jstalker5's Journal

Cat's Tail Moss

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/182212042

Cat's Tail Moss is just one of over 20,000 species of bryophytes in the world. Bryophytes are small plants that do not have flowers or seeds, lack true roots, and "absorb water and nutrients directly through their surface tissue and transport them directly from cell to cell"(USDA 2). These plants are often found on moist forest floors, rocks, cliffs, or tree trunks and branches. Cat's Tails moss is characterized by irregularly sized branches that form hanging strands or creep over surfaces. This moss is one of the most common ones found in coastal rainforests like Southeast Alaska. The Tongass National Forest is the second largest rainforest in the world and is home to a variety of flora and fauna, many of which have been used for thousands of years for a variety of uses. While specific uses for Cat's Tail Moss seem inconclusive, mosses in general are a plentiful commodity in Alaska. Like much of the flora and fauna in Alaska, mosses have been used by indigenous people for a variety of uses. Some Alaskan Native uses for mosses include use as a menstrual pad due to its absorbency, or mashed and mixed with breast milk then applied to the eyes to ease pain and treat blindness (Garibaldi 144-149). When looking around in the rainforests of Southeast Alaska, mosses are not hard to find but it's remarkable just how many varieties there are.

Garibaldi, Ann. Medicinal Flora of the Alaska Natives: A Compilation of Knowledge from Literary Sources of
Aleut, Alutiiq, Athabascan, Eyak, Haida, Inupiat, Tlingit, Tsimshian, and Yupik Traditional Healing
Methods Using Plants. Alaska Natural Heritage Program, Environment and Natural Resources Institute,
University of Alaska Anchorage, 1999.

USDA. “Mosses and Liverworts of the National Forests in Alaska - US Forest Service.” US Forest Service,
Sept. 2008, www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fsbdev3_069239.pdf.

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/182854652

While pedaling in the sunshine and soaking up the last rays of summer warmth in Juneau, I began to notice these fuzzy creatures, about 2 inches long, crossing the street. I swerved to avoid one, then another, and another. As we shared the bike lane, I feared squashing the furry pedestrians but grew curious as to their destination. Where were they crawling from and where were they heading? My initial research led me to the discovery of the Wool Bear Caterpillar which is characterized by a black fuzzy body with a brownish-redish-yellowish band around the center. These caterpillars go on to become the Isabella Tiger Moth and can be found in all of North America. The Wooly Bear, "is an active caterpillar and moves well"(Banded Woollybear Caterpillar). They sure do move well, that's for sure! However, fellow naturalists on iNaturalist suggested an alternate identification for the fuzzy folks I had found. The Spotted Tussock Moth caterpillars look very similar to the Wooly Bear but have long white hairs or tufts on their front and rear black segments. Though they look rather friendly, their small hairs can cause allergic reactions in some people mainly in the form of hives but can lead to anaphylaxis in those with extreme sensitivity (Nelson).

I didn't try my luck with petting the Spotted Tussock Moth, though. Watching them crawl around was enough for me. I was hoping to find the answer to the world's most pressing question: why did the Spotted Tussock Moth Caterpillar cross the road? However, my research did not provide an answer. I can only assume they were searching for food because these caterpillars feed on deciduous trees and shrubs. They must have had the same idea I had that day and were out enjoying the weather. Can't blame them!

“Banded Woollybear Caterpillar.” CaterpillarIdentification.Org - Database of North American Caterpillar
Insects, www.caterpillaridentification.org/information.php?primary_name=banded-woolly-bear-
caterpillar. Accessed 15 Sept. 2023.

Nelson, Dan. “Lophocampa Maculata (Spotted Tussock Moth).” 10,000 Things of the Pacific Northwest, 10
June 2021, 10000thingsofthepnw.com/2021/06/07/lophocampa-maculata-spotted-tussock-moth/.

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/184181081

Blink and you might miss it! This little snail was a tiny surprise I discovered after picking up a random rock on the beach. Considering the moist and rocky environments I knew snails had to be frequenting the area, but I had yet to meet one in Alaska. This Mask Limpet was about the size of a cheerio and blended in with his rocky surroundings very well. At the time of our encounter, the sun was dipping behind the horizon and the tide was on its way out. Dusk was prime snail time because the Mask Limpet, "attaches to rocks and other hard surfaces; it shelters under rocks and ledges and in deep cracks and crevices during the day, and emerges at night to range more widely across the intertidal zone"(Fretwell and Starzomski). While my snail acquaintance was minuscule and I estimate was around 1 centimeter in shell diameter, these types of snails can reach upwards of 5 centimeters!

I have quite an affinity for snails and have fond memories of my former pet snails I have had throughout my life. At one point in high school, I unintentionally ended up with hundreds of tiny snails after my snails reproduced at what felt like an exponential rate. I lovingly referred to the herd of snails as Snabies, as in snail babies. At another point in my life while living in Brooklyn I took care of a snail named Louisiana Fast who was, as her name suggests, quite fast but only when captured via time-lapse video. I would not have anticipated drawing connections to various points of my life through my snail encounters and explorations, but I’m grateful for it nonetheless. The chance encounter with a Mask Limpet on the beach was not only a fun discovery but also a reminder of the other snails who I have crossed paths with throughout my life.

Fretwell, Kelly, and Brain Starzomski. “Mask Limpet • Tectura Persona.” Biodiversity of the Central Coast, 2014, www.centralcoastbiodiversity.org/mask-limpet-bull-tectura-persona.html.

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/185057916#activity_identification_7ebd4f5f-d62b-4e49-a7e1-d900e869008d

While loading up my blue canoe for a paddle and a picnic I noticed a peculiar and rather slimy stowaway. This Northern Dusky Slug was sliming his way up the canoe with no intention of leaving. This slug was around two and a half inches long and was a yellowish, greenish, and brownish color mix which made him very visible against the blue canoe. I wondered how long he'd be able to hold on throughout the drive to the launching point... Never fear, I did not put my cruel thoughts to the test. I carefully removed the slug and placed him in a habitat where he could live a more fulfilling life- though unable to sail the seven seas. The Northern Dusky Slug is one of many slugs in the Dusky Arion family. These slugs are found throughout North America and, "primarily on fungi and decaying plant matter, but have also been known to consume animal feces, injured or dead insects, and algae. Because they must avoid drying out in order to survive, they are most active at night and can be found in moist leaf litter or vegetation"(Galloway). Southeast Alaska is a perfect place for slugs. It's moist and rich in vegetation for snacking on and they fill an important role in a rainforest ecosystem in helping break down plant matter. The rainforests of Alaska might be too good, though. An influx of invasive black slugs has been plaguing Alaskan gardeners and threatening to overrun populations of native slugs like the banana slug due to their ability to lay up to 150 eggs every couple of weeks(Lavrakas). The handsome yet slimy slug atop my canoe was not the invasive black slug, but perhaps if it was I wouldn't have spared him.

Works Cited
Galloway, Hazel. “Dusky Arion.” Dusky Arion | Mountain Lake Biological Station, U.Va., 28 June 2013, mlbs.virginia.edu/organism/arion_subfuscus.

Lavrakas, Dimitra. “It’s No Fun Getting Slugged in Southeast Alaska.” Juneau Empire, 21 Aug. 2023, https://www.juneauempire.com/life/its-no-fun-getting-slugged-in-southeast-alaska/. Accessed 27 Sept. 2023.