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Soil profile seen in a pit dug in the Longleaf pine and wiregrass ecosystem remnant on the campus of the University of North Carolina Wilmington.
The University of North Carolina Wilmington (#UNCW) has just a few sculptures on campus, but this one at the Library makes me smile.
Ever wanted a houseplant that captures your friends attention and has a lot of personality? Even though it's not on social security or wrinkly, the Cephalocereus Senilis also referred to as the "old man" cactus, has white fluffy tufts around the exterior of its cactus body. The old man cactus is a species of cactus native to Guanajuato and Hidalgo in Eastern Mexico. I took this picture in my apartment at UNCW around 3 p.m. on January 27th when the lighting was optimum. I received the seeds of this cactus from my aunt about a year ago and I've been growing it ever since; and I've been making great progress so far. This species of cactus is one of the dominant elements of the "xerophile scrub" where it inhabits. The fruits and seeds of the old man cactus are eaten by the house finch during the months of June, July, and November. It is considered as an endangered species and is restricted to calcareous canyons within xerophile vegetation.
source: www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/cacti-succulents/old-...
UNCW's Alumni Relations celebrates the graduating seniors as they offer a reception at Burney Center to welcome the students as alumni. PHOTO BY: MICHAEL SPENCER/UNCW
I took this photo in downtown Gatlinburg, TN by the river. It has tons of stores and restaurants that attract many tourists. You can see this from all the cars in the photo. The cars/shops are the edges and the nodes are the popular tourist attractions
This picture was taken on February 14, 2018 in forest C located on the UNCW campus. The species shown is an example of a rare fungus known by many names, but commonly referred to as Devil’s Fingers (Clathrus archeri). It gets this name for its unique appearance of strands of red tissue resembling a devil’s hand and its repulsive smell. The red tissue generally makes up anywhere from four to eight “arms” each coated with a sticky dark tissue on the inside which gives of the odor said to mimic that of rotten meat. This smell is then used to attract fly’s and other insects to the fungus. While no harm comes the insects, the fungus contaminates them with its sticky spores and then uses to them as a means of dispersal. This species is also indigenous to New Zeleand and Australia although it has also spread throughout Europe and can be found in certain areas throughout the United States. It has been hypothesized that this spread is due to the increased effects of global warming and will likely continue to spread.
Sources:
This photo was taken on the UNCW campus on April 11, 2017. This is an ant hill made out of soft, fine sand and soil. Ants are important ecosystem engineers, meaning that they alter the structure of their environment and have a large affect on other species in that environment. Ant hills are made from the fine soil and sand particles that worker ants bring out of the tunnels they dig and deposit at the entrance. Through the creation of tunnels, ants benefit the soil by mixing soil horizons and creating pathways for gas and water exchange. These pathways also increase the amount of nutrients that can reach plant roots. Ants are part of many food chains as predators and prey and they are decomposers as well. Some species feed on organic waste.
Source: onsnetwork.org/mayonotebook/2015/05/07/ants-as-ecosystem-...
Most days here in Wilmington, there are clouds of some sort, floating gently along or rushing off to be somewhere else. We expect them here, as they are a large part of the weather in our local, coastal ecosystem. These stratocumulus clouds passed over the UNCW campus on Tuesday, January 24th. Stratocumulus often signify a change in the weather. In this case, we got some wind gusts and a few warmer days. Clouds are extremely important for the big picture on our planet, our biosphere. They do all of the work. Clouds move the Sun’s energy around our planet. Solar radiation heats our atmosphere, warming the surface and evaporating water. As the moisture rises, it cools and condenses into clouds. The winds then carry the clouds all over the Earth. Clouds cool the Earth’s surface, by reflecting solar radiation and bringing precipitation. They also help to warm things up again by radiating the heat that they absorb back towards the ground. The heat energy and moisture that clouds carry drive weather patterns all over the world. A cloud that starts here could travel almost anywhere. Think on that next time you look for puffy shapes in the sky!
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Recorded June 9, 2016 on UNCW campus, I found a dragonfly (suborder Anisoptera) flying near the pond. Throughout the video, the dragonfly is sitting on or staying in close proximity of the nearby plants. To understand why the actions of the dragonfly are not shocking, we have to understand the life cycle of a dragonfly while also understanding their impact on trophic cascades, pollination and fitness in plant species. Dragonflies are born as larvae in aquatic environments. If they survive predation and become an adult, they become a significant terrestrial species. By understanding a trophic cascade incorporating the Dragonfly species, I was able to see the indirect control they have on the pollination of plants. Dragonflies are predators looking for bees and butterflies as prey. The removal of these prey reduces the plants pollen production which reduces the plants fitness. This ecological process allows us to further understand the impact of indirect interactions on the community structure.
This is an image of a patch longleaf pine and wiregrass ecosystem forest growing on the campus of the University of North Carolina Wilmington (May 2016). This forest has ecological value on its own, and it serves as an outdoor classroom and learning laboratory for the students.
I took this picture while I was at work at the UNCW Aquaculture Facility on Harbor Island. The fish in this picture are black sea bass, their scientific name is Centropristis striata. These fish are currently being put on a photoperiodism. Photoperiodism allows aquaculture facilities to create different day lengths by controlling the lights inside the tanks. Fish use day lengths to prepare for different developmental components of their life. The black sea bass in these tanks are our current brood stock and are being prepared to breed. By artificially creating longer day lengths in the tank the fish will begin to create eggs and sperm for mating. One of the definitions in ecology we learned was, the branch of biology that deals with the relations of organisms to one another and to their physical surroundings. Aquaculture shows us how fish can react to different physical surroundings. Since these fish are being exposed to more light, their bodies believe breeding season is about to begin.
This marks the beginning of the 2017 Summer session of the UNCW Ecology Lecture course and the EcoPhoto Project.
The class project description can be found at people.uncw.edu/borretts/courses/bio366/ecophoto.pdf
This photo was taken at the South end of Wrightsville Beach at Crystal Pier on January, 21, 2018. This photo represents the carbon cycle since the ocean acts as a carbon pool. In the carbon cycle, Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is diffused into the ocean as well as released from the ocean. This is only one part of a greater cycle in which carbon is released into the atmosphere from decay of plants and animals, respiration from animals and humans and combustion of fossil fuels from peat, coal, and gas that are created through the process of carbonification. The ocean is an area of carbon pooling because carbon is released from the atmosphere and it collects in the ocean until it is released once again into the atmosphere.
This is the skeletal remains of a wild swine or Sus scrofa. My family and I spotted this while out hiking near Whiperwill Camp in Richlands, NC. Swine are not native to the U.S. and are now considered an invasive species. They are foragers and will destroy crops and native plants by uprooting them, kill young animals, including livestock, and will mess up streams. They also carry zoonotic diseases that can be spread to both livestock and people. It’s hard to tell what exactly killed the pig, but evidence of scavengers was present. The upper body was scattered and both forelegs appeared to be missing. Sources: www.coastalreview.org/2016/04/14102/. www.ncwildlife.org/Learning/Species/Mammals/Feral-Swine.
In this photo, my two roommates and I had just finished eating dinner. Sigrid was washing the dishes and Maggie was on her computer. There are two main networks seen in this photograph; one being our connection of living with each other and cleaning the apartment together. The other network seen is on Maggie's computer. She was on blackboard checking her homework and updates from her professors. UNCW uses blackboard as a way for professors to post assignments and grades for students to be able to view and interact on.
This is a picture of the sun. Taken at UNCW at around 2 PM. The sun is approximately 93 million miles away from the Earth, and although its distance from the Earth is tremendous, it plays the most vital role for most all life. The sun at 5800¬⁰C emits photons at a short wavelength, sending visible light, ultraviolet, and infrared rays primarily. The sun emits about 1361 W/m2 outward constantly and the Earth revives around 51% of the energy it receives, with the rest being absorbed by clouds and the atmosphere or being reflected into space. This energy drives the most basic primary producers who undergo photosynthesis. The primary producers have multiple pigments in chlorophyll A, B, and beta carotene, and each pigment absorbs a different respective wavelength. Chlorophyll A absorbs wavelengths of light primarily at 430 and 664 nm, Chlorophyll B absorbs light primarily at 460 and 647 nm, and beta carotene primarily absorbs light at wavelengths of 450 and 500 nm. The wavelengths which are absorbed via the pigments are primarily red and blue/purple light. This photosynthetic reaction which occurs in plants convert shortwave radiation from the sun into carbohydrates and release oxygen as the byproduct. The oxygen which is released as the byproduct is then used as the reactant for cellular respiration. More information about wavelengths and the sun can be found at: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunlight#Solar_constant
This photo was taken during spring break in Key Biscayne, Florida. The queen conch is a marine snail. It is a large snail with shells growing up to three hundred millimeters. One of the coolest features is the two eyestalks topped with distinctive yellow eyes. Their role in the ecosystem is herbivores eating mostly Algae and algal detritus. Studies found that exposure to predators influences the morphology of the conch shell. Predators of this species include reptiles, fish, crustaceans, mammals, etc. It is extremely edible and essential to the water community.
(Carolina Beach State Park) The pitcher plant is a carnivorous plant located throughout the world. This specific plant is the Sarracenia flava and, within North Carolina, it is located along the coast and mountains. The pitcher plant has evolved it's leaves into pitcher or funnel shapes that capture insects. The plant's prey is attracted by glands along the lip of the pitcher which secretes nectar. The pitcher houses a digestive fluid which dissolves any insect or small animal that happens to become trapped in the pitcher. The leafy flap on top of the pitcher opening is known as the Operculum directs prey towards the pitcher and prevents water from diluting the digestive fluids. The flower of the pitcher plant has a very large umbrella-like style which covers the face of the flower and collects pollen.
This picture of manatees gather together in a Florida hot spring was taken over the MLK holiday. It represents nature's way of coping with extremes in weather cycles such as the unusually cold waters in Florida at the moment.
uncw ecology bio366 #uncwteal Sp2018 image1
Among the flowers is what I think to be juvenile an Eastern fence lizard (Sceloporus undulatus); however, I'm not entirely sure if that is the correct species. It was taken on 2/21/18 in a front-yard garden in a suburban housing development.
This image could be showing an example of a Type 2 Functional Response, as the lizard is most likely expending energy in order to search for its prey, which I assume to be insects found on or around plants. Also, it could be a prey item for a larger animal that requires energy use to catch and consume it given the lizard's speed.
Citations:
J. Aardema et al. (2018) Amphibians and Reptiles of North Carolina. herpsofnc.org/lizards/
Deciduous trees perform mostly all of their photosynthesis during warm seasons by absorbing photosynthetically active rays (wavelength 400-700nm) from our sun. Many deciduous trees shed their leaves during autumn to survive the cold winds that could remove moisture through their leaves. Trees may conserve this energy absorbed during warm seasons in branches and trunks.
I noticed this pretty combination last week in the woods behind UNCW. Upon first observation, you can tell there is some sort of moss by the seta with missing calyptra heads, and gametophyte body. I first thought the green cone-like structures were some type of fungi, but turns out they are a lichen. More specifically of the Cladonia genus, the lichen likes the moist soil, just as moss does. Although moss is a plant, and lichens are a symbiotic organism of a fungus and photobiont, they share similar niches for optimal growth, such as soil moisture levels, amount of sunlight, and temperature.
This photo, taken outside of UNCW’s Building 4 of the Seahawk Village, features a flowering American holly (Ilex opaca). These phototrophic organisms produce a berry that is poisonous to humans, but less hazardous for various birds. While the initial focus of this photograph may be drawn to the berries, there is a noticeably damaged leaf that raises suspicion. The cause of the holes and discoloration in this leaf could be due to the susceptibility as a resource for prey like Leafminers and Spider mites. Another possible cause for said imperfections could be due to ecological conditions such as highly increased temperatures and prolonged exposure to harsh sunlight radiation.
This is an example of an Evergreen tree and the picture was taken on the UNCW campus on January 18, 2018. Evergreen trees are known for maintaining their foliage year-round, unlike most deciduous trees that lose their leaves in cold and dry climates as a strategy for surviving harsh weather conditions. While Evergreens do maintain their leaves throughout the year, it is important to know that they still lose their leaves, however this is a gradual process and the leaves are replaced as they are lost. Evergreens can also aid in providing shelter for other growing evergreen plants. From a symbolism perspective, Evergreens were valued by the Celts—an ancient group of people who spread across the continental Europe. They have recently became associated with the British Isles but it is said that back in the day, they viewed Evergreens as a symbol of strength and immortality because they stayed green through the ‘dark half’ of the year.
I believe these organisms are a male and female Yellow Margined Leaf Beetle (YMLB). I spotted them crossing a hiking path in Ogden Park. This photo was taken around April 10th. They appeared to be mating which caught my eye. The male is slightly smaller than the female. Not very much is known about the biology or ecology of YMLB. These beetles are a regular pest to gardeners and farmers alike. In favorable conditions, they can complete their life cycle in around a month. Adults mate within 6 days of emergence and females lay eggs in just 3 to 6 days. This very short life cycle and fecundity could be what makes YMLB such good predators of common vegetables (crucifers). Their host suffer foliage feeding from both adult and larvae beetles. This makes the plants unsightly for sale. Understanding the life cycle, fecundity and plant preference of Yellow Margined Lead Beetles would make ecological control a better possibility.
This is a picture of a pond on the UNCW campus. I think it was man made as many ponds have been made by people. here are numerous organisms interacting on a daily basis in and around the pond. This size pond would most likely have animals that would be components of a food web consisting of small fish, amphibians, and even some birds. There are carnivores as well as omnivores feeding here with type 1 and 2 functional responses. I assume there would be a high population of submerged vegetation since the water the level is that low there would be more sunlight exposure.
Source:
UNCW men's basketball team goes on their longest winning streak as they defeat College of Charleston 65-55 in front of a sold out homecoming crowd January 30, 2016 at Trask Coliseum. PHOTO BY: JEFF JANOWSKI/UNCW
This picture showcases the beauty of a nest of a paper wasp species (Polistes exclamens) covered in pine straw. Their nests are created by chewing pieces of wood into a paper mache like material and putting it together. The nest serves as a place for the wasp to live and store food and eggs. The newborn wasps eat when they are born and feed directly on paralyzed bugs in the nest. Also these wasp houses can be built almost anywhere! From trees to bushes to buildings and more. Paper wasps live in many states across the U. S. For more information and to see where I found some of mine, follow this link:
www.insectidentification.org/insect-description.asp?ident...
(This image was taken outside of Dobo on the UNCW campus)
UNCW's Internaitonal Programs hosted their annual Intercultural Festival at Burney Center January 30, 2016. PHOTO BY: JEFF JANOWSKI/UNCW
The image was taken on 1/20/2018 at the Bluethenthal Wildflower Preserve on the UNCW campus. A dead branch, saturated from water in the pond, had begun to grow a section of Trametes versicolor, more commonly known as Turkey Tail Fungus. This photo shows the concept of decomposition and the recycling of energy in the biosphere. The fungus will speed up the decomposition of the branch, and in doing so will use the decaying material as an energy source.
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.
inside Hall D at Jefferson Lab in Newport News, Va., on Jun. 7, 2024. (Photo by Aileen Devlin | Jefferson Lab)
University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) Physics Professor Liping Gan
Hall D is dedicated to the operation of a large-acceptance detector for experiments with a broad-band, linearly-polarized photon beam produced by ~12 GeV electrons from CEBAF.
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/)
UNCW alumni, family and students enjoy an afternoon at the beach as a part of Family and Alumni Weekend on Saturday September 16, 2017 at Wrightsville Beach. PHOTO BY: ERIN WHITTLE/UNCW
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.
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.