Thanks to everyone who has participated in this event! If you haven't already, please Join the page.
Keep an eye out on our Facebook https://www.facebook.com/BioscienceNMMNHS/ and Twitter https://twitter.com/NMMNHS_Bio for future challenges! Like and Follow to be notified!
It is now several hours past midnight in Hawai'i, and the observation period for the Socially Distant BioBlitz has come to a close. If you have not submitted any observations from April 5th yet, please do so at your earliest convenience. We want your observations to be included in our event summary! Keep an eye out for this summary sometime tomorrow.
Have all your observations submitted? Great! We invite you to assist with identifying other's observations so these data can become research quality. Here's how: https://www.inaturalist.org/pages/getting+started
More of these types of posts that are more in depth will be coming out in the weeks to come. But inspiration struck me, so I wanted to lay out the information this project has collected so far.
Birds -
3,449 observations
194 species
Mammals -
542 observations
38 species
Reptiles -
199 observations
11 species
Amphibians -
331 observations
13 species
Fish -
32 observations
14 species
Insects -
1835 observations
368 species
Plants -
9,364 observations
942 species
Hi everyone! Hope you are holding up well as the quarantine continues. Last week was my first day "back to work". In Maryland we have transitioned to online learning, so teachers in Anne Arundel County spent the last week in training to use online resources and setting up their Google Classrooms. Thankfully my department had already been using Google Classrooms, so I feel very comfortable with the transition.
Since my last journal post, I decided to start taking more initiative using my iNaturalist account. I've started posting observations more regularly and contribute to identifications when feeling confident enough.
I've even gotten the kids involved. After learning about the Seek app, I downloaded it for both my stepdaughters to use. It served as a useful tool for a science lesson my oldest had to complete. I sent the girls each a picture of different flowers we found on our hike yesterday. I told them, the first to correctly identify their flowers wins a prize. Not sure what that prize is yet, but we'll figure it out. Feel free to make suggestions!
Our hike yesterday was at Patapsco Valley State Park. Our original plan was to hike the Chevrolet Trail Loop, a 6 mile trek with moderate elevation, on the east side of the Patapsco River. I was very excited to add a new trail recording to my AllTrails app. Upon arrival to the trail head, there was a number of cars parked and too many people in one location for our comfort. So much for social distancing...
Instead we decided to check out one of our favorites, the McKeldin Switchback Trail. A shorter hike, only 4 miles, located on the west side of the river just across from the Chevrolet Trail. I was very happy we went with plan B. On our hike I was able to add 15 new species to my collection! Spring beauties and a number of other wildflowers were in full bloom throughout the hike. Everyone else hiking was very respectful of each others' space and did a fantastic job navigating the trails safely. After getting home I uploaded my finds to the Patapsco Valley State Park project. We still have plans to explore the Chevrolet Trail, but on a day less crowded.
I've included a link below to check out my AllTrails profile. Unfortunately, I did not record our hike yesterday. However, previous recordings can be found under my history tab. You can also find maps to both trails mentioned earlier under my lists, PVSP (Patapsco Valley State Park).
https://www.alltrails.com/members/emily-hall-54?ref=header
Continue to stay safe and healthy.
-Em
Finding an uncommon lizard (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/41468432) near the most abundant cluster of these cacti helps support the supposition that they are found only in area undisturbed by human activity and likely never plowed or graded. If I knew more about the age and growth rate of E. missouriensis that conclusion would be more firm.
But E. missouriensis is not a perfect index of never-disturbed land because it will not grow just anywhere; it needs the caliche graveled slopes of canyonsides and outcrops for their drainage and possibly soul pH. It only seems that E. missouriensis is such an index because virtually every part of the South Plains has been plowed or scraped and developed except in some instances the caliche canyonsides. The Yellowhouse Canyon in the City of Lubbock has mostly in its 130 year history of European occupation been subject to scraping, digging, and filling, except in the few places where E. missouriensis is found.
Happy Monday Morning BioBlitzers!
Congratulations to everyone that recorded 6 or more Fungi and Lichens in the past 4 days. 12 of you took up that challenge and you earn a fun fungal sticker! Our randomly chosen winner of the Lichen Study Guide by Sheila Strawn, also happens to be the person with the MOST fungi and lichen observations so far. Congratulations to Emily (user name emilyexplores)!
If you have won a prize that I need to send in the mail (books, stickers, etc...), there will be a delay. Sending things from our remote BioBlitz! HQ isn't as easy as from our normal office.
Good luck with our 3 days of Trees! A couple points of clarification
- trees you observed before this date will count toward the challenge
- can include woody shrubs and vines
- observations need to include at least one of the following: flower (including catkins), fruits, and cones (for our conifers)
Here is a great website to help you learn more about our woody plants:
https://nobleapps.noble.org/plantimagegallery/Woodies.aspx
These "Journals" on iNaturalist are not the Grinnell Journals that I need you to submit on Canvas. Your iNaturalist posts will earn you 10 points each week, but the remaining 15 points will be based on a Grinnell Journal submitted on Canvas. See Canvas-->Files-->JOVO-->Results for examples of formatting.
Just wanted to clarify this here, as I have gotten a couple inquiries about it.
El día 3 de abril la imagen de la observación https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/3735884 de una matraca nuca canela fue subida a Wikimedia Commons y ahora aparece en Wikipedia en inglés en Veracruz wren (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veracruz_wren).
Excerpt from William Bartrams Travels, 1773-1776
© Photographer: William Wise | Agency: Dreamstime.com
"The dreaded and formidable rattlesnake is yet too common, and a variety of other serpents abound, particularly that admirable creature, the glass-snake: I saw a very large and beautiful on, a little distance from our camp. The alligator, a species of crocodile, abounds in the rivers and swamps, near the sea coast… On the recollection of so many and great favours and blessings, I now, with a high sense of gratitude, presume to offer up my sincere thanks to the Almighty, the Creator and Preserver."
-William Bartram (1729-1823), Travels through North and South Carolina, Georgia, East and West Florida
The Okefenokee Swamp Park is broadcasting Professor Don Berryhill’s video series, Okefenokeology! Subscribe to their YouTube channel to watch more! “Are you looking for something, anything, to help supplement the online learning resources for you and/or your children’s education with school being closed? Or maybe you just love everything there is to love about the Land of the Trembling Earth? If so, we hope you will enjoy our Okefenokeology Series with Professor Don Berryhill. We will regularly upload each episode onto our YouTube channel (so be sure to subscribe) or just come to our Facebook page for updates.”
City Nature Challenge - это глобальное четырехдневное мероприятие, которое проводится в конце апреля. Ему пять лет. Его задача простая - с помощью участников задокументировать весеннее биоразнообразие городов мира.
В 2020 г. впервые в City Nature Challenge будут участвовать города России - Москва, Севастополь и Курск. В категории "вне зачёта" к ним уже присоединились Екатеринбург, Железногорск, Орехово-Зуево, Петропавловск-Камчатский, Пермь, Ижевск, Нижнекамск, Новосибирск, Тверь, Томск, Тольятти, Ханты-Мансийск и Уфа. В России для участия в CNC используются приложения iNaturalist и Seek или сайт inaturalist.org. В прошлом году в CNC участвовало примерно 150 городов и свыше 30 тыс. человек.
Все подробности тут:
https://lomonosov-msu.ru/rus/event/6114/
Даты проведения челленджа:
Внимание! Челлендж проводится среди участников-одиночек на открытом воздухе вдали от скопления людей и не является массовым мероприятием. Отмена мероприятия возможна в отдельных городах в связи с эпидемиологической обстановкой по решению местных организаторов. Соблюдайте правила личной гигиены, следуйте указаниям местных властей и не нарушайте законодательство. Безопасность участников - наш безусловный приоритет.
Официальный мировой зачёт в этом году отменён - "соревнование" переформатировано в "акцию", поскольку разные города мира находятся в различных условиях карантинных мероприятий. Тем не менее, неофициальные табло будут функционировать:
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2020 (мир)
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2020-russia (Россия)
Шестнадцатым участником мероприятия стала Уфа (https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2020-ufa-russia-vne-zachyota).
City Nature Challenge - это глобальное четырехдневное мероприятие, которое проводится в конце апреля. Ему пять лет. Его задача простая - с помощью участников задокументировать весеннее биоразнообразие городов мира.
В 2020 г. впервые в City Nature Challenge будут участвовать города России - Москва, Севастополь и Курск. В категории "вне зачёта" к ним уже присоединились Екатеринбург, Железногорск, Орехово-Зуево, Петропавловск-Камчатский, Пермь, Ижевск, Нижнекамск, Новосибирск, Тверь, Томск, Тольятти, Ханты-Мансийск и Уфа. В России для участия в CNC используются приложения iNaturalist и Seek или сайт inaturalist.org. В прошлом году в CNC участвовало примерно 150 городов и свыше 30 тыс. человек.
Любой населенный пункт России может присоединиться к нам в категории "вне зачёта" и приобрести бесценный опыт. Участие в неофициальном российском зачёте в ваших руках! Для этого нужно три вещи: 1) адекватный kml-файл границ города, загруженный вручную в категорию "Места" (должен совпадать с общепринятыми муниципальными границами); 2) проект со стандартным названием (например, "City Nature Challenge 2020: Tula, Russia (вне зачёта)") с теми же настройками, что у городов участников; 3) желание за 96 часов сделать и загрузить как можно больше наблюдений! Но не забывайте, что челлендж пройдёт довольно рано (с 24 по 27 апреля) в условиях карантинных ограничений.
Все подробности тут:
https://lomonosov-msu.ru/rus/event/6114/
Даты проведения челленджа:
Внимание! Челлендж проводится среди участников-одиночек на открытом воздухе вдали от скопления людей и не является массовым мероприятием. Отмена мероприятия возможна в отдельных городах в связи с эпидемиологической обстановкой по решению местных организаторов. Соблюдайте правила личной гигиены, следуйте указаниям местных властей и не нарушайте законодательство. Безопасность участников - наш безусловный приоритет.
Официальный мировой зачёт в этом году отменён - "соревнование" переформатировано в "акцию", поскольку разные города мира находятся в различных условиях карантинных мероприятий. Тем не менее, неофициальные табло будут функционировать:
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2020 (мир)
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2020-russia (Россия)
Шестнадцатым участником мероприятия стала Уфа (https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2020-ufa-russia-vne-zachyota).
City Nature Challenge - это глобальное четырехдневное мероприятие, которое проводится в конце апреля. Ему пять лет. Его задача простая - с помощью участников задокументировать весеннее биоразнообразие городов мира.
В 2020 г. впервые в City Nature Challenge будут участвовать города России - Москва, Севастополь и Курск. В категории "вне зачёта" к ним уже присоединились Екатеринбург, Железногорск, Орехово-Зуево, Петропавловск-Камчатский, Пермь, Ижевск, Нижнекамск, Новосибирск, Тверь, Томск, Тольятти, Ханты-Мансийск и Уфа. В России для участия в CNC используются приложения iNaturalist и Seek или сайт inaturalist.org. В прошлом году в CNC участвовало примерно 150 городов и свыше 30 тыс. человек.
Любой населенный пункт России может присоединиться к нам в категории "вне зачёта" и приобрести бесценный опыт. Участие в неофициальном российском зачёте в ваших руках! Для этого нужно три вещи: 1) адекватный kml-файл границ города, загруженный вручную в категорию "Места" (должен совпадать с общепринятыми муниципальными границами); 2) проект со стандартным названием (например, "City Nature Challenge 2020: Tula, Russia (вне зачёта)") с теми же настройками, что у городов участников; 3) желание за 96 часов сделать и загрузить как можно больше наблюдений! Но не забывайте, что челлендж пройдёт довольно рано (с 24 по 27 апреля) в условиях карантинных ограничений.
Все подробности тут:
https://lomonosov-msu.ru/rus/event/6114/
Даты проведения челленджа:
Внимание! Челлендж проводится среди участников-одиночек на открытом воздухе вдали от скопления людей и не является массовым мероприятием. Отмена мероприятия возможна в отдельных городах в связи с эпидемиологической обстановкой по решению местных организаторов. Соблюдайте правила личной гигиены, следуйте указаниям местных властей и не нарушайте законодательство. Безопасность участников - наш безусловный приоритет.
Официальный мировой зачёт в этом году отменён - "соревнование" переформатировано в "акцию", поскольку разные города мира находятся в различных условиях карантинных мероприятий. Тем не менее, неофициальные табло будут функционировать:
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2020 (мир)
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2020-russia (Россия)
Шестнадцатым участником мероприятия стала Уфа (https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2020-ufa-russia-vne-zachyota).
City Nature Challenge - это глобальное четырехдневное мероприятие, которое проводится в конце апреля. Ему пять лет. Его задача простая - с помощью участников задокументировать весеннее биоразнообразие городов мира.
В 2020 г. впервые в City Nature Challenge будут участвовать города России - Москва, Севастополь и Курск. В категории "вне зачёта" к ним уже присоединились Екатеринбург, Железногорск, Орехово-Зуево, Петропавловск-Камчатский, Пермь, Ижевск, Нижнекамск, Новосибирск, Тверь, Томск, Тольятти, Ханты-Мансийск и Уфа. В России для участия в CNC используются приложения iNaturalist и Seek или сайт inaturalist.org. В прошлом году в CNC участвовало примерно 150 городов и свыше 30 тыс. человек.
Любой населенный пункт России может присоединиться к нам в категории "вне зачёта" и приобрести бесценный опыт. Участие в неофициальном российском зачёте в ваших руках! Для этого нужно три вещи: 1) адекватный kml-файл границ города, загруженный вручную в категорию "Места" (должен совпадать с общепринятыми муниципальными границами); 2) проект со стандартным названием (например, "City Nature Challenge 2020: Tula, Russia (вне зачёта)") с теми же настройками, что у городов участников; 3) желание за 96 часов сделать и загрузить как можно больше наблюдений! Но не забывайте, что челлендж пройдёт довольно рано (с 24 по 27 апреля) в условиях карантинных ограничений.
Все подробности тут:
https://lomonosov-msu.ru/rus/event/6114/
Даты проведения челленджа:
Внимание! Челлендж проводится среди участников-одиночек на открытом воздухе вдали от скопления людей и не является массовым мероприятием. Отмена мероприятия возможна в отдельных городах в связи с эпидемиологической обстановкой по решению местных организаторов. Соблюдайте правила личной гигиены, следуйте указаниям местных властей и не нарушайте законодательство. Безопасность участников - наш безусловный приоритет.
Официальный мировой зачёт в этом году отменён - "соревнование" переформатировано в "акцию", поскольку разные города мира находятся в различных условиях карантинных мероприятий. Тем не менее, неофициальные табло будут функционировать:
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2020 (мир)
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2020-russia (Россия)
First reported in New York in 2011, kleptoparasitic Houdini flies from Europe have now been sighted in Washington (state), which probably means they are in multiple states. Please submit observations if you see them lurking around your premises. This is a photograph of an adult at my hotel in Pennsylvania (2019).
I have a Twitter thread if you'd like to learn more.
На 6 апреля 502 наблюдения, 56 видов, 91 эксперт, 7 наблюдателей.
Топ наблюдателей:
1 @anisimov-43 - 42 вида
2 @elena-votinceva - 41
3 @vyatka - 38
4 @woodmen19 - 30
Топ весенних видов:
1. Большой пестрый дятел - 37 наблюдений
2. Большая синица - 34
3. Обыкновенный клест - 31
4. Снегирь и европейская сорока - 30
5. Полевой воробей и серая ворона - 28
Благодарим всех участников за вклад в развитие проекта и ждем новых наблюдений.
In light of the COVID-19 situation, the project boundaries of our urban hotels will be temporarily extended to the entirety of the city until further notice.
The boundaries of the island resorts will remain the same.
In light of the COVID-19 situation, the project boundaries of our urban hotels will be temporarily extended to the entirety of the city until further notice.
In light of the COVID-19 situation, the project boundaries of our urban hotels will be temporarily extended to the entirety of the city until further notice.
In light of the COVID-19 situation, the project boundaries of our urban hotels will be temporarily extended to the entirety of the city until further notice.
In light of the COVID-19 situation, the project boundaries of our urban hotels will be temporarily extended to the entirety of the city until further notice.
In light of the COVID-19 situation, the project boundaries of our urban hotels will be temporarily extended to the entirety of the city until further notice.
| Место | Наблюдатель | Наблюдений | Видов |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | @velibortravoved | 10 662 | 992 |
| 2 | @birdchuvashia | 3 886 | 946 |
| 3 | @naturalist8307 | 1 919 | 592 |
| 4 | @olegglushenkov | 1 383 | 297 |
| 5 | @valeriya_xoma | 785 | 266 |
| 6 | @tatianavladimirova | 346 | 296 |
| 7 | @fylatra | 156 | 108 |
| 8 | @margaruta | 146 | 88 |
| 9 | @polina_15 | 68 | 22 |
| 10 | @stasy23 | 62 | 44 |
| 11 | @naturalist21667 | 52 | 31 |
| 12 | @angelina2007 | 48 | 38 |
| 13 | @margarita-antonova-888 | 41 | 27 |
| 14 | @millione | 40 | 26 |
| 15 | @kirillov_michael | 39 | 13 |
| 16 | @drkfrd | 35 | 28 |
| 17 | @arishkkkgr | 28 | 19 |
| 18 | @volodya21 | 21 | 19 |
| 19 | @mashka | 20 | 15 |
| 20 | @annapetrova | 18 | 11 |
| Место | Наблюдатель | Наблюдений | Видов |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | @velibortravoved | 10 662 | 992 |
| 2 | @birdchuvashia | 3 886 | 946 |
| 3 | @naturalist8307 | 1 919 | 592 |
| 4 | @olegglushenkov | 1 383 | 297 |
| 5 | @tatianavladimirova | 346 | 296 |
| 6 | @valeriya_xoma | 785 | 266 |
| 7 | @fylatra | 156 | 108 |
| 8 | @margaruta | 146 | 88 |
| 9 | @stasy23 | 62 | 44 |
| 10 | @angelina2007 | 48 | 38 |
| 11 | @naturalist21667 | 52 | 31 |
| 12 | @drkfrd | 35 | 28 |
| 13 | @margarita-antonova-888 | 41 | 27 |
| 14 | @millione | 40 | 26 |
| 15 | @polina_15 | 68 | 22 |
| 16 | @arishkkkgr | 28 | 19 |
| 17 | @volodya21 | 21 | 19 |
| 18 | @mashka | 20 | 15 |
| 19 | @kirillov_michael | 39 | 13 |
| 20 | @naturalist9294 | 16 | 12 |
| Место | Эксперт | Идентификаций |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | @phlomis_2019 | 5 080 |
| 2 | @convallaria1128 | 2 893 |
| 3 | @kastani | 2 822 |
| 4 | @julia_shner | 2 001 |
| 5 | @ldacosta | 1 361 |
| 6 | @svg52 | 1 322 |
| 7 | @tomegatherion | 1 145 |
| 8 | @apseregin | 1 011 |
| 9 | @fylatra | 899 |
| 10 | @eduard_garin | 865 |
| 11 | @hschillo | 768 |
| 12 | @beerolha | 675 |
| 13 | @velibortravoved | 649 |
| 14 | @pavel_golyakov | 554 |
| 15 | @alexis_orion | 535 |
| 16 | @michail_anurev03 | 503 |
| 17 | @madmanserg | 468 |
| 18 | @stephen54 | 450 |
| 19 | @karimhaddad | 448 |
| 20 | @birdchuvashia | 436 |
April 1st, 2020 (Wednesday) 9:30 am – 11:30 am: 0 live newts, 29 new dead newts, a few juveniles.
The weather was cold.
All newts observed today were new, as I removed everything last week. Today I also removed all newts but one from the road. I recorded the one that was left. I think it rained last over the weekend, and those 3-4 days that have passed were enough for some of the newts to dry completely. Some were already very difficult to remove from the road.
Other roadkills - some earthworms, millipedes, camel cricket, moth, snail, and a Western Skink. I also saw a live honey bee and a male honey bee on the road, and removed them.
Coverage: north part - the county park parking lot till the second stop sign.
Rainfall: (MTD: 0 in; YTD: 18.07 in). Data from - http://www.weathercat.net/wxraindetail.php
Traffic: 8 trucks, 24 cars (including County Parks maintenance pickup trucks), 8 bikes, 11 pedestrians.
In these days of stay-at-home orders you can still make a big contribution to helping us get data in Columbia County. Many species of reptiles and amphibians are found right around the home if you know where to look. Here are a few little tricks for searching them out.
The first place to look is underneath things. Not just anything - the best objects tend to be those that have been lying around undisturbed. Carefully lift up the object by the corner (so you don't crush whatever might be living there) and see what's underneath!
Amphibians need moisture, they tend to be found under logs, woodpiles, rocks, and other large objects that keep a nice seal so the soil below them has remained moist. I found this Oregon Ensatina under an old mat that sat in the shade next to a decorative log.
Julia and Kevin found several Long-toed Salamanders by flipping objects around the garden next to the house.
Reptiles on the other hand like warmth, so they tend to be found under boards, tins, and tarps that are exposed to a little bit of sunlight. This young Northern Alligator Lizard was under the tarp protecting some young seedlings.
And this fencing on the side of a horse field had lots of Northwestern Garter Snakes underneath.
The next place to look is wherever there is water. The water source doesn't have to be big. This Northern Red-legged Frog was sitting next to a decorative pond.
Sometimes it's easiest to find frogs by tracking them down while they call at night. These Northern Pacific Treefrogs were calling from a flooded part of the yard after a rain.
The larger the water source, the more variety is possible. A canal next to my sister's field has American Bullfrogs and Western Painted Turtles. You often have to sneak up very slowly in order to spot the animals before they disappear under the water.
That same canal also produces Rough-skinned Newts, as little Kevin found out.
Those who are lucky enough to have wooded areas on their property have a variety more creatures to find. One of the best places to look is under logs. However, you must be very careful not to break off any bark or break apart any logs, as that destroys their habitat. Only those logs or pieces that can be moved carefully without damage and then placed right back in the same place should be touched.
This Oregon Ensatina was hiding in the loose wood of an old stump in the woods next to my sister's house.
And water bodies in the woods are great spots to look. The rocks under this tiny little stream often hold Dunn's Salamanders.
I hope that gives you a good idea of the possibilities right around your own home. Home data is vital to us as it helps us get a picture of the spread of herps across the whole country, not just on the hiking trails. Upload a picture of a frog or snake around your home and help us learn more about Columbia County's native animals.
Thanks for taking a look!
Purpose of this project:
Brushing up on ID skills.
Contribute to protecting NZ biodiversity while getting some fresh air.
extra points if you can record unwanted (notifiable?) organisms.
Virtually explore colleagues neighbourhoods
Have some fun.
I didn't really have a search process for this assignment I was lucky enough to have a love for animals as is. I took many of these photos while doing nothing related to ecology class work luckily most of it is applicable and I was able to use a bunch of different species I found while going on walks and outside during this boring time. It was tough for some species like the birds to get quality pictures without them flying off so I had to be cautious when making my moves. I certainly noticed that the plots with a lot of moist soil and was getting a good balance of water and sunlight seemed to have the most life in it. Considering we are finally in spring we it makes sense we are seeing this lively transition. I wouldn't say humans are facilitating many of the species I found other than the common slider. This was a big concept that i discussed in my research paper regarding my bluebirds considering we are unable to monitor nesting without nest boxes and we are seeing very little real secondary cavities and bluebirds nesting in them.
The African Carder Bee looks very similar to native species in the same family. So how do you tell the difference?
Look at the abdomen of the bee, specifically at the stripes. In the photo are they made of fine hairs or are they hard, as if made of nail polish? If you answered the latter, it is likely you've snapped a photo of the introduced African Carder Bee!
The paper that I was able to find on the Web of Science database from the CU online library from searching "garlic mustard", "invasive", was titled, "Fungal communities do not recover after removing invasive Alliaria petiolata (garlic mustard)" by Anthony et. al and was published in October 2019. Garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) is the species that I chose from the EcoQuest list provided in class. Even before I took this botany class, when I was a senior in high school I took a class called Advanced Forest Ecology Research and one of the major topics we covered were invasive species. One of the species that we focused on was garlic mustard, so I was already aware that garlic mustard was an invasive species. This paper that I found pointed out that although eradication efforts have been initiated, there is still a concern on whether "eradication can restore soil microbial communities that are also sensitive to invasion" (Anthony et. al). This is because garlic mustard can "alter soils in ways that promote the invasion process". In addition, "Garlic mustard disrupts mycorrhizas, increases fungal pathogen loads, and elevates soil nutrient availability and soil pH; thus, the fungal community and soil property responses to garlic mustard eradication may be key to restoring ecosystem function in invaded forests" (Anthony et. al). This article is interesting because it puts the focus of trying to resolve the problem with invasive species not only on the invasive species itself but also the surrounding organisms and ecosystems that are directly impacted by the invasive species. After an experiment that spanned three years, it was concluded that, "Overall soil abiotic-biotic restoration was not observed after 3 years of garlic mustard removal. Garlic mustard eradications may therefore not achieve management goals until soil physical, chemical, and biological properties become more similar to uninvaded forested areas or at least more dissimilar to invaded conditions that can promote invasion" (Anthony et. al).
http://apps.webofknowledge.com.ezproxy.cul.columbia.edu/full_record.do?product=UA&search_mode=GeneralSearch&qid=3&SID=7C4Bkug9hFRgJg4tFNs&page=1&doc=5&cacheurlFromRightClick=no
Hi neighbors,
Since we spending a lot of time at home this spring, it would be great to start to record some of the wildlife that we see in our neighborhood and surrounding natural areas. This would be helpful in tracking the health of these ecosystems and also sharing with each other the amazing things we find.
Thank you!
