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Anyone who has been walking or driving around campus lately has noticed that the migratory patterns of the Canada Goose (Branta Canadensis) have led them right to our doorstep. Between September and October, the geese usually travel from low arctic tundras to areas stretching from California to the eastern seaboard. (seagrant.com) As with most birds, they travel in large groups to avoid predation as there is safety in numbers. Common enemies include humans, bobcats, raccoons, gulls, eagles, crows and ravens among several others (wdfa.wa.gov). Primary prey for the geese themselves include subaquatic vegetation, insects, snails and tadpoles, though these are probably incidental (wdfw.wa.gov) During migration they can travel up to 70 miles per hour with strong winds, though typically they average approximately 40 mph during migration travels (wdfw.wa.gov). In the V-pattern that is always visible, the benefit of traveling in groups allows the tailing bird to receive upward lift from the bird in front of it, thus allowing them to conserve energy and extend the range of the flock. Geese tend to be very aggressive when their nest is trouble of being tampered with or destroy and they can become very volatile so measures are consistently being implemented to limit their nest sites away from urban environments. The nest themselves are typically around areas of land in close proximity to water. They, like most waterfowl, go through a molting period of approximately 30 to 45 days and complete around July, when they are free from activities such as nesting and migrating and raising young (wdfw.wa.gov). Ecologically, it is important to attempt to regulate their nest sites as they can have significant negative effects on local vegetation due to their droppings, and while it is more expensive, the most successful way to prevent this is to “transform” the area to an environment from an area they deem desirable like a shoreline or pond, into a park or open lot because once they are “nested” it is very hard to discourage them from remaining. (wdfw.wa.gov)
Sources:
I went home to Asheville, NC, this weekend and took a walk on the nature trail by my mom's house. This photo was taken at around 10am this morning. What you see above is an Eastern climbing ivy vine (Toxicodendron radicans) going up a tree. During the summer, there would usually poison ivy leaves sprouting from the branch, but you will only see the red roots during the winter time. As we all know, poison ivy is a pest not only for us, but for the trees it grows on. The vines themselves can cause many structural issues for the tree, especially if the vines capture more wind or snow. The added pressure can cause trees to fall to the ground. As I was walking, I saw several trees that had fallen because of poison ivy vines.While poison ivy has many significant drawbacks, it is important to many organisms in the local ecosystem. Animals like white-tailed deer and raccoons consume the leaves for food, and some toads may need it for shelter. This just goes to show that even species that may be pests will also most likely play a very important role in the ecology of other organisms.
References:
midwesternplants.org/2015/02/25/vines-growing-on-trees-go...
bioweb.uwlax.edu/bio203/2010/ferris_jaco/Poison_Ivy/Inter...
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 is a picture of the night lighting of Charlotte from my airplane on the way to my grandpa’s funeral. When we think of ecology, we generally think of lush forestry, beautiful mountain tops, or the circular nature of crashing waves. But in this picture, we see some of the marvelous lighting of a young city. As we learned in class, ecology is defined as the scientific study of the relationship between organisms and their environment. An environment is basically the sum of factors that affect an organism. Usually we tend to think stereotypically, because as humans we like nice, clean examples. We like to think of how prairie dogs live in a prairie environment. We like to think how buffaloes live on grasslands. In contrast to the natural world, we have this dirty, materialistic world that our species has created, day by day, slowing killing our world with no regard for consequences. In the city, skyscrapers and alleyways take place of trees and beaten down paths. Your favorite restaurant is nothing more than an over glorified drinking hole. A human house in a city is equivalent to a bird nest in a forest. Humans are one of the most populous (ignore the plethora of insects and microscopic animals who go about minding their own business) animals that occupy the city environment. But we’re just that: animals. No better, no worse than any other species. We eat, sleep, and procreate, just like any other animal. We were just endowed with the ability to think on a different level than other animals. One crucial ability is that of foresight, which allows us to understand cause and affect differently, but quite possibly at the highest level of all species on Earth. In closing, I ask a simple but yet unsolved question set: what good is our higher level of intelligence if we don’t use it to stop the absolute destruction of our planet? And if we don’t stop this destruction, what will happen to our city environments? Will they be nothing more than a faint reminder of a species that could have been great?
#UNCW, #ecology, #bio366, #uncweteal,
#Sp2017, #image1
I found this Sundew (Drosera) on UNCW's campus today. Sundews are commonly found in temperate and tropical climates and thrive in acidic sandy soils, such as the soil found here in Southeastern North Carolina. Sundews are found in bogs, marshes, or wetlands. Sundews are carnivorous plants, largely to obtain nutrients, such as nitrogen, in poor soil conditions. They have "tentacles" or leaves with sticky hair-like structures, called gland-tipped trichomes, these trichomes attract insects. Once the attracted insect lands on the sundew the trichomes secrete a sticky substance so the leaves can close and trap the insects. The trapped insect is then digested by enzymes such as protease, phosphatase, peroxidase, and esterase. The nutrient soup that is left after fulling digesting the prey, the leaf surfaces then absorb to help promote the plant growth.Following digestion, the leaves or tentacles uncurl to reset the trap. This type of ecological relationship between Sundews and insects is called predation, where the Sundew is the Predator and the trapped insect is the prey. Carnivory is only used in sundews to replenish nutrients that are not present in their environment. Therefore, Sundews photosynthesize to obtain energy.
Source:
Petruzzello, M. (2014, December 17). Sundew. Retrieved from www.britannica.com/plant/sundew
This insect was found in the back woods of campus climbing on a tree it’s a type of Wasp the species name is Ichneumon coming from the super family Ichneumonidae Wasp quite a mouthful I know. These wasps are parasitic and their Young’s are often injected into other species where they are then hatched and eat the host in which they inhabited. There are many types of shapes and sizes they come in but are all derived from the same ancestor.
nature.mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/ichneumon-w...
UNCW'S Faculty, staff and students shared a toast with returning alumni during the university's annual Champagne Brunch at Burney Center February 2, 2019. PHOTO BY: JEFF JANOWSKI/UNCW
UNCW celebrated their homecoming January 30, 2016 as they crowned Kathryn Davis and Joel ìTryî Tillotson Homecoming Queen and King during a half-time show at Trask Coliseum as the menís basketball team takes on College of Charleston. PHOTO BY: JEFF JANOWSKI/UNCW
This picture was taken in front of Friday Hall on the Campus of UNCW, on March 12 of 2018. This is a picture of Spanish Moss (Tillandsia usneoides) wrapped around a Long Leaf Pine Tree (Pinus palustris). Spanish Moss being wrapped around a tree is an example of commensalism because the Spanish Moss benefits from it, while the tree is not affected. This is different than parasitism because although the Spanish Moss is living on another organism, it does not harm the host organism. This is also an example of coexistence because both species are able to exist with the other present.
This photo was taken April 5, 2017 at the UNCW Aquaculture Facility on Harbor Island. These are Southern Flounder eggs. These fish spawn in the winter but the facility has the equipment to control the conditions to make the fish spawn no matter the actual season. These fish are r-strategists. They have high reproductive rates at low population densities, rapid development, small body size, large number of offspring with low survival rates, and minimal parental care. Their life span is roughly 3 years. They spawn thousands of eggs but around 20% survive. They typically range from 15-18 inches in length and weigh 5 pounds or more. They are dispersed by currents and tides into shallow waters of bays and estuaries.
UNCW alumni, students and staff gather in Warwick Ballroom for the AAGA Luncheon during Homecoming 2019 on February 3, 2019. UNCW©/ERIN WHITTLE
This photo was taken while walking through the Bluethenthal Wildflower Preserve. These are cinnamon ferns (Osmundastrum cinnamomeum). They are called cinnamon ferns because of the color of the reproductive part that is in the middle of the fern. They have a wide distribution across the Americas because they only need a couple conditions to maintain a healthy growth. Those conditions are that they need to be in a moister environment (like UNCW and some of its swampy areas) and do best in filtered sunlight/sandy soils rich in nutrients. Although there are few uses for the ferns, they are generally used as garden plants and they are a food source for herbivores such as deer.
Members of the 2010 Homecoming Court at Trask Coliseum Saturday, Jan. 30 during the 2010 Homecoming game.
Lauren Nicole Humphrey
Jessica Lynn Stewart
Holly Brooke Souther
An-Taria D. Curry
Kristina Lynn Wolfe
- UNCW/Jamie Moncrief
UNCW Scholarship donors and recipients gather at the Burney Center on the UNCW campus for the Scholarship Donor Appreciation Dinner on Tuesday, March 21, 2017. PHOTO BY: ERIN WHITTLE/UNCW
One of my favorite lycophytes: Selaginella uncinata.
Family: Selaginellaceae
These lycophytes do not require water to reproduce unlike bryophytes. They usually flourish in humid and wet environments. It can change colors from a dark red to a galaxy blue/green. This plant is native to china but can also be found in US zones 6-10.
They also make great ground cover!
UNCW community of faculty, staff, students and alumni gather on Hoggard Lawn for the annual Tealgate during Homecoming weekend February 2, 2019. PHOTO BY: JEFF JANOWSKI/UNCW
This photograph, taken at Fort Fisher on February 18th 2018, depicts a colony of seagulls flying over ocean rock formations and the ocean. I find this photograph interesting for ecology because it shows multiple levels of energy transfer found in this ecosystem. Beginning with the sun, which transfers energy to the phytoplankton or plants (phototrophs) in the ocean water. These plants and plankton are eaten by fish (both carnivores/predators and herbivores/prey). This energy continues up the food chain until seagulls (carnivores/predators) consume them. Seagulls form a group (colony) for increased protection for each individual brought by vigilance of other gulls in the group.
www.thewildclassroom.com/biodiversity/birds/aviantopics/f...
This extravagant photo shows UNCW's very own Canadian Geese (Branta canadensis) in one of their favorite spots on campus right outside the rec center and teaching lab. One way to notice these geese from other waterfowl species is that they have a white chinstrap around their neck and are the most commonly found geese species. What is also very interesting is that these animals are mainly herbivores.They coexist in the same types of environments as we do, but what you may not know is that most of these geese are carrying a very weird parasite. Recent studies have also shown though that many Branta canadensis carry a bacteria called Cryptosporidium spp. No geese deaths have been reported but, this parasite can cause respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses. This bacteria shares a very weird parasitic ecological relationship with the geese, because it has been stated that Canadian geese may be accidental hosts of this parsite.
bioweb.uwlax.edu/bio203/s2009/beckwith_kayl/Nutrition.htm
www.ncwildlife.org/Portals/0/Learning/documents/Species/C...
This photo was taken on March 9, 2018 on UNCW’s campus during my ecology lab. I think this is Carolina Jessamine, Gelsemium sempervirens, because I asked my lab TA Jennifer Fredley. I also double checked it by looking at the first reference listed below. They can survive in a wide range of habitats, and are commonly found in March, April, and early May. The ecological concept demonstrated in this photo is defense against predation. All parts of the Jessamine plant are poisonous to humans. The plant contains Alkaloids which can cause sweating, nausea, muscular weakness, dilated pupils, lowered temperature, convulsions, and respiratory failure. There is a debate on whether they are toxic for bees and other pollinators. There has not been a lot of scientific research on the matter, but they are commonly used in landscaping. There has been research to suggest that the bees native to the same area as the jessamine such as the bumblebee were able to consume the nectar while honeybees, not native, could not. The theory explored in the article by Koenig is that the species have evolved together with the pollinators adapted to the plants defense. More research needs to be done to figure out the relationship between jessamine and the pollinators.
Society, N. (2017). Plants - North Carolina Native Plant Society. [online] North Carolina Native Plant Society. Available at: www.ncwildflower.org/plant_galleries/details/gelsemium-se...
Plants.ces.ncsu.edu. (2018). Gelsemium sempervirens. [online] Available at: plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/all/gelsemium-sempervirens/
Koenig, P. (2017). Carolina Jessamine Part 2: does it harm native bees? | Bee Informed Partnership. [online] Beeinformed.org. Available at: beeinformed.org/2017/03/30/carolina-jessamine-part-2-is-i...
2009 Convocation - Hundreds of first year students begin arriving on the Campus Commons at UNC Wilmington to begin the annual Convocation, Monday, Aug. 17, 2009. The event is UNC Wilmington's first official academic welcome for the Class of 2013. First-year students gathered for a short ceremony at the Clock Tower, where the Class of 2013 flag was unveiled and class president Mark Blackwell spoke to the group. The students then participated in their first “Trask Trek” where they were greeted by interim Provost Cathy Barlow and Chancellor Rosemary
DePaolo. Peter Schuhmann, professor of economics and finance, was the featured speaker. The event was followed by a huge picnic on the Hoggard Lawn. UNCW / Jamie Moncrief
These hand-painted rocks were in an "Inspiration Garden" outside of Watson. Though they are intended to spread happiness and color, these projects can often have ecological consequences and violates the Leave No Trace principles. Both toxic and non-toxic paints eventually break down and can end up in soil or bodies of water, hurting the environment farther from where it was originally placed.
Other similar projects like the widely known "Kindness Rocks Project" encourage people to place their rocks, which have been removed from their natural environment, wherever they want thus leading to a variety of negative impacts.
On February 11th UNCW's African American Graduate Association hosted an alumni luncheon at Warwick Center. PHOTO BY: RIVER BONDURANT/UNCW
UNCW community of faculty, staff, students and alumni gather on Hoggard Lawn for the annual Tealgate during Homecoming weekend February 2, 2019. PHOTO BY: JEFF JANOWSKI/UNCW
UNCW community of faculty, staff, students and alumni gather on Hoggard Lawn for the annual Tealgate during Homecoming weekend February 2, 2019. PHOTO BY: JEFF JANOWSKI/UNCW
UNCW Seamen host Easterns Qualifier 2023 at North Myrtle Beach Park and Sports Complex. Little River, South Carolina, Sunday, February 26, 2023.
This is a photo of an American Alligator that I took at my internship at the aquarium. This Alligator is 9 months old and only about 10-12 inches. Alligators eat a variety of amphibians, birds, fish, reptiles and small mammals, including raccoons and rabbits. Alligators are predators and like to attack their prey, alligators disguise themselves by staying in the water with only their eyes peeping above the surface. Alligators are top predators and help keep other animal populations in balance. They dig holes and leave trails throughout marshes, they create habitats for fish and marine invertebrates. Alligators also help protect birds. Although alligators tend to hang out under rookeries to eat nestlings that fall out of their nests, they also like to eat raccoons, which prey on birds while they’re in their nests. Most alligator and crocodile populations are in danger. The American alligator, which mainly lives in Florida, North Carolina and Oklahoma, has been listed as a threatened species since 1979 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Demands for alligator meat and reptile skins have resulted in their farming, but conservation efforts are underway to help restore populations.
This photo was taken in ecology lab on January 29th, 2018. During this lab, the group observed and collected data of the abundance of Longleaf Pine and Wiregrass. Within the Longleaf Pine Forest, there is a large species abundance of not only Longleaf Pine but, Wiregrass which can be shown in this photo. Wiregrass are the bundles of wire looking grass with the tan color. Longleaf Pine trees are clearly shown in this photograph but are also shown in different stages of their life cycle. Right in the middle of the screen, there is a brighter green grass bundle, this is the Grass stage, this is one of the earliest stage of the tree above the grown. A little back into the picture, there are younger trees starting to grow, this stage is after the Grass stage in a Longleaf Pine's life, which is called the "bottlebrush" stage, this is when the tree is growing three to four feet straight up but with no branches, only the pine needles and the stem, at this stage the tree is only a couple years old. Farther back than the younger trees, there are many mature Longleaf Pine trees.
UNCW Seamen host Fall Easterns at University of North Carolina, Wilmington. Wilmington, North Carolina, Saturday, November 5, 2022.
UNCW Student Ambassadors held their 30th Annual Oozeball — Dirty 30 event, inviting students, alumni, staff and facultyt to participate in a mud volleyball tournament behind Brooks Field on April 26, 2025. PHOTO BY: SAJORDEN MILLER/ UNCW
UNCW students, faculty, staff and community enjoyed a night of dancing during Centro Hispano and US Cellular's Salsa Fiesta at Warwick's Ballroom with live music from Orquesta K'che and performances by UNCW Ritmo Latino and Wilmington Latin Dance February 4, 2017. PHOTO BY: CHRIS INGHAM/UNCW
UNCW Student Ambassadors held their 30th Annual Oozeball — Dirty 30 event, inviting students, alumni, staff and facultyt to participate in a mud volleyball tournament behind Brooks Field on April 26, 2025. PHOTO BY: SAJORDEN MILLER/ UNCW
In this photo there is some type of vine wrapping around the trunk of this tree. I chose to take this photo because it shows the ecological concept of competition. This photo was taken around 3:00 PM in the forests found on UNCW's campus during Ecology lab, specifically Forest B. A vine uses plants or other supports for growth rather than investing energy in a lot of supportive tissue, enabling the plant to reach sunlight with a minimum investment of energy. In this photo there is interspecific competition among the tree and the vine. Most vines are detrimental to trees affecting their growth. While only the above ground competition can be seen here there may also be below ground competition occurring with the roots of the vine and the roots of the tree.
UNCW Seamen compete at Atlantic Coast D-I College Men's Regional Championship, held at Publix Virginia Soccer Training Center, Fredericksburg, Virginia. Sunday, May 7, 2023.
UNCW Student Ambassadors held their 30th Annual Oozeball — Dirty 30 event, inviting students, alumni, staff and facultyt to participate in a mud volleyball tournament behind Brooks Field on April 26, 2025. PHOTO BY: SAJORDEN MILLER/ UNCW
UNCW Board of Visitors members along with other special guests are treated to an evening reception, musical performance, theater performance, and art gallery show at the Cultural Arts Building on Thursday, October 17, 2019. UNCW©/ERIN WHITTLE
UNCW Student Ambassadors held their 30th Annual Oozeball — Dirty 30 event, inviting students, alumni, staff and facultyt to participate in a mud volleyball tournament behind Brooks Field on April 26, 2025. PHOTO BY: SAJORDEN MILLER/ UNCW
UNCW alumni and staff gather for the 2017 Student Affairs Reunion at the Warwick Center on Saturday February 4, 2017. PHOTO BY: ERIN WHITTLE/UNCW
Last Monday I took a walk through the UNCW nature preserve right before lecture! I was hoping to come across a snake of some kind because we had just come across some in my lab the previous week. As I walked through the preserve I took this photo thinking that the lighting was really pretty. Once I looked at the photo for a little longer I began to identify the different forest components. The different layers are the canopy, understorey, undergrowth and the forest floor. For this assignment, I really want to focus on the forest floor. The forest floor is where decomposition occurs! This is a super cool process which interestingly enough is usually odorless. This process also ties into other biogeochemical cycles that we have learned about in lecture such as the carbon cycle! The decay of plant and animal remains by way of fungus and other biological mediums releases carbon back into the soil where it will then be taken up by trees and other plants to continue the cycle. Although I have made this process seem really simple and fast, this process can take more time depending on what the dead plant/animal material is. I look forward to learning more about these cycles in the future!
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
UNCW Seamen host Easterns Qualifier 2023 at North Myrtle Beach Park and Sports Complex. Little River, South Carolina, Sunday, February 26, 2023.
This was found planted outside the UNCW parking deck. I noted a heavily maintained tree that seemed to have been pruned all around. As I approached the tree I noticed that there was a large portion of the tree that had turned brown and the needles had died off. I then spotted this ball shaped bunch of needles intertwined between the branches. This ball, which I had speculated might be a defense mechanism against a possible invasive species, was actually the result of growth herbicide damage to the needles of the tree. This herbicide damage causes needle growth to be stunted or twisted even if the needles stay green. The symptoms can occur between a couple days to a couple weeks after the application of the herbicide. It can be easily avoided by less application to the tree in certain areas which could be a result of application during a windy day (after all it is Wilmington). This is a good ecological example of ecosystem management and habitat fragmentation. It is necessary to apply for cosmetic reasons of killing weeds but altering a previously continuous habitat.