When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe.

John Muir

This week in Snapshot of a 21st Century we were asked to find examples in nature of organisms that change in a day, in a season, in a year and in 20 years. All of these organisms needed to be found in the same habitat.

 The violet on the left is an example of a plant that at this time of year can change on a daily basis. The beautiful purple blooms are continuous as new flowers bloom and others wither and die, this is plant will look different if observed on a daily basis.

 This is an example of a gooseberry bush that will change during the season. The gooseberries are blooming and will soon set and bear fruit. Gooseberries are too tart for my taste but many people look forward to fresh spring gooseberries so they can make pies, jellies, and tarts.

 The turtle on the right was well camouflaged. Had my daughter not noticed the turtle sticking his head back into the shell we would not have noticed him/her this morning as we walked the trail.

During the course of the next year the turtle will change and grow. The box turtle's shell will grow and elongate as he/she ages over the coming months.

Finally, we noticed this beautiful oak beginning to leaf out. The photo on the left shows how beautiful the newly emerging leaves are on this oak. Below is the entire tree and as you can see, it is about two foot tall. In 20 years, as the tree grows and thrives, it will be a much bigger specimen.

Relationships: Mutual Benefits!

Most organisms in the environment share many relationships. Some of these relationships are beneficial, and some can be harmful. The bee pollinating the dandelion below is a great example of commensalism. Commensalism is a relationship between two organisms where one organism benefits and the other is unharmed. In this relationship, the bee benefits because the nectar from the flower is a food source. The dandelion in this relationship is unharmed.  In many cases, these types of relationships can also be considered mutualism. In mutualism, both organisms benefit. In many cases the flowers also benefit as the bees carry the pollen from one flower to another enabling pollination to occur among the species. 

It's a Mystery!

One of our assignments this week was to find an object in nature that we could not identify. As a plant person, it was difficult for me to find a plant that I did not recognize as I walked around the nature center yesterday. The boy scout troops were learning about nature at the nature center and once they abandoned their nets, my son and I went to check out the pond.

I am not an expert on aquatic insects and I know from previous times when my son and I have skimmed ponds, we have found some interesting organisms. We were certainly rewarding yesterday as we found a mystery object. This is some type of light yellow gelatinous egg sac. There were a number of these on the bottom of the pond. The pond was very small, maybe 10 x 12 and it is lined with running water that flows into it. 

We used the nets to retrieve this egg sac. Then we photographed it and returned it back to the pond. As you can see the organisms developing in this egg sac were around a centimeter long, black in color, and they look like long grains of wild rice. I hope you can help identify our mystery photo.

Mystery egg sac found in a small pond at Runge
Nature Center on April 19, 2014.

Energy Transfer in Food Chains

 All life relies on energy to carry out life processes on the left is a simple food chain that one might find in Missouri. The arrows indicate the energy transfer that occurs between different trophic levels. Pictured at left is a red maple just beginning to bud out in my yard. The red maple is a primary producer. All trees use the sun's energy to undergo photosynthesis.  The red maple is one of the species that the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly finds attractive. The red maple is a source of food and shelter for the Swallowtail.

With so much evidence of depleting natural resources, toxic waste, climate change, irreparable harm to our food chain and rapidly increasing instances of natural disasters, why do we keep perpetuating the problem? Why do we continue marching at the same alarming beat?

Yehuda Berg

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/y/yehudaberg536662.html#tA03o2ipllMDYJ6K.99

I believe this may be a male swallowtail(middle photo). He was fiercely battling high winds yesterday in Joplin, Missouri. When he was forced by the wind to alight on this yew bush I was able to get a nice photo. The yellow Swallowtail butterfly would be considered a primary consumer. The Eastern Grey Squirrel (bottom) is one of the predators of the yellow swallowtail butterfly. I took this photo at Runge Nature Center in Jefferson City, MO a couple of weeks ago. Unfortunately, the zoom on my iphone does not take a very high quality picture.

I will end this blog with this thought....

"With so much evidence of depleting natural resources, toxic wastes, climate change, irreparable harm to our food chain and rapidly increases chances of natural disasters, why do we keep perpetuating the problem? Why do we continue marching at the same alarming beat?" Yehuda Burg

Adaptations-Necessary for Survival!

Over the course of the past week our focus in A Snapshot of the 21st Century has been adaptations. This week we were required to explore nature to find evidence of adaptations. The adaptations categories included: size, coloration-warning, coloration-hidden or blended, shape and showy display. Due to the late arrival of spring this year, our instructors are not requiring and example from each category.

"I have called this principle, by which each slight variation, if useful, is preserved, by Natural Selection." Charles Darwin.

The focus at Runge Nature Center last Saturday was Salamanders. This spotted salamander is a great example of an organisms that successfully uses its shape to its advantage. Nature lovers had a great time at Runge, learning about these creatures through activities and live displays.

Another adaptation that is evident in nature is size. The size of these thorns on the Honey Locust tree are a natural deterrent to deer and any creature that might consider climbing this tree.



Coloration is often found in nature as a warning of danger. The pretty yellow horsenettle pods to the left are a signal of danger. In addition, to being a bothersome, prickly weed in the summer garden, the seed pods are poisoness. Make sure that young children
steer clear of the attractive yellow pods. The numerous prickly thorns
are another deterrent.


As my daughter and I explored the grounds of Runge Nature Center last Monday night, we struggled to find an organism that adapts to the environment by blending in. Fortunately, around the edge of one of the ponds we discovered a number of these frogs that clearly blend into the muddy shore. My daughter believes they may be Northern Cricket Frogs. You will have to examine the photo below closely to find this hidden amphibian.

Nature Photography Scavenger Hunt

This photo was taken on March 22around 6:30 p.m. at Runge
Nature Center. This photo shows perspective.

As part of my Conservation class "Spring Snapshot of 21st Century Nature Study", students were challenged last week to a nature scavenger hunt. In addition to requiring specific categories of nature photos, each photo also had a specific photographic quality that was required. It was a challenge! Last week was cold and windy here in central Missouri. Additionally, work and other obligations made it was challenging to find time to get outdoors to locate the items required for the hunt.

Trees are an integral part of our ecosystems. I think the winding path adds to the photo at right.



Lichen found growing on a branch at Runge Nature Center.

The second photo on the right is an interesting lichen growing on a broken branch. Most of these photos were take on March 22 around 6:30 p.m. at Runge Nature Center in Jefferson City, MO.
The photo below was a challenge. This photo focuses on composition. It was challenging to find something gross in nature for this photo. I believe this may be turkey poop. Our nature center has nine male turkeys that wander the grounds daily. I have seen them in the parking lot at the end of the day. I speculate that this was left behind.



This photo depicts what I think is turkey poop.

The photos of the daffodil and bird nest were taken March 23 in my yard. The daffodil is a welcome sign that spring is coming. The bird nest was camouflaged in a bush in my yard. In fact, had I not glanced out the window and looked down into the bush, I am not sure I would have seen it. I am anxious to watch and see if birds decide to nest here.



A bird nest camouflaged in the bush in front of our house. I am not sure if the
nest is new this year or constructed last year.














First daffodil bloom in my yard this year.



 



 

Ethics and Safety

Sarah photographs a fossil at Rock Bridge
 State park.

As spring arrives, like many who have been inside most of the winter, I am ready to get out and begin exploring the great outdoors for signs of spring.

Before heading out it is important to contemplate the ethics and safety that must be considered before setting off on any winding trail or hiking adventure.

Most are aware of the concept of "leave no trace". Hikers and explorers must make sure they leave the environment exactly as they found it.

One aspect that is often not at the forefront of our thoughts about ethics is the understanding that geological features should remain undamaged and in the environment where they are discovered. Though sometimes difficult, these fascinating artifacts should remain untouched. Children should be encouraged to leave these interesting discoveries. They can, however, sketch or make a tracing of such fossils. Additionally, taking a photograph using the wide of array of phones, I-pods, I-pads etc., offer children the opportunity to preserve these interesting artifacts.

Alex found an interesting rock full
 of fossils at Rock Bridge State park.