Field Observations:
July 28, 2013
With temperatures in the 60's, it was a cold morning as I hopped on my bike and headed out to the prairie. The cold air had come as a shock when I opened the door to the front porch. With my cold-blooded nature I knew right away I had to run back inside to put on several more layers before making my way outside. Peddling up the hill, I was thankful I had chosen to throw my rain jacket on as a windbreaker as it started to drizzle. With dreary weather I tried to keep my sunny attitude for this adventure as I made it to the prairie to make my third round of observations.
Getting off of my bike I knew right away that my previous plan to further investigate the birds in the area was going to be of no avail today. One lone bird flew over the prairie, taking cover in the nearby trees, as I parked my bike among the plants. Leaving my binoculars in my backpack, I slung my camera around my neck, tucking it under my rain jacket. I began trekking through the damp plants deciding I'd make my way to the center of the prairie to gain a new perspective.
Aside from the sounds of the wind, the prairie was virtually silent. No birds could be heard calling overhead, and the constant buzz of insects wings was missing. This made it all the easier to become attuned to the sweeping of the wind. The flower heads danced in waves as the wind tickled its way through them. Upon closer examination you could tell that the flowers were weather-beaten from the storms the night before, many of them missing petals. Although the Gray-headed Coneflowers looked quite dismal, I was struck at this moment by the fact that the sea of purple was no longer present in the landscape. Perhaps aided by the wind, it seems its time for blooming has come to an end.
Pulling myself out of the hypnotizing affect the bobbing of the flower heads had on me, I soon noticed the more subtle motion of the grasses. I quickly recognized the swaying of the Big Blue Stem grass that towered over many of the other plants. The shimmy of a purple grass was one I did not know, so I plucked a sample to take back to the house to identify where it was dry. Plopping myself down within the plant cover to further observe I found myself face-to-face with the Side-Oats Grama we identified in a previous class. After time a bit of time spent hiding under the leaf cover I decided it was time to make my way back home so I could record my observations within the warmth of the house.
Small Milkweed Bug (Lygaeus Kalmii)
Measuring from 10-12 millimeters this bug is fairly easy to recognize with its black and orange markings. Their head is black exempt for a red spot, and they also have a black pronotum that has a red band. The most distinguishable coloration is the black body with orange bands on their forewings that form an "X."
The bright colors of this insect warn other predators to stay away. Being an insect that lives off of the milkweed plant, it becomes quite toxic to others after consuming this plant. Although milkweed may be their preferred choice of meal they will also feed from the nectar of other flowering plants. However the milkweed plant becomes more crucial as it is their host plant for laying eggs. In the spring an adult insect will lay their eggs on the milkweed plant which will then hatch into nymphs. The nymph matures into an adult which is able to survive over winter so it can again lay its eggs in the spring.
Bug of the Month - Small milkweed bug - Boston Harbor Islands biodiversity @ Harvard. (n.d.). Bioinformatics @ Harvard. Retrieved July 30, 2013, from http://insects.oeb.harvard.edu/boston_islands/bugmonth/0809_sml_mlkwd_bug.htm
With temperatures in the 60's, it was a cold morning as I hopped on my bike and headed out to the prairie. The cold air had come as a shock when I opened the door to the front porch. With my cold-blooded nature I knew right away I had to run back inside to put on several more layers before making my way outside. Peddling up the hill, I was thankful I had chosen to throw my rain jacket on as a windbreaker as it started to drizzle. With dreary weather I tried to keep my sunny attitude for this adventure as I made it to the prairie to make my third round of observations.
Getting off of my bike I knew right away that my previous plan to further investigate the birds in the area was going to be of no avail today. One lone bird flew over the prairie, taking cover in the nearby trees, as I parked my bike among the plants. Leaving my binoculars in my backpack, I slung my camera around my neck, tucking it under my rain jacket. I began trekking through the damp plants deciding I'd make my way to the center of the prairie to gain a new perspective.
Aside from the sounds of the wind, the prairie was virtually silent. No birds could be heard calling overhead, and the constant buzz of insects wings was missing. This made it all the easier to become attuned to the sweeping of the wind. The flower heads danced in waves as the wind tickled its way through them. Upon closer examination you could tell that the flowers were weather-beaten from the storms the night before, many of them missing petals. Although the Gray-headed Coneflowers looked quite dismal, I was struck at this moment by the fact that the sea of purple was no longer present in the landscape. Perhaps aided by the wind, it seems its time for blooming has come to an end.
Pulling myself out of the hypnotizing affect the bobbing of the flower heads had on me, I soon noticed the more subtle motion of the grasses. I quickly recognized the swaying of the Big Blue Stem grass that towered over many of the other plants. The shimmy of a purple grass was one I did not know, so I plucked a sample to take back to the house to identify where it was dry. Plopping myself down within the plant cover to further observe I found myself face-to-face with the Side-Oats Grama we identified in a previous class. After time a bit of time spent hiding under the leaf cover I decided it was time to make my way back home so I could record my observations within the warmth of the house.Species Identification:
Small Milkweed Bug (Lygaeus Kalmii)
Measuring from 10-12 millimeters this bug is fairly easy to recognize with its black and orange markings. Their head is black exempt for a red spot, and they also have a black pronotum that has a red band. The most distinguishable coloration is the black body with orange bands on their forewings that form an "X."
The bright colors of this insect warn other predators to stay away. Being an insect that lives off of the milkweed plant, it becomes quite toxic to others after consuming this plant. Although milkweed may be their preferred choice of meal they will also feed from the nectar of other flowering plants. However the milkweed plant becomes more crucial as it is their host plant for laying eggs. In the spring an adult insect will lay their eggs on the milkweed plant which will then hatch into nymphs. The nymph matures into an adult which is able to survive over winter so it can again lay its eggs in the spring.
Bug of the Month - Small milkweed bug - Boston Harbor Islands biodiversity @ Harvard. (n.d.). Bioinformatics @ Harvard. Retrieved July 30, 2013, from http://insects.oeb.harvard.edu/boston_islands/bugmonth/0809_sml_mlkwd_bug.htm
This 1-3 feet tall grass usually grows in bunches. The open panicle of the seed head is 1-2 feet and is just as wide. It can be distinguished by its bright purple color. A weak seed head makes it fairly easy for it to break off.
Although this plant grows in colonies it is not one to make up a large percentage of the plant composition.
Plants Profile for Eragrostis spectabilis (purple lovegrass). (n.d.). Welcome to the PLANTS Database | USDA PLANTS. Retrieved July 30, 2013, from http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=ERSP
This biennial herbaceous plant grows to be 3-5 feet tall. Although it does not bloom the first year, the second year the top four inches of the central stem is adorned with yellow blooms along this spike-like raceme. The leaves of this plant are alternate compound leaves with three leaflets. The middle leaflet grows on a short stalk. Although it is hard to see the leaves are very finely toothed.
Known for its abundance in roadsides this hardy plant is helped by a strong tap root. It is also important to note that their hard seeds are able to stay viable in the soil for up to 30 years. With its ability to shade out native sun-loving plants it is seen as an ecological threat.
White and yellow sweet clover - Invasive species: Minnesota DNR. (n.d.).Minnesota Department of Natural Resources: Minnesota DNR. Retrieved July 30, 2013, from http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/terrestrialplants/herbaceous/whitesweetclover.html
The Goldenrod Gall fly gets its name from its dependence on this plant within its lifecycle. As an adult the small brown fly (5mm) spends much of its time on the plant as it is not known for its flying abilities. After mating, a female will then use her ovipositor, or egg-laying tube, to inject her eggs into the stem of the goldenrod. When the larvae hatch they begin eating away at the stem from the inside. A chemical in their saliva causes the stem to grow abnormally around them creating a ball-shape that they live within.
This gall serves as protection for the larvae, even over the long, harsh winter. In the spring they will use a escape tunnel that they have dug into the stem to emerge. This gall home serves well to shield this insect from harm, but some species, including the Downy Woodpecker, have realized to recognizing this protrusion as a delicious snack source.
Goldenrod Gall Fly. (n.d.). FCPS Home Page Redirect Page. Retrieved July 30, 2013, from http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/goldenrod_gall_fly.htm
A Second to Consider Ecotones:
An ecotone is the transitional area between two different ecosystems. Within this border there are sometimes elements of each ecosystem creating a unique blend of life that can be present. It is possible for this transition to be gradual, but other times it is also very abrupt. Within the case of the prairie I am studying the ecotones are very discrete. There is a clear line where prairie plants end and swamp plants are present or where the roadway splits the prairie from mowed lawns and fields. This is mainly due to the fact that this prairie is a result of restoration. Much of the border is surrounded by the road and land that is not part of the project therefor it continues to be cultivated. In terms of succession this means there is no room for the gradual transition to take place. As the prairie is burned on a cycle this clear line of where the ecotone is will be maintained. Creative Contribution:
"Nature's Umbrella" by Allison Broomhall
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