jstalker5's Journal

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/186481290

As I trudged through the soggy forest searching for this week's observation, I spotted a bunch of tiny orange speckles and took a closer look. This Carpet Pelt Lichen was growing on the side of a tree trunk nearly at the base. I was surprised by the bold orange color which contrasted well against the dark lobes of the lichen yet was camouflaged when looking from a distance. In my efforts to procure information about this eye-catching lichen, I came across many sources calling the same lichen by various different names. It turns out, that is because this lichen, "has many common names; felt lichen, frog pelt, undulating pelt, and carpet pelt to name a few. The funny thing is that all these pelts make one think of a skin, and they certainly look the part, but the pelt in Peltigera is Latin for shield"(Nelson). Learning that there are many names for similar looking lichen helped broaden my search. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that lichens aren't just interesting because they're fun shapes and intriguing to look at. Lichens are important in reducing pollutants in the air! The USDA states that, "Any heavy metals or carbon or sulfur or other pollutants in the atmosphere are absorbed into the lichen thallus. Scientists can extract these toxins and determine the levels that are present in our atmosphere"(About Lichens). Given that Southeast Alaska is filled with many different types of lichens, the superior air quality is just another reason to be grateful to live here.

“About Lichens.” U.S. Forest Service, www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/beauty/lichens/about.shtml. Accessed 6 Oct. 2023.

Nelson, Dan. “Peltigera Neopolydactyla.” 10,000 Things of the Pacific Northwest, 5 Feb. 2021, 10000thingsofthepnw.com/2021/02/04/peltigera-neopolydactyla/. Accessed 6 Oct. 2023.

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/187447144

I took a trip to Snail City for this week's Creature Feature. Before this day, I did not refer to this rocky shore as Snail City, but boy did I feel outnumbered... by the thousands. As I made my way closer to the water to see what else I could find, I kept seeing snails! Every rock was covered with the slimy creatures. I had never seen so many snails in one place! The majority of the snails I encountered were tiny and dark colored snails, many resembling my Creature Feature from several weeks ago: The Mask Limpet. I was overwhelmed by the number of snails before me, but a bright orange shell caught my eye. I took a closer look and was pleased to discover what I now know to be a Wrinkled Amphissa. This type of snail grows to be three centimeters long and is, "mainly a scavenger on dead flesh and dead algae, which it uses its long siphon to find"(Cowles). The color of this snail was a bold contrast against the brown rock and crusty barnacles. These snails come in a variety of colors such as, “pink, orange, mauve, yellow, yellowish green, or mottled with brown”(Cowles). I’m surprised that this is my first encounter with a Wrinkled Amphissa, but now I know what to look for when I am exploring rocky shorelines. It’s possible I hadn’t encountered one before because these snails are typically underwater and easily obscured by plants, rocks, or moving water.

Cowles, Dave. “Amphissa Columbiana Dall, 1916.” Invertebrates of the Salish Sea, 2007, inverts.wallawalla.edu/Mollusca/Gastropoda/Prosobranchia/Order_Neogastropoda/Suborder_Rachiglossa/Family_Columbellidae/Amphissa_columbiana.html.

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/188332087

This lonely bull kelp caught my eye. Unfortunately, this particular bull kelp was looking a bit sad and floating all alone. I'm always amazed to come upon a grouping of bull kelp because they are seemingly never ending. They're usually in a large clump, with flowing tails of seaweed extending from their tips and wavering with the flow of the water. Bull kelp has traditionally been harvested by Alaska Natives and is currently at the forefront of a booming seaweed economy. As climate change continues to impact fisheries, seaweed farming and harvesting enter the picture as a sustainable and nutritious option. The Washington Post reported that, “'It’s one of the first regenerative industries based on restoration, conservation and mitigation, rather than extraction of finite resources,” said Lankard, who is Eyak Athabaskan"'(Eilperin). It's refreshing to learn how sustainable seaweed farming can be. I became intrigued about bull kelp when I saw Barnacle Foods products in the grocery store. The Juneau-based company creates a variety of sauces, salsa, and fun condiments made with seaweed and bull kelp; all of which receive my stamp of approval. The seaweed farming industry has massive potential, but for Alaska Natives, there's a persisting problem. Alaska Natives receive no preference in maritime permitting despite their history of subsistence practices. Eilperin writes, "Anyone involved in commercial fishing or a large operator, Lankard argued, has an automatic advantage"(Eilperin). Seaweed farming is a double-edged sword between a soon-to-be booming sea farming economy and a fight for Alaska Native rights.

Eilperin, Juliet. “Alaska’s Newest Gold Rush: Seaweed.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 3 Aug. 2023, www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/interactive/2023/alaska-kelp-farming/. Accessed 19 Oct. 2023.

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/188841750

After seeing many observations of various mushrooms, I've begun to keep my eyes peeled for mushrooms as I walk through forested areas. Lucky for me, this large clump of Chicken of the Woods was not hard to spot. In fact, it was quite large and spanned about three feet vertically up the tree trunk. It turns out, this mushroom is a very common one to find and also edible! The mushroom gets its name for its chicken-like texture and flavor. This mushroom, "grows on hardwoods and conifers, depending on the species, and causes brown rot in the host tree. They are both parasitic, attacking the host when it is still alive, and saprobic, living on dead and decomposing organic wood"(Jenny). While Chicken of the Woods is a popular mushroom to forage, it also possesses some fascinating medicinal qualities. A report published this year states, "Many studies have demonstrated that the extracts obtained from this mushroom and some of their components have positive effects on human health. They have antioxidant, antibacterial, and anticancer properties and regulate human metabolism and digestive processes"(Adamska). There's truly more to this mushroom than its fascinating structure and striking size. If you're on the hunt for some they can be,"easily recognized by their large clusters of overlapping brackets, and bright yellow-orangish colors. The colors fade as the mushroom grows older"(Jenny). I did not forage any of the mushrooms during my observation, but upon learning about them I'm interested in cooking them up and reaping the potential benefits.

Adamska, Iwona. “The Possibility of Using Sulphur Shelf Fungus (Laetiporus sulphureus) in the Food Industry and in Medicine-A Review.” Foods (Basel, Switzerland) vol. 12,7 1539. 5 Apr. 2023, doi:10.3390/foods12071539

Jenny. “Chasing the Chicken of the Woods (Facts, Identification, and Recipes).” Mushroom Appreciation, 5 May 2023, www.mushroom-appreciation.com/chicken-of-the-woods.html. Accessed 25 October 2023.