, and, more recently, various enzymes produced by fungi are used industrially and in detergents. Fungi are also used as biological pesticides to control weeds, plant diseases and insect pests. Many species produce bioactive compounds called mycotoxins, such as alkaloids and polyketides, that are toxic to animals including humans. The fruiting structures of a few species contain psychotropic compounds and are consumed recreationally or in traditional spiritual ceremonies. Fungi can break down manufactured materials and buildings, and become significant pathogens of humans and other animals. Losses of crops due to fungal diseases (e.g., rice blast disease) or food spoilage can have a large impact on human food supplies and local economies.
The fungus kingdom encompasses an enormous diversity of taxa with varied ecologies, life cycle strategies, and morphologies ranging from unicellular aquatic chytrids to large mushrooms. However, little is known of the true biodiversity of Kingdom Fungi, which has been estimated at 2.2 million to 3.8 million species.[5] Of these, only about 148,000 have been described,[6] with over 8,000 species known to be detrimental to plants and at least 300 that can be pathogenic to humans.[7] Ever since the pioneering 18th and 19th century taxonomical works of Carl Linnaeus, Christiaan Hendrik Persoon, and Elias Magnus Fries, fungi have been classified according to their morphology (e.g., characteristics such as spore color or microscopic features) or physiology. Advances in molecular genetics have opened the way for DNA analysis to be incorporated into taxonomy, which has sometimes challenged the historical groupings based on morphology and other traits. Phylogenetic studies published in the first decade of the 21st century have helped reshape the classification within Kingdom Fungi, which is divided into one subkingdom, seven phyla, and ten subphyla.
Gymnosporangium juniperi-virginianae is a plant pathogen that causes cedar-apple rust. In virtually any location where apples or crabapples and Eastern red-cedar coexist, cedar apple rust can be a destructive or disfiguring disease on both the apples and cedars.
Wikipedia.
Thank you all for your visits comments and faves much appreciated!
Have a nice weekend.
Connue sous le nom scientifique de Berberis vulgaris, l’épine vinette a systématiquement été éradiquée des champs français durant le XIXème siècle car c'est un hôte intermédiaire dans le cycle de la rouille noire du blé, un champignon pathogène des céréales. Cependant elle reste présente dans les zones de coteaux calcaires d'une grande moitié nord de la France.
Connue pour sa saveur aigre-douce et son goût acidulé, l’épine vinette égaie plats sucrés et salés. Elle possède des vertus digestives et constitue un allié pour le foie et le cœur.
rome, courtyard of ospedale nuova regina margherita, composite image of fungal growth on glass and dead branches. for more images in the eclectic series click here
The Mushroom is the Elf of Plants --
At Evening, it is not --
At Morning, in a Truffled Hut
It stop upon a Spot
As if it tarried always
And yet its whole Career
Is shorter than a Snake's Delay
And fleeter than a Tare --
'Tis Vegetation's Juggler --
The Germ of Alibi --
Doth like a Bubble antedate
And like a Bubble, hie --
I feel as if the Grass was pleased
To have it intermit --
This surreptitious scion
Of Summer's circumspect.
Had Nature any supple Face
Or could she one contemn --
Had Nature an Apostate --
That Mushroom -- it is Him!
Written by Katherine Mansfield |
The koala (Phascolarctos cinereus, or, inaccurately, koala bear) is an arboreal herbivorous marsupial native to Australia. It is the only extant representative of the family Phascolarctidae and its closest living relatives are the wombats, which comprise the family Vombatidae. The koala is found in coastal areas of the mainland's eastern and southern regions, inhabiting Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. It is easily recognisable by its stout, tailless body and large head with round, fluffy ears and large, spoon-shaped nose. The koala has a body length of 60–85 cm (24–33 in) and weighs 4–15 kg (9–33 lb). Pelage colour ranges from silver grey to chocolate brown. Koalas from the northern populations are typically smaller and lighter in colour than their counterparts further south. These populations possibly are separate subspecies, but this is disputed.
Koalas typically inhabit open eucalypt woodlands, and the leaves of these trees make up most of their diet. Because this eucalypt diet has limited nutritional and caloric content, koalas are largely sedentary and sleep up to 20 hours a day. They are asocial animals, and bonding exists only between mothers and dependent offspring. Adult males communicate with loud bellows that intimidate rivals and attract mates. Males mark their presence with secretions from scent glands located on their chests. Being marsupials, koalas give birth to underdeveloped young that crawl into their mothers' pouches, where they stay for the first six to seven months of their lives. These young koalas, known as joeys, are fully weaned around a year old. Koalas have few natural predators and parasites, but are threatened by various pathogens, such as Chlamydiaceae bacteria and the koala retrovirus, as well as by bushfires and droughts.
Koalas were hunted by Indigenous Australians and depicted in myths and cave art for millennia. The first recorded encounter between a European and a koala was in 1798, and an image of the animal was published in 1810 by naturalist George Perry. Botanist Robert Brown wrote the first detailed scientific description of the koala in 1814, although his work remained unpublished for 180 years. Popular artist John Gould illustrated and described the koala, introducing the species to the general British public. Further details about the animal's biology were revealed in the 19th century by several English scientists. Because of its distinctive appearance, the koala is recognised worldwide as a symbol of Australia. Koalas are listed as Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The Australian government similarly lists specific populations in Queensland and New South Wales as Vulnerable. The animal was hunted heavily in the early 20th century for its fur, and large-scale cullings in Queensland resulted in a public outcry that initiated a movement to protect the species. Sanctuaries were established, and translocation efforts moved to new regions koalas whose habitat had become fragmented or reduced. The biggest threat to their existence is habitat destruction caused by agriculture and urbanisation.
For further information please visit en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koala and ypte.org.uk/factsheets/koala/overview?gclid=Cj0KCQiAnNXiB...
Raymond Island (Gunai/Kurnai language: Bunjil-baul)[2] is a small island in the Gippsland Lakes in eastern Victoria, Australia, about 300 km (190 mi) from Melbourne. The island is approximately 6 km (3.7 mi) long by 2 km (1.2 mi) wide, and is just 200 m (660 ft) off the coast, across from the town of Paynesville. The island is named after William Odell Raymond, originally a magistrate from New South Wales who established himself as a squatter in Gippsland in the 1840s.
Raymond Island is well-known locally for its large koala population, originally introduced to the island in 1953, and for the Raymond Island Ferry, a chain ferry that links the island to Paynesville on the mainland.
For further information please visit en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raymond_Island
Phaeolus schweinitzii, commonly known as velvet-top fungus, dyer's polypore, or dyer's mazegill, is a fungal plant pathogen that causes butt rot on conifers such as Douglas-fir, spruce, fir, hemlock, pine, and larch.
De dennenvoetzwam (Phaeolus schweinitzii) is een schimmel uit de familie Polyporaceæ die groeit op of nabij levende naaldbomen of stobben. Deze parasitaire schimmel is een veroorzaker van stamvoetrot.
Fungi are manifest in a multiplicity of folktales and fairy tales, and in folk remedies and rituals. They appear as foods, poisons, diseases, decorations, dyes or tinder, and even in insults, compliments, graffiti and video games. These and other impacts of fungi on folkways are here concisely reviewed under categories likely to interest professional and amateur mycologists and accessible to the lay reader. The evolution of popular perceptions of fungi is sketched from Shakespearean times through contemporary European and American cultures. Provided are specific instances of how different cultures utilized or avoided fungi, responded to fungal diseases of crops or humans, or viewed fungi in the context of popular belief, superstition or religion.
"Armillaria tabescens is a species of fungus in the family Physalacriaceae. It is a plant pathogen. The mycelium of the fungus is bioluminescent. Armillaria species infect a wide variety of woody plants. The species can be cooked and eaten, even being regarded as choice, but has been reported to cause upset stomachs." [iNaturalist.org] Found on the verge of 40-acre Lake, Brazos Bend State Park, Needville, Texas.
This is a pasture that is located near Mintraching. I photographed the tree back in 2017, where it looked like you see below. The tree has tolerated the massive pruning well and is thus a good example of arboriculture.
Arboriculture is the cultivation, management, and study of individual trees, shrubs, vines, and other perennial woody plants. The science of arboriculture studies how these plants grow and respond to cultural practices and to their environment. The practice of arboriculture includes cultural techniques such as selection, planting, training, fertilization, pest and pathogen control, pruning, shaping, and removal.
Das ist eine Weide, die in der Nähe von Mintraching steht. Ich habe sie bereits 2017 fotografiert, da sah sie aus, wie unten zu sehen. Der Baum hat das massive Zurückschneiden gut vertragen und ist somit ein gutes Beispiel für Baumpflege.
Die Baumpflege ist die Pflege, Verwaltung und Erforschung von einzelnen Bäumen, Sträuchern, Reben und anderen mehrjährigen Gehölzen. Die Wissenschaft der Baumpflege untersucht, wie diese Pflanzen wachsen und auf kulturelle Praktiken und ihre Umwelt reagieren. Die Praxis der Baumpflege umfasst Kulturtechniken wie Auswahl, Anpflanzung, Erziehung, Düngung, Schädlings- und Krankheitserregerbekämpfung, Beschneidung, Formgebung und Entfernung.
Text from Wikipedia, adapted and translated.
Also curious about what that remarkable opening under the eye of a male red deer actually is? It intrigued me and I took a quick look at Wikipedia, and...
This is what is being described (difficult words, just look them up)
(Source Wikipedia)
The preorbital gland is a paired exocrine gland found in many species of hoofed animals, which is homologous to the lacrimal gland found in humans. These glands are trenchlike slits of dark blue to black, nearly bare skin extending from the medial canthus of each eye. They are lined by a combination of sebaceous and sudoriferous glands, and they produce secretions which contain pheromones and other semiochemical compounds.[1] Ungulates frequently deposit these secretions on twigs and grass as a means of communication with other animals.[2][3]
The preorbital gland serves different roles in different species. Pheromone-containing secretions from the preorbital gland may serve to establish an animal's dominance (especially in preparation for breeding),[4] mark its territory, or simply to produce a pleasurable sensation to the animal.[5] Because of its critical role in scent marking, the preorbital gland is usually considered as a type of scent gland. A further function of these glands may be to produce antimicrobial compounds to fight against skin pathogens. Antimicrobial compounds found in these glands may be biosynthesized by the animal itself, or by microorganisms that live in these glands.[6]
Ook zo benieuwd naar wat nu eigenlijk die merkwaardige opening onder het oog is bij een mannelijk edelhert ? Het intrigeerde me en was even te raden gegaan bij Wikipedia, en
dit is wat er beschreven wordt ( moeilijke woorden maar even opzoeken he )
(Bron Wikipedia)
De preorbitale klier is een gepaarde exocriene klier die bij veel soorten hoefdieren voorkomt en die homoloog is aan de traanklier die bij mensen wordt aangetroffen. Deze klieren zijn greppelachtige spleten van donkerblauwe tot zwarte, bijna kale huid die zich uitstrekken vanaf de mediale ooghoek van elk oog. Ze zijn bekleed met een combinatie van talg- en zweetklieren en produceren afscheidingen die feromonen en andere semiochemische verbindingen bevatten. Hoefdieren zetten deze afscheidingen vaak af op twijgen en gras als communicatiemiddel met andere dieren.
De preorbitale klier vervult verschillende rollen bij verschillende soorten. Feromoonhoudende afscheidingen uit de preorbitale klier kunnen dienen om de dominantie van een dier vast te stellen (vooral ter voorbereiding op het fokken), zijn territorium afbakenen, of eenvoudigweg een plezierig gevoel bij het dier teweegbrengen. Vanwege zijn cruciale rol bij geurmarkering wordt de preorbitale klier gewoonlijk beschouwd als een soort geurklier. Een andere functie van deze klieren kan zijn het produceren van antimicrobiële verbindingen om huidpathogenen te bestrijden. Antimicrobiële verbindingen die in deze klieren worden aangetroffen, kunnen door het dier zelf worden gebiosynthetiseerd, of door micro-organismen die in deze klieren leven.
The koala (Phascolarctos cinereus, or, inaccurately, koala bear is an arboreal herbivorous marsupial native to Australia. It is the only extant representative of the family Phascolarctidae and its closest living relatives are the wombats, which comprise the family Vombatidae. The koala is found in coastal areas of the mainland's eastern and southern regions, inhabiting Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. It is easily recognisable by its stout, tailless body and large head with round, fluffy ears and large, spoon-shaped nose. The koala has a body length of 60–85 cm (24–33 in) and weighs 4–15 kg (9–33 lb). Pelage colour ranges from silver grey to chocolate brown. Koalas from the northern populations are typically smaller and lighter in colour than their counterparts further south. These populations possibly are separate subspecies, but this is disputed.
Koalas typically inhabit open eucalypt woodlands, and the leaves of these trees make up most of their diet. Because this eucalypt diet has limited nutritional and caloric content, koalas are largely sedentary and sleep up to 20 hours a day. They are asocial animals, and bonding exists only between mothers and dependent offspring. Adult males communicate with loud bellows that intimidate rivals and attract mates. Males mark their presence with secretions from scent glands located on their chests. Being marsupials, koalas give birth to underdeveloped young that crawl into their mothers' pouches, where they stay for the first six to seven months of their lives. These young koalas, known as joeys, are fully weaned around a year old. Koalas have few natural predators and parasites, but are threatened by various pathogens, such as Chlamydiaceae bacteria and the koala retrovirus, as well as by bushfires and droughts.
Koalas were hunted by Indigenous Australians and depicted in myths and cave art for millennia. The first recorded encounter between a European and a koala was in 1798, and an image of the animal was published in 1810 by naturalist George Perry. Botanist Robert Brown wrote the first detailed scientific description of the koala in 1814, although his work remained unpublished for 180 years. Popular artist John Gould illustrated and described the koala, introducing the species to the general British public. Further details about the animal's biology were revealed in the 19th century by several English scientists. Because of its distinctive appearance, the koala is recognised worldwide as a symbol of Australia. Koalas are listed as Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The Australian government similarly lists specific populations in Queensland and New South Wales as Vulnerable. The animal was hunted heavily in the early 20th century for its fur, and large-scale cullings in Queensland resulted in a public outcry that initiated a movement to protect the species. Sanctuaries were established, and translocation efforts moved to new regions koalas whose habitat had become fragmented or reduced. The biggest threat to their existence is habitat destruction caused by agriculture and urbanisation.
For further information please visit en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koala and ypte.org.uk/factsheets/koala/overview?gclid=Cj0KCQiAnNXiB...
Raymond Island (Gunai/Kurnai language: Bunjil-baul)[2] is a small island in the Gippsland Lakes in eastern Victoria, Australia, about 300 km (190 mi) from Melbourne. The island is approximately 6 km (3.7 mi) long by 2 km (1.2 mi) wide, and is just 200 m (660 ft) off the coast, across from the town of Paynesville. The island is named after William Odell Raymond, originally a magistrate from New South Wales who established himself as a squatter in Gippsland in the 1840s.
Raymond Island is well-known locally for its large koala population, originally introduced to the island in 1953, and for the Raymond Island Ferry, a chain ferry that links the island to Paynesville on the mainland.
For further information please visit en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raymond_Island
After a few days the immature fungus 'Chondrostereum purpureum' looks like this.(now sideview) And in the back you see the definite form.
"Silver leaf is a fungal disease of trees caused by the fungus plant pathogen Chondrostereum purpureum. It attacks most species of the rose family Rosaceae, particularly the genus Prunus. The disease is progressive and often fatal. The common name is taken from the progressive silvering of leaves on affected branches. It is spread by airborne spores landing on freshly exposed sapwood. For this reason cherries and plums are pruned in summer, when spores are least likely to be present and when disease is visible. Silver Leaf can also happen on poming fruits like apples and pears. Plums are especially vulnerable.
In the past the name Stereum purpureum Pers. was widely used for this fungus, but according to modern taxonomy it is only distantly related to Stereum, actually belonging to order Agaricales whereas Stereum is in order Russulales.
After starting as just a crust on the wood, the fruiting structure develops undulating intergrowing brackets up to about 3 cm broad, which have a tough rubbery texture. The edges and fertile lower surfaces show a fairly vivid violet colour while the fungus is growing, and the upper surfaces have a grey aspect (sometimes with zonation) and are covered with whitish hairs. After a week or two the fructification dries out, becomes brittle, and turns a drab brown or beige. Infected wood can be recognized because it is stained a darker tint.
The spores are rounded cylinders approximately 5-8 µm x 3-4 µm in size. The hyphal structure is monomitic with clamp connections.
It is often found on old stumps and dead wood, but can also be a serious parasite of living trees. As well as plum trees it attacks many other broad-leafed species (other Prunus, apple, pear, willow, poplar, maple, hornbeam, plane, oak, elm, lilac, and many others).Occasionally it also infects conifers (fir, spruce, Thuja, ...).Geographically it is roughly speaking just as widespread as its hosts - it is common in woods, orchards and tree plantations in temperate climates.
Chondrostereum purpureum is commercially available as a method of combatting forest "weed" trees such as red alder, aspens and other species.The fungus is applied directly to the weed trees in a nutrient paste which can be stored and handled conveniently. According to a report of the Canadian Pest Management Agency, the use of this control method will only have a limited impact on non-target trees since the fungal spores are ubiquitous anyway and healthy trees are resistant to attack." - WiKi
"De paarse korstzwam (Chondrostereum purpureum), purperkorstzwam of loodglansschimmel is een paddenstoel uit de familie Cyphellaceae. De soort lijkt op een elfenbankje, maar is paars en aan de rand wit gekleurd. De randen zijn golvend en wit donzig behaard. De onderzijde is glad, donkerbruin of bruin-violet tot bruin. De paddenstoel wordt carpophores genoemd en wordt in de herfst gevormd bij een hoge relatieve luchtvochtigheid met veel regen, mist of dauw en een temperatuur van 10 °C. Hieruit ontstaan de basidiosporen, die bij infectie via wonden loodglans veroorzaken. Zo genoemd omdat de bladeren een loodachtige kleur krijgen als de schimmel de boom heeft aangetast.
De purperkorstzwam wordt gevonden als saprofyt op dood hout van allerlei loofbomen en als parasiet op levende bomen en struiken uit de rozenfamilie. Het veroorzaakt op vruchtbomen loodglansziekte, onder andere bij de pruim en kers. De purperkorstzwam komt het gehele jaar voor en is een algemene verschijning.
Het vruchtlichaam heeft een doorsnede van 2-4 cm, is dun en leerachtig. De korsten hebben een opstaande rand. De bovenkant is voorzien van groeven, is viltig en licht grijsachtig geelbruin. De onderkant is lila tot purperkleurig. Later wordt de onderkant meer bruinachtig. Bij een korst zit het hymenium aan de bovenzijde en is aan de violette kleur te herkennen.
De paarse korstzwam wordt gebruikt voor de bestrijding van de Amerikaanse vogelkers. Op de afgezaagde stobben worden de sporen van de schimmel gesmeerd en zodra de schimmel de wortels bereikt heeft gaat de boom dood." - WiKi
The koala (Phascolarctos cinereus, or, inaccurately, koala bear is an arboreal herbivorous marsupial native to Australia. It is the only extant representative of the family Phascolarctidae and its closest living relatives are the wombats, which comprise the family Vombatidae. The koala is found in coastal areas of the mainland's eastern and southern regions, inhabiting Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. It is easily recognisable by its stout, tailless body and large head with round, fluffy ears and large, spoon-shaped nose. The koala has a body length of 60–85 cm (24–33 in) and weighs 4–15 kg (9–33 lb). Pelage colour ranges from silver grey to chocolate brown. Koalas from the northern populations are typically smaller and lighter in colour than their counterparts further south. These populations possibly are separate subspecies, but this is disputed.
Koalas typically inhabit open eucalypt woodlands, and the leaves of these trees make up most of their diet. Because this eucalypt diet has limited nutritional and caloric content, koalas are largely sedentary and sleep up to 20 hours a day. They are asocial animals, and bonding exists only between mothers and dependent offspring. Adult males communicate with loud bellows that intimidate rivals and attract mates. Males mark their presence with secretions from scent glands located on their chests. Being marsupials, koalas give birth to underdeveloped young that crawl into their mothers' pouches, where they stay for the first six to seven months of their lives. These young koalas, known as joeys, are fully weaned around a year old. Koalas have few natural predators and parasites, but are threatened by various pathogens, such as Chlamydiaceae bacteria and the koala retrovirus, as well as by bushfires and droughts.
Koalas were hunted by Indigenous Australians and depicted in myths and cave art for millennia. The first recorded encounter between a European and a koala was in 1798, and an image of the animal was published in 1810 by naturalist George Perry. Botanist Robert Brown wrote the first detailed scientific description of the koala in 1814, although his work remained unpublished for 180 years. Popular artist John Gould illustrated and described the koala, introducing the species to the general British public. Further details about the animal's biology were revealed in the 19th century by several English scientists. Because of its distinctive appearance, the koala is recognised worldwide as a symbol of Australia. Koalas are listed as Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The Australian government similarly lists specific populations in Queensland and New South Wales as Vulnerable. The animal was hunted heavily in the early 20th century for its fur, and large-scale cullings in Queensland resulted in a public outcry that initiated a movement to protect the species. Sanctuaries were established, and translocation efforts moved to new regions koalas whose habitat had become fragmented or reduced. The biggest threat to their existence is habitat destruction caused by agriculture and urbanisation.
For further information please visit en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koala and ypte.org.uk/factsheets/koala/overview?gclid=Cj0KCQiAnNXiB...
Raymond Island (Gunai/Kurnai language: Bunjil-baul)[2] is a small island in the Gippsland Lakes in eastern Victoria, Australia, about 300 km (190 mi) from Melbourne. The island is approximately 6 km (3.7 mi) long by 2 km (1.2 mi) wide, and is just 200 m (660 ft) off the coast, across from the town of Paynesville. The island is named after William Odell Raymond, originally a magistrate from New South Wales who established himself as a squatter in Gippsland in the 1840s.
Raymond Island is well-known locally for its large koala population, originally introduced to the island in 1953, and for the Raymond Island Ferry, a chain ferry that links the island to Paynesville on the mainland.
For further information please visit en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raymond_Island
Armillaria novae-zelandiae is a species of mushroom in the family Physalacriaceae. This plant pathogen species is one of three Armillaria species that have been identified in New Zealand
Git along little doggie
No stranger to epidemics, black tailed prairie dogs occasionally experience outbreaks of bubonic plague, which can wipe out whole colonies. I reckon social distancing hasn't entered into their behavioral defenses to pathogens. Of course it isn't really an option either.
This particular colony is a favorite feeding site for various raptors, including red-tailed hawks, bald and golden eagles, northern harriers, among others. Coyotes and foxes also frequent the area as well. Makes one glad to be a bit higher on the food chain- covid19 doesn't seem so bad in context.
fungus (plural: fungi or funguses is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, separately from the other eukaryotic kingdoms, which by one traditional classification include Plantae, Animalia, Protozoa, and Chromista.
A characteristic that places fungi in a different kingdom from plants, bacteria, and some protists is chitin in their cell walls. Fungi, like animals, are heterotrophs; they acquire their food by absorbing dissolved molecules, typically by secreting digestive enzymes into their environment. Fungi do not photosynthesize. Growth is their means of mobility, except for spores (a few of which are flagellated), which may travel through the air or water. Fungi are the principal decomposers in ecological systems. These and other differences place fungi in a single group of related organisms, named the Eumycota (true fungi or Eumycetes), that share a common ancestor (i.e. they form a monophyletic group), an interpretation that is also strongly supported by molecular phylogenetics. This fungal group is distinct from the structurally similar myxomycetes (slime molds) and oomycetes (water molds). The discipline of biology devoted to the study of fungi is known as mycology (from the Greek μύκης mykes, mushroom). In the past, mycology was regarded as a branch of botany, although it is now known fungi are genetically more closely related to animals than to plants.
Abundant worldwide, most fungi are inconspicuous because of the small size of their structures, and their cryptic lifestyles in soil or on dead matter. Fungi include symbionts of plants, animals, or other fungi and also parasites. They may become noticeable when fruiting, either as mushrooms or as molds. Fungi perform an essential role in the decomposition of organic matter and have fundamental roles in nutrient cycling and exchange in the environment. They have long been used as a direct source of human food, in the form of mushrooms and truffles; as a leavening agent for bread; and in the fermentation of various food products, such as wine, beer, and soy sauce. Since the 1940s, fungi have been used for the production of antibiotics, and, more recently, various enzymes produced by fungi are used industrially and in detergents. Fungi are also used as biological pesticides to control weeds, plant diseases and insect pests. Many species produce bioactive compounds called mycotoxins, such as alkaloids and polyketides, that are toxic to animals including humans. The fruiting structures of a few species contain psychotropic compounds and are consumed recreationally or in traditional spiritual ceremonies. Fungi can break down manufactured materials and buildings, and become significant pathogens of humans and other animals. Losses of crops due to fungal diseases (e.g., rice blast disease) or food spoilage can have a large impact on human food supplies and local economies.
The fungus kingdom encompasses an enormous diversity of taxa with varied ecologies, life cycle strategies, and morphologies ranging from unicellular aquatic chytrids to large mushrooms. However, little is known of the true biodiversity of Kingdom Fungi, which has been estimated at 2.2 million to 3.8 million species.[5] Of these, only about 148,000 have been described,[6] with over 8,000 species known to be detrimental to plants and at least 300 that can be pathogenic to humans.[7] Ever since the pioneering 18th and 19th century taxonomical works of Carl Linnaeus, Christiaan Hendrik Persoon, and Elias Magnus Fries, fungi have been classified according to their morphology (e.g., characteristics such as spore color or microscopic features) or physiology. Advances in molecular genetics have opened the way for DNA analysis to be incorporated into taxonomy, which has sometimes challenged the historical groupings based on morphology and other traits. Phylogenetic studies published in the first decade of the 21st century have helped reshape the classification within Kingdom Fungi, which is divided into one subkingdom, seven phyla, and ten subphyla.
fungus (plural: fungi or funguses is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, separately from the other eukaryotic kingdoms, which by one traditional classification include Plantae, Animalia, Protozoa, and Chromista.
A characteristic that places fungi in a different kingdom from plants, bacteria, and some protists is chitin in their cell walls. Fungi, like animals, are heterotrophs; they acquire their food by absorbing dissolved molecules, typically by secreting digestive enzymes into their environment. Fungi do not photosynthesize. Growth is their means of mobility, except for spores (a few of which are flagellated), which may travel through the air or water. Fungi are the principal decomposers in ecological systems. These and other differences place fungi in a single group of related organisms, named the Eumycota (true fungi or Eumycetes), that share a common ancestor (i.e. they form a monophyletic group), an interpretation that is also strongly supported by molecular phylogenetics. This fungal group is distinct from the structurally similar myxomycetes (slime molds) and oomycetes (water molds). The discipline of biology devoted to the study of fungi is known as mycology (from the Greek μύκης mykes, mushroom). In the past, mycology was regarded as a branch of botany, although it is now known fungi are genetically more closely related to animals than to plants.
Abundant worldwide, most fungi are inconspicuous because of the small size of their structures, and their cryptic lifestyles in soil or on dead matter. Fungi include symbionts of plants, animals, or other fungi and also parasites. They may become noticeable when fruiting, either as mushrooms or as molds. Fungi perform an essential role in the decomposition of organic matter and have fundamental roles in nutrient cycling and exchange in the environment. They have long been used as a direct source of human food, in the form of mushrooms and truffles; as a leavening agent for bread; and in the fermentation of various food products, such as wine, beer, and soy sauce. Since the 1940s, fungi have been used for the production of antibiotics, and, more recently, various enzymes produced by fungi are used industrially and in detergents. Fungi are also used as biological pesticides to control weeds, plant diseases and insect pests. Many species produce bioactive compounds called mycotoxins, such as alkaloids and polyketides, that are toxic to animals including humans. The fruiting structures of a few species contain psychotropic compounds and are consumed recreationally or in traditional spiritual ceremonies. Fungi can break down manufactured materials and buildings, and become significant pathogens of humans and other animals. Losses of crops due to fungal diseases (e.g., rice blast disease) or food spoilage can have a large impact on human food supplies and local economies.
The fungus kingdom encompasses an enormous diversity of taxa with varied ecologies, life cycle strategies, and morphologies ranging from unicellular aquatic chytrids to large mushrooms. However, little is known of the true biodiversity of Kingdom Fungi, which has been estimated at 2.2 million to 3.8 million species.[5] Of these, only about 148,000 have been described,[6] with over 8,000 species known to be detrimental to plants and at least 300 that can be pathogenic to humans.[7] Ever since the pioneering 18th and 19th century taxonomical works of Carl Linnaeus, Christiaan Hendrik Persoon, and Elias Magnus Fries, fungi have been classified according to their morphology (e.g., characteristics such as spore color or microscopic features) or physiology. Advances in molecular genetics have opened the way for DNA analysis to be incorporated into taxonomy, which has sometimes challenged the historical groupings based on morphology and other traits. Phylogenetic studies published in the first decade of the 21st century have helped reshape the classification within Kingdom Fungi, which is divided into one subkingdom, seven phyla, and ten subphyla.
For the Macro Mondays theme “Stone Rhyming Zone" this 'Unknown" to me beautiful little fungus.
Happy Macro Monday!
Update:
Not unknown anymore ;-)) It is a immature fungus "Chondrostereum purpureum" or in Dutch 'Paarse korstzwam'. So now it is known ;-))
After a few days the immature fungus 'Chondrostereum purpureum' looks like this.(now sideview) And in the back you see the definite form.
"Silver leaf is a fungal disease of trees caused by the fungus plant pathogen Chondrostereum purpureum. It attacks most species of the rose family Rosaceae, particularly the genus Prunus. The disease is progressive and often fatal. The common name is taken from the progressive silvering of leaves on affected branches. It is spread by airborne spores landing on freshly exposed sapwood. For this reason cherries and plums are pruned in summer, when spores are least likely to be present and when disease is visible. Silver Leaf can also happen on poming fruits like apples and pears. Plums are especially vulnerable.
In the past the name Stereum purpureum Pers. was widely used for this fungus, but according to modern taxonomy it is only distantly related to Stereum, actually belonging to order Agaricales whereas Stereum is in order Russulales.
After starting as just a crust on the wood, the fruiting structure develops undulating intergrowing brackets up to about 3 cm broad, which have a tough rubbery texture. The edges and fertile lower surfaces show a fairly vivid violet colour while the fungus is growing, and the upper surfaces have a grey aspect (sometimes with zonation) and are covered with whitish hairs. After a week or two the fructification dries out, becomes brittle, and turns a drab brown or beige. Infected wood can be recognized because it is stained a darker tint.
The spores are rounded cylinders approximately 5-8 µm x 3-4 µm in size. The hyphal structure is monomitic with clamp connections.
It is often found on old stumps and dead wood, but can also be a serious parasite of living trees. As well as plum trees it attacks many other broad-leafed species (other Prunus, apple, pear, willow, poplar, maple, hornbeam, plane, oak, elm, lilac, and many others).Occasionally it also infects conifers (fir, spruce, Thuja, ...).Geographically it is roughly speaking just as widespread as its hosts - it is common in woods, orchards and tree plantations in temperate climates.
Chondrostereum purpureum is commercially available as a method of combatting forest "weed" trees such as red alder, aspens and other species.The fungus is applied directly to the weed trees in a nutrient paste which can be stored and handled conveniently. According to a report of the Canadian Pest Management Agency, the use of this control method will only have a limited impact on non-target trees since the fungal spores are ubiquitous anyway and healthy trees are resistant to attack." - WiKi
"De paarse korstzwam (Chondrostereum purpureum), purperkorstzwam of loodglansschimmel is een paddenstoel uit de familie Cyphellaceae. De soort lijkt op een elfenbankje, maar is paars en aan de rand wit gekleurd. De randen zijn golvend en wit donzig behaard. De onderzijde is glad, donkerbruin of bruin-violet tot bruin. De paddenstoel wordt carpophores genoemd en wordt in de herfst gevormd bij een hoge relatieve luchtvochtigheid met veel regen, mist of dauw en een temperatuur van 10 °C. Hieruit ontstaan de basidiosporen, die bij infectie via wonden loodglans veroorzaken. Zo genoemd omdat de bladeren een loodachtige kleur krijgen als de schimmel de boom heeft aangetast.
De purperkorstzwam wordt gevonden als saprofyt op dood hout van allerlei loofbomen en als parasiet op levende bomen en struiken uit de rozenfamilie. Het veroorzaakt op vruchtbomen loodglansziekte, onder andere bij de pruim en kers. De purperkorstzwam komt het gehele jaar voor en is een algemene verschijning.
Het vruchtlichaam heeft een doorsnede van 2-4 cm, is dun en leerachtig. De korsten hebben een opstaande rand. De bovenkant is voorzien van groeven, is viltig en licht grijsachtig geelbruin. De onderkant is lila tot purperkleurig. Later wordt de onderkant meer bruinachtig. Bij een korst zit het hymenium aan de bovenzijde en is aan de violette kleur te herkennen.
De paarse korstzwam wordt gebruikt voor de bestrijding van de Amerikaanse vogelkers. Op de afgezaagde stobben worden de sporen van de schimmel gesmeerd en zodra de schimmel de wortels bereikt heeft gaat de boom dood." - WiKi
Sarcophaga is a genus of true flies, the type of the flesh-fly family (Sarcophagidae).
This genus occurs essentially world-wide. These flies are generally well-sized and of a greyish color; like many of their relatives, the typical patten are lengthwise darker stripes on the thorax and dark and light square dots on the abdomen. Many have conspicuous red compound eyes. These are set further apart in females than in males; the females are also larger on average. As typical for this family, it is almost impossible to tell the species apart from their outward appearance, and many can only be reliably identified by microscopic examination of the males' genitalia.
As the common name implies, their larvae typically feed on decaying meat. Some, however, rather eat the bacteria and other small organisms living on carrion. Many species have adapted to humans, and while they are usually nuisance pests, some are medically significant vectors of pathogens and bacteria. Sometimes, the larvae cause myiasis.
Well-known species are Sarcophaga africa, Sarcophaga bercaea, the Grey Flesh-fly (Sarcophaga bullata), Sarcophaga carnaria, Sarcophaga crassipalpis and the Red-tailed Flesh-fly (Sarcophaga haemorrhoidalis).
Oudemansiella mucida, commonly known as porcelain fungus, is a basidiomycete fungus of the family Physalacriaceae and native to Europe. O. mucida is a white, slimy wood-rot fungus and is strongly tied to rotting beech, where it grows in clusters
Fungus (plural: fungi or funguses is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, separately from the other eukaryotic kingdoms, which by one traditional classification include Plantae, Animalia, Protozoa, and Chromista.
A characteristic that places fungi in a different kingdom from plants, bacteria, and some protists is chitin in their cell walls. Fungi, like animals, are heterotrophs; they acquire their food by absorbing dissolved molecules, typically by secreting digestive enzymes into their environment. Fungi do not photosynthesize. Growth is their means of mobility, except for spores (a few of which are flagellated), which may travel through the air or water. Fungi are the principal decomposers in ecological systems. These and other differences place fungi in a single group of related organisms, named the Eumycota (true fungi or Eumycetes), that share a common ancestor (i.e. they form a monophyletic group), an interpretation that is also strongly supported by molecular phylogenetics. This fungal group is distinct from the structurally similar myxomycetes (slime molds) and oomycetes (water molds). The discipline of biology devoted to the study of fungi is known as mycology (from the Greek μύκης mykes, mushroom). In the past, mycology was regarded as a branch of botany, although it is now known fungi are genetically more closely related to animals than to plants.
Abundant worldwide, most fungi are inconspicuous because of the small size of their structures, and their cryptic lifestyles in soil or on dead matter. Fungi include symbionts of plants, animals, or other fungi and also parasites. They may become noticeable when fruiting, either as mushrooms or as molds. Fungi perform an essential role in the decomposition of organic matter and have fundamental roles in nutrient cycling and exchange in the environment. They have long been used as a direct source of human food, in the form of mushrooms and truffles; as a leavening agent for bread; and in the fermentation of various food products, such as wine, beer, and soy sauce. Since the 1940s, fungi have been used for the production of antibiotics, and, more recently, various enzymes produced by fungi are used industrially and in detergents. Fungi are also used as biological pesticides to control weeds, plant diseases and insect pests. Many species produce bioactive compounds called mycotoxins, such as alkaloids and polyketides, that are toxic to animals including humans. The fruiting structures of a few species contain psychotropic compounds and are consumed recreationally or in traditional spiritual ceremonies. Fungi can break down manufactured materials and buildings, and become significant pathogens of humans and other animals. Losses of crops due to fungal diseases (e.g., rice blast disease) or food spoilage can have a large impact on human food supplies and local economies.
The fungus kingdom encompasses an enormous diversity of taxa with varied ecologies, life cycle strategies, and morphologies ranging from unicellular aquatic chytrids to large mushrooms. However, little is known of the true biodiversity of Kingdom Fungi, which has been estimated at 2.2 million to 3.8 million species.[5] Of these, only about 148,000 have been described,[6] with over 8,000 species known to be detrimental to plants and at least 300 that can be pathogenic to humans.[7] Ever since the pioneering 18th and 19th century taxonomical works of Carl Linnaeus, Christiaan Hendrik Persoon, and Elias Magnus Fries, fungi have been classified according to their morphology (e.g., characteristics such as spore color or microscopic features) or physiology. Advances in molecular genetics have opened the way for DNA analysis to be incorporated into taxonomy, which has sometimes challenged the historical groupings based on morphology and other traits. Phylogenetic studies published in the first decade of the 21st century have helped reshape the classification within Kingdom Fungi, which is divided into one subkingdom, seven phyla, and ten subphyla.
Arboriculture is the cultivation, management, and study of individual trees, shrubs, vines, and other perennial woody plants. The science of arboriculture studies how these plants grow and respond to cultural practices and to their environment. The practice of arboriculture includes cultural techniques such as selection, planting, training, fertilization, pest and pathogen control, pruning, shaping, and removal.
Hope, this tree survives....
Definition from Wikipedia.
A California ground squirrel (Otospermophilus beecheyi) surveys the open terrain on the top of Spencer Butte just south of Eugene Oregon. The species is also known as the Beechey ground squirrel in honor of F.W. Beechey, a British sea captain who “explored” northern California in the late 1820’s. The squirrel’s coat is quite distinctive and subtly beautiful, with a grey cape and mottled darker fur on the lower back. California ground squirrels are usually found in open areas such as meadows and rock outcrops (as in the photo). They occur from Baja California to Washington and eastward into the Nevada, apparently extending the northward (across the Columbia River) and eastward ranges within recorded history.
This location on the summit of Spencer Butte presents opportunities and challenges for California ground squirrels: people food, obtained freely from stupid humans as well as dropped snack crumbs, and in contrast abundant dogs. Vigilance is the rule for this population of squirrels. On this day one of them bit a child as loudly proclaimed by the victim. Hopefully no charges were filed by either party, and no exchange of pathogens took place.
"Also known as the Giant African land snail. This snail species has been considered a significant cause of pest issues around the world. Internationally, it is the most frequently occurring invasive species of snail.
Outside of its native range, this snail thrives in many types of habitat in areas with mild climates. It feeds voraciously and is a vector for plant pathogens, causing severe damage to agricultural crops and native plants. It competes with native snail taxa, is a nuisance pest of urban areas, and spreads human disease. This snail is listed as one of the top 100 invasive species in the world."
From Wikipedia
Palmarium Reserve, Eastern Madagascar
Spotted in Stanley Park, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Phaeolus schweinitzii, commonly known as velvet-top fungus, dyer's polypore, dyer's mazegill, or pine dye polypore, is a fungal plant pathogen that causes butt rot on conifers such as Douglas-fir, spruce, fir, hemlock, pine, and larch. Wikipedia
The generic name Phaeolus comes from the prefix Phae- meaning dusky or obscure, and olus which modifies the meaning to 'somewhat' - so fungi in this genus are described as 'somewhat dusky' or perhaps darkish. The specific epithet schweinitzii honours American botanist-mycologist Lewis David von Schweinitz (1780-1834), considered by some to be the founding father of North American mycological science.
This fairly common polypore has a yellow felty margin and a brownish central region, usually concentrically zoned; [...] these fruitbodies [are] typically 15 to 25cm in diameter and 2 to 5cm thick. [...] Stems are short (up to 6cm in length) and stout (typically 3 to 5cm in diameter), tapering towards the base.
Initially the fruitbodies are soft and spongy, eventually becoming dry and hard. Often compound (several fused together), they tend to grow around and so enclose twigs, pine needles, grass and other objects as the caps expand. [...].
NB Phaeolus schweinitzii is the type species of the genus Phaeolus, in which this is the only species known to occur in Britain.
P. schweinitzii is native to North America and Eurasia, and has been identified as an exotic species in New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa. It is not edible. Google
Members of the pigeon family have a reputation for spreading disease, which is why we don't like them. But we hasten to dissuade you: pigeons are not as simple as they seem. As proof - facts about pigeons as a challenge to stereotypes.
As a rule, pigeons are perceived as very dirty birds, which makes us very worried when they are around. However, they are actually not as dirty as we think. We can say that pigeons, on the contrary, are quite clean than other creatures. They take care of themselves, and very carefully, cleaning parasites and dirt from their feathers. Of course, no one denies that they are carriers of diseases and parasites. For example, they can carry candidiasis, psittacosis, histoplasmosis. People can become infected with psittacosis just by inhaling air with bacteria; dust and food transmission of the pathogen is also possible. But exactly the same diseases are transmitted to other wild or urban birds, animals, and also through droppings. But we all only talk about the fact that they are the culprits; in reality, as you understand, everything is not as we see.
Wild pigeons have a good memory - only, unlike homing pigeons, they remember not the way home, but their offenders. Another feature of pigeons is that they can distinguish people’s faces well. This can make them dangerous and vindictive vigilantes. To come to this conclusion, scientists conducted an experiment.
Another experiment studying the memory of pigeons was conducted by scientists at the Mediterranean Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience. Pigeons were shown a series of cards in pairs. As a result, their average ranges from 800 to 1200 combinations, demonstrating excellent memorization ability.
We can talk endlessly about carrier pigeons.
The first mention of a dove is found on clay tablets of Mesopotamia, created almost 5 thousand years ago. The remains of pigeons were found along with the burials of ancient Egyptians. And if today people tend to treat pigeons with disdain, then in many ancient cultures the dove was considered a religious symbol.
This is a wobbly camera picture of trees reaching out to each other over a path.
The original take wasn’t very prepossessing (see the first comment) but I liked the linear feel to the image so thought I would process it in monochrome for the Donnnerstagsmonocrom group today, as well as contributing to my 100x Wobbly project.
Thank you for taking the time to look. I hope you enjoy the image. Happy Monochrome Thursday and 100x :)
[Handheld overhead in too-bright sunlight.
Developed in Capture One reducing Clarity and balancing Dehaze and Structure to get the right balance of texture… well, a balance anyway :)
Over sharpened in Affinity reducing Clarity a little but then thwacking it with High Pass/Linear Blend and Unsharp Mask in my favourite technique for this sort of effect.
Tried rather unsuccessfully to get rid of sensor splodges :(
Converted in Nik Silver Efex tinkering quite a lot with structure and contrast to balance the texturing again. Added film grain to cover some of the problems :) . Also added light vignette and dark burnt edges. Medium sepia toning.
Cropped to square format because it seemed to suit the pic (I don’t do enough squares!).]
Mushroom family on the stump, found during our walk in the forest :)
Honey fungus (Armillaria mellea), is a basidiomycete fungus in the genus Armillaria. It is a plant pathogen and part of a cryptic species complex of closely related and morphologically similar species. It causes Armillaria root rot in many plant species and produces mushrooms around the base of trees it has infected. Armillaria mellea is widely distributed in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. The fruit body or mushroom grows typically on hardwoods but may be found around and on other living and dead wood or in open areas. Armillaria mellea mushroom are considered good edibles, although some individuals have reported "allergic" reactions that result in stomach upsets. The mushrooms have a taste that has been described as slightly sweet and nutty, with a texture ranging from chewy to crunchy, depending on the method of preparation. Can also be pickled and roasted.
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Opieńkowa rodzinka znaleziona podczas spaceru w lesie :)
Opieńka miodowa (Armillaria mellea) – gatunek grzybów z rodziny obrzękowcowatych. Występuje na wszystkich kontynentach z wyjątkiem Antarktydy i Ameryki Południowej. W Europie Środkowej jest pospolita, w Polsce również. Pojawia się najczęściej jesienią od września do listopada, ale czasami może pojawić się nawet na początku sierpnia. Zwykle występuje gromadnie, czasami bardzo licznie. Rośnie na drewnie (pnie, pniaki, gałęzie, korzenie) różnych gatunków drzew liściastych w lasach, ogrodach, parkach i sadach. Opieńka jest pasożytem atakującym zarówno martwe, jak i żywe drzewa. Wywołuje u zaatakowanych drzew chorobę o nazwie opieńkowa zgnilizna korzeni prowadzącą do obumarcia drzewa i powodującą białą zgniliznę drewna. Opieńki są grzybami jadalnymi. Są smaczne, twarde, o łykowatym, mniej wykorzystywanym do konsumpcji trzonie. Do spożycia używa się najczęściej młodych kapeluszy. W stanie surowym lub niedogotowanym opieńka miodowa może być trująca. Dlatego też należy ją najpierw obgotować przez około 5 minut i odlać wywar, po czym dopiero poddaje się ją dalszej obróbce.
Gymnosporangium juniperi-virginianae is a plant pathogen that causes cedar-apple rust.
On the Eastern Red Cedar host, the fungus produces reddish-brown galls from 1/4 to 1 inch in diameter. These galls can be mistaken for cone structures by the uninitiated. After reaching a diameter of about 1/2 inch, they show many small circular depressions. In the center of each depression is a small, pimple-like structure. In the spring these structures elongate into orange gelatinous protrusions or horns. The spore-bearing horns swell during rainy periods in April and May. The wind carries the microscopic spores to infect apple leaves, fruit and young twigs on trees within a radius of several miles of the infected tree.
These are most likely very young honey fungi (Armillaria mellea).
Wikipedia: Armillaria is a genus of fungi that includes the A. mellea species ('honey fungus') that live on trees and woody shrubs. It includes about 10 species formerly categorized summarily as A. mellea. Armillaria sp. are long-lived and form the largest living fungi in the world. The largest known specimen (an A. ostoyae) covers more than 3.4 square miles (8.8 km2) in Oregon and is estimated to be 2,500 years old. Some species of Armillaria display bioluminescence.
Armillaria can be a destructive forest pathogen. It causes "white rot" root disease. As it feeds on dead plant material, it can kill its host with little negative effect to itself.
Honingzwam - honey fungus (Armillaria mellea)
Mikumi National Park / Tanganyika / Tanzania
No disaster! These are controlled fires. Savannah vegetation is adapted to natural fires. Controlled burning removes old, dry grass, which enriches the soil with nutrients and promotes the growth of fresh grass. Targeted, controlled burning during the dry season reduces the accumulation of combustible material. This lowers the risk of devastating, uncontrolled bush fires. Many plant and animal species in the savannah depend on periodic fires to maintain their habitat. Some plants only germinate after a fire, and certain animal species benefit from the newly created open spaces. Fire can also reduce parasites and pathogens that accumulate in old plant material, thereby improving animal health.
Keine Katastrophe! Es handelt sich um kontrollierte Brände. Die Savannenvegetation ist an natürliche Brände angepasst. Durch kontrolliertes Abbrennen wird altes, trockenes Gras entfernt, was den Boden mit Nährstoffen anreichert und das Wachstum von frischem Gras fördert. Durch gezieltes, kontrolliertes Brennen in der Trockenzeit wird die Ansammlung von brennbarem Material reduziert. Das verringert das Risiko von verheerenden, unkontrollierten Buschfeuern. Viele Pflanzen- und Tierarten der Savanne sind auf periodische Brände angewiesen, um ihren Lebensraum zu erhalten. Einige Pflanzen keimen erst nach einem Feuer, und bestimmte Tierarten profitieren von den neu entstandenen offenen Flächen. Feuer kann zudem Parasiten und Krankheitserreger reduzieren, die sich in altem Pflanzenmaterial ansammeln, und so die Gesundheit von Tieren verbessern.
Please have a look at my albums:
Mikumi National Park / Tanganyika / Tanzania
No disaster! These are controlled fires. Savannah vegetation is adapted to natural fires. Controlled burning removes old, dry grass, which enriches the soil with nutrients and promotes the growth of fresh grass. Targeted, controlled burning during the dry season reduces the accumulation of combustible material. This lowers the risk of devastating, uncontrolled bush fires. Many plant and animal species in the savannah depend on periodic fires to maintain their habitat. Some plants only germinate after a fire, and certain animal species benefit from the newly created open spaces. Fire can also reduce parasites and pathogens that accumulate in old plant material, thereby improving animal health.
Keine Katastrophe! Es handelt sich um kontrollierte Brände. Die Savannenvegetation ist an natürliche Brände angepasst. Durch kontrolliertes Abbrennen wird altes, trockenes Gras entfernt, was den Boden mit Nährstoffen anreichert und das Wachstum von frischem Gras fördert. Durch gezieltes, kontrolliertes Brennen in der Trockenzeit wird die Ansammlung von brennbarem Material reduziert. Das verringert das Risiko von verheerenden, unkontrollierten Buschfeuern. Viele Pflanzen- und Tierarten der Savanne sind auf periodische Brände angewiesen, um ihren Lebensraum zu erhalten. Einige Pflanzen keimen erst nach einem Feuer, und bestimmte Tierarten profitieren von den neu entstandenen offenen Flächen. Feuer kann zudem Parasiten und Krankheitserreger reduzieren, die sich in altem Pflanzenmaterial ansammeln, und so die Gesundheit von Tieren verbessern.
Please have a look at my albums:
Wool.
This is another image of my daughter's crochet throw, but this is plain rather than a Sliders Sunday interpretation.
See Galactic Pathogen for more detail.
The first of two for the Macro Wednesday group this week...
Thank you for taking the time to look. I hope you enjoy the image. Happy Mittwochsmakro :)
[Handheld in window-light.
Developed in Capture One. The colour gradient was enhanced using Dehaze (which was interesting).
In Affinity a diagonal crop for the composition. A bit of touching up sensor dust with inpainting, noise reduction, and High Pass/Linear Light sharpening. Dark vignette.]
In the courtyard of my building, this mushroom that I had never seen before was born under a fir tree after heavy rains.
Its diameter is about 20 cm
Phaeolus schweinitzii, commonly known as velvet-top fungus, dyer's polypore, dyer's mazegill, or pine dye polypore, is a fungal plant pathogen that causes butt rot on conifers such as Douglas-fir, spruce, fir, hemlock, pine, and larch. P. schweinitzii is a polypore, although unlike bracket fungi the fruiting body may appear terrestrial[citation needed] when growing from the roots or base of the host tree.
Many thanks to everyone who will pass by visiting my shots. Comments are appreciated. You are welcome. Sergio
Nikon D5100
© Sergio Presbitero 2020, All Rights Reserved
This work may not be copied, reproduced, republished, edited, downloaded, displayed, modified, transmitted, licensed, transferred, sold, distributed or uploaded in any way without my prior written permission
fungus (plural: fungi or funguses is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, separately from the other eukaryotic kingdoms, which by one traditional classification include Plantae, Animalia, Protozoa, and Chromista.
A characteristic that places fungi in a different kingdom from plants, bacteria, and some protists is chitin in their cell walls. Fungi, like animals, are heterotrophs; they acquire their food by absorbing dissolved molecules, typically by secreting digestive enzymes into their environment. Fungi do not photosynthesize. Growth is their means of mobility, except for spores (a few of which are flagellated), which may travel through the air or water. Fungi are the principal decomposers in ecological systems. These and other differences place fungi in a single group of related organisms, named the Eumycota (true fungi or Eumycetes), that share a common ancestor (i.e. they form a monophyletic group), an interpretation that is also strongly supported by molecular phylogenetics. This fungal group is distinct from the structurally similar myxomycetes (slime molds) and oomycetes (water molds). The discipline of biology devoted to the study of fungi is known as mycology (from the Greek μύκης mykes, mushroom). In the past, mycology was regarded as a branch of botany, although it is now known fungi are genetically more closely related to animals than to plants.
Abundant worldwide, most fungi are inconspicuous because of the small size of their structures, and their cryptic lifestyles in soil or on dead matter. Fungi include symbionts of plants, animals, or other fungi and also parasites. They may become noticeable when fruiting, either as mushrooms or as molds. Fungi perform an essential role in the decomposition of organic matter and have fundamental roles in nutrient cycling and exchange in the environment. They have long been used as a direct source of human food, in the form of mushrooms and truffles; as a leavening agent for bread; and in the fermentation of various food products, such as wine, beer, and soy sauce. Since the 1940s, fungi have been used for the production of antibiotics, and, more recently, various enzymes produced by fungi are used industrially and in detergents. Fungi are also used as biological pesticides to control weeds, plant diseases and insect pests. Many species produce bioactive compounds called mycotoxins, such as alkaloids and polyketides, that are toxic to animals including humans. The fruiting structures of a few species contain psychotropic compounds and are consumed recreationally or in traditional spiritual ceremonies. Fungi can break down manufactured materials and buildings, and become significant pathogens of humans and other animals. Losses of crops due to fungal diseases (e.g., rice blast disease) or food spoilage can have a large impact on human food supplies and local economies.
The fungus kingdom encompasses an enormous diversity of taxa with varied ecologies, life cycle strategies, and morphologies ranging from unicellular aquatic chytrids to large mushrooms. However, little is known of the true biodiversity of Kingdom Fungi, which has been estimated at 2.2 million to 3.8 million species.[5] Of these, only about 148,000 have been described,[6] with over 8,000 species known to be detrimental to plants and at least 300 that can be pathogenic to humans.[7] Ever since the pioneering 18th and 19th century taxonomical works of Carl Linnaeus, Christiaan Hendrik Persoon, and Elias Magnus Fries, fungi have been classified according to their morphology (e.g., characteristics such as spore color or microscopic features) or physiology. Advances in molecular genetics have opened the way for DNA analysis to be incorporated into taxonomy, which has sometimes challenged the historical groupings based on morphology and other traits. Phylogenetic studies published in the first decade of the 21st century have helped reshape the classification within Kingdom Fungi, which is divided into one subkingdom, seven phyla, and ten subphyla.
The koala (Phascolarctos cinereus, or, inaccurately, koala bear[a]) is an arboreal herbivorous marsupial native to Australia. It is the only extant representative of the family Phascolarctidae, and its closest living relatives are the wombats. The koala is found in coastal areas of the mainland's eastern and southern regions, inhabiting Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. It is easily recognisable by its stout, tailless body; round, fluffy ears; and large, spoon-shaped nose. The koala has a body length of 60–85 cm (24–33 in) and weighs 4–15 kg (9–33 lb). Pelage colour ranges from silver grey to chocolate brown. Koalas from the northern populations are typically smaller and lighter in colour than their counterparts further south. It is possible that these populations are separate subspecies, but this is disputed.
Koalas typically inhabit open eucalypt woodlands, and the leaves of these trees make up most of their diet. Because this eucalypt diet has limited nutritional and caloric content, koalas are largely sedentary and sleep for up to 20 hours a day. They are asocial animals, and bonding exists only between mothers and dependent offspring. Adult males communicate with loud bellows that intimidate rivals and attract mates. Males mark their presence with secretions from scent glands located on their chests. Being marsupials, koalas give birth to underdeveloped young that crawl into their mothers' pouches, where they stay for the first six to seven months of their life. These young koalas are known as joeys, and are fully weaned at around a year. Koalas have few natural predators and parasites but are threatened by various pathogens, like Chlamydiaceae bacteria and the koala retrovirus, as well as by bushfires and droughts.
Source: Wikipedia
Wow, more than nine months away from Flickr now! As it is so often the case, I had not planned for such a long abscence. But life in general and another bout of discontent with my photography in particular got in the way of more recent updates. With this post, I hope to remedy this situation at least for a while.
In May I visited Northern Germany again and took the opportunity to look up "my" population of sand lizards which seemed to do exceedingly well after some habitat management measures took place in the old sand quarry in 2017/2018. Especially the high number of youngsters born last year was a welcome surprise.
After failing on this species for a couple of years, I finally managed a nice enough portrait of this adult male in all it's green glory. While I did not focus on the three ticks visible in this shot, considering them an aesthetic nuissance, they might serve to illustrate some interesting points:
It is not at all uncommon to find lizards parasitized by ticks (generally of the genus Ixodes), which most often cluster around the front legs of their reptilian hosts. Heavily infested specimens of Lacerta agilis have been reported - in extreme cases - to carry up to about 100 individual ticks of all developmental stages with a strong bias towards nymphs and larvae.
As ticks are not only bothersome little bloodsuckers, but also primary vectors of potentially dangerous diseases like TBE and Lyme, lizards where looked upon quite fondly for a time by researchers, as they seemed to act as a zooprophylactic. Borrelia burgdorferi (the pathogen responsible for Lyme disease) seemingly could not use lizards as reservoir hosts, so every young tick sucking on a lizard, instead of a rodent, was a "clean" tick. At least hypothetically. Now it seems, that at least for Borrelia lusitaniae (of the B. burgdorferi sensu lato group) which can also cause Lyme disease in humans, sand lizards might actually be one of the more relevant reservoire hosts. This however does not necessarily mean, that some lizard species for some forms of Borrelia can not still perform a zooprophylactic role.
Mushroom family found during our walk in the forest :)
Honey fungus (Armillaria mellea), is a basidiomycete fungus in the genus Armillaria. It is a plant pathogen and part of a cryptic species complex of closely related and morphologically similar species. It causes Armillaria root rot in many plant species and produces mushrooms around the base of trees it has infected. Armillaria mellea is widely distributed in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. The fruit body or mushroom grows typically on hardwoods but may be found around and on other living and dead wood or in open areas. Armillaria mellea mushroom are considered good edibles, although some individuals have reported "allergic" reactions that result in stomach upsets. The mushrooms have a taste that has been described as slightly sweet and nutty, with a texture ranging from chewy to crunchy, depending on the method of preparation. Can also be pickled and roasted.
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Kilka opieniek znalezionych podczas spaceru w lesie :)
Opieńka miodowa (Armillaria mellea) – gatunek grzybów z rodziny obrzękowcowatych. Występuje na wszystkich kontynentach z wyjątkiem Antarktydy i Ameryki Południowej. W Europie Środkowej jest pospolita, w Polsce również. Pojawia się najczęściej jesienią od września do listopada, ale czasami może pojawić się nawet na początku sierpnia. Zwykle występuje gromadnie, czasami bardzo licznie. Rośnie na drewnie (pnie, pniaki, gałęzie, korzenie) różnych gatunków drzew liściastych w lasach, ogrodach, parkach i sadach. Opieńka jest pasożytem atakującym zarówno martwe, jak i żywe drzewa. Wywołuje u zaatakowanych drzew chorobę o nazwie opieńkowa zgnilizna korzeni prowadzącą do obumarcia drzewa i powodującą białą zgniliznę drewna. Opieńki są grzybami jadalnymi. Są smaczne, twarde, o łykowatym, mniej wykorzystywanym do konsumpcji trzonie. Do spożycia używa się najczęściej młodych kapeluszy. W stanie surowym lub niedogotowanym opieńka miodowa może być trująca. Dlatego też należy ją najpierw obgotować przez około 5 minut i odlać wywar, po czym dopiero poddaje się ją dalszej obróbce.
A handsome polypore, growing like a rosette on a very old alder stump, in delicate shades of blue-grey and cream. However, a serious pathogen, causing rot in maples and other trees.
Armillaria tabescens is a species of fungus in the family Physalacriaceae. It is a plant pathogen. The mycelium of the fungus is bioluminescent.
Scientific Name: Symphysodon Aequifaciatus sp.
Average Adult Fish Size: 8 inches / 20 cm
Place of Origin: Amazon basin of S. America
Compatibility: Discus are a very peaceful fish and should be kept with other peaceful fish like some of the S. American dwarf cichlid species and tetras. They do best when kept as a group of 6 or more.
Temperature: 82 – 88 Deg F / 28 – 30 Deg C
Water Chemistry: Juvenile and wild F1 Discus generally require softer water and a lower pH than tank raised Discus. The best thing is to simulate the conditions your Discus were raised in. Wild Discus require pH 6.0 – 6.5 while tank raised Discus can go all the way up to 8.0 pH.
Feeding: When purchasing, always ask what they are being fed. Discus can be quite particular when it comes to food, but can be trained to readily accept almost any type of food. Tank mates that eat the food that you want them to eat will encourage Discus to eat it also. They WILL eat a broad range of foods from flakes, small pellets, frozen, and live worms along with brine shrimp, but not always on the first attempt. DO NOT feed them tubifex worms. Tubifex carries too many pathogens and the risk of introducing disease to your Discus is too great a risk. Hole-in-the-head disease (HITH) is associated with poor water quality and feeding tubifex.
Sexing: Venting is the best way to sex Discus.
Breeding: Discus will lay their eggs on broad leaved plants like Amazon Swords or almost any vertical flat surface that is to their liking. Fry are best kept with the parents as they will eat the slime that the parents secrete. At two weeks of age they will start to accept finely ground flake food or baby brine shrimp.
Additional Information: There are almost too may different color variations of Discus with new ones coming out all the time. They are not difficult to keep as long as water parameters and temperature are to their liking. They can be a shy fish, because of this the aquarium should not be placed in high traffic areas where people are always walking by. A novice fish keeper will have better success with Discus that are larger than 3 inches in size.
Pigeon Blood Discus are a selectively bred or man-made species of Discus that typically have a creamy yellowish to orange base color, highlighted by bright red eyes and trimmed off in black stripes and spots. The tails of Pigeon Blood Discus are almost always black. Some of the varieties of this strain have more or less striations or black spotting with more cream colored body coloring. This strain was developed by Kitti Phanaitthi in 1991 from a mutation in Thailand. Some breeders have noted that if you can grow young Pigeon Blood Discus in a brightly lit aquarium, that there should be less black spots or peppering on both the body and finnage.