Topic: ERS 246 Outing #2

Topic: ERS 246 Outing #2
Time and Date: 30/09/19 11:00
Duration: 60 minutes
Location: Along the Grand River for Water Sampling in Preston
Weather: Sunny and 15 degrees
Habitat: trail along the river bank, in the grand river

Monday September 30th I was taking water samples and measuring water quality in the Grand River. While I went to many sites along the Grand I took some time to note species present at the Preston upstream location. The trail was lightly trafficked by people out walking their dogs and runners. Along the river bank I noted some duckweed and an American toad.

I also came across a skeleton and skull which I thought was very neat to see just after our skull lab! I didn’t touch it as I didn’t have any gloves with me but I would have liked to take a closer look at the dental pattern and try to ID the species (I’m pretty sure it was a bird but don’t know which species). I also liked seeing the vertebrae and ribs still intact and picked clean in the wild!

In order to get to the site I had to go off the path and was very careful due to the presence of Giant Hogweed and Giant Angelica in the area. I remember watching the hogweed and Angelica grow taller and taller throughout the summer and finally flowering around July. Those members of the Apiaceae family are very dangerous but I find their defense mechanisms super interesting! When the sap contacts skin it makes it incredibly photosensitive – for this reason when sampling at this location I am always very aware of what route I’m taking to the bank and wear long sleeves.

When in the river I kept an eye out for any minnows, fish, or benthics- I saw a few minnows which I was not able to identify and a cray fish.

Posted on October 2, 2019 03:01 PM by savitao