Observation 8: (5/29/08)

Observation 8: (5/29/08): This is the last observation!! and the tempurature was around 58 degrees F with no noticable breeze. Soil conditions were quite damp because it had just finished a rainy shower at the time of 5:30 P.M. Both biotic and abiotic factors in my ecosystem were quite similar to my last observations. The animal activity consisted of only a lone squirrel running along a log near the stream. As for predator/ prey interactions, I believe that the bird and squirrel populations as well as the moose help to keep the plant populations at bay. Cougars, bears, domestic dogs, and other large predators that are often sited in the nearby places around my area, keep the herbavior community in check. There is much evidence of decomposers in my area. Bones, trash, and tree debris have started to decompose since the snow melted and the results are apparent. My area is definately becoming greener and more lush from the great amount of recent rain. I think that my area will be awesome for summer!!

Observation 7: (5/27/08)

Observation 7: (5/27/08): The tempurature of my area was approximately 55 degrees F at the time of 5:47 P.M. Although the weather looked quite sunny outside, it was partly cloudy and seemed more humid than average. Also, there was a slight breeze. The community of birds seemed to have florished since my first observation. I hear more and different birds within my observation spot. Robins, ravens, magpies, and black birds are all included in the community. Not too much has changed in my area except for the soil seems to be getting dryer in some areas but marshier near Cache Creek. As far the survival needs provided by this area are not sufficient to sustain large animal life such as moose, deer, or others for time periods of more than a few days. The plant life easily has its needs met my this small area. Amounts of the plants seem to grow immensely every observation.

WORKS CITED
MOOSE
Wikipedia. 2007. Wikipedia the Free Encyclopedia. May 17, 2008. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moose
MooseWorld. May 20, 2008. Mooseopia. http://www.mooseworld.com/habitat.htm
NatureWorks. 2008. New Hampshire Public Televison. http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/moose.htm
PICTURE: Robert Volpe. Bull Moose. 2007 http://www.statesymbolsusa.org/Maine/animal_moose.html

RED WILLOWS
Encyclopedia of Stanford. 1993. University of Stanford. http://trees.stanford.edu/ENCYC/SALlaev.htm
Human Flower Project. October 25, 2007. Human Flower Project. http://www.humanflowerproject.com/index.php/weblog/comments/red_willow/
West Wales Willows. 2008. Basketmaker’s Association of Britian. http://www.westwaleswillows.co.uk/c42.html
PICTURE: Red Contorted. 23 May, 2007. <http://www.djroger.com/contorted_willow1.htm>

Flora Report: RED WILLOWS

RED WILLOWS
Salix laevgata, a member of the salicaceae, is commonly found throughout the western countryside. Its habitat is along river banks, streams, lakesides, and canyons, because the organism is accustom to large supplies of water. It has reddish bark that has a strong smell. Its blooming period is between March and May, and it buds with bright green leaves. This willow also has thin leaves and branches. Red willows thrive with an abundance of both water and sunshine. Willows also help to regulate the flooding of low areas. Its niche is providing food for numerous animals including the moose, providing shelter for animals, providing shade for many other organisms, and slowing erosion. The red willow does not need a large amount of space to survive. It is common to see a riverbank lined with the flora. All willows, including the red willow, have green, shiny upper surfaces and are silvery gray beneath. The “male” trees are distinguished by having catkins made of small soft flowers while the “females” have catkins consist of only pistil plus bract flowers. The fruit that is produced is a two valved capsule, similar to a pea pod, but inside it has many hairy seeds. Its process of reproducing is similar to that of masting. It releases all of its seeds at once in order to ensure its line doesn’t die. Each individual seed is covered with fine cotton hair which enables it to float through the air. The most common time to see these seeds wondering in the breeze is the late winter and summer.

UDMD. everybody please read this vital information.

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Observation 6: 5/21/08

Observation 6: (5/21/08): Today it was raining lightly and the tempurature was about 34 degrees F. The soil was marshy with some areas on the verge of being a swamp. I found what I imagined to be a deer or elk leg and rib bone near the edge of the creek. This shows that the organism was probably killed by a predator. The river continues to rise and become stronger as the snow melts, and the clouds rain. Lichen is growing on almost all of the trees and is creating soil for itself and future plants. This is its niche. I noticed a choke cherry tree on the opposite side of the stream as well as the many willows, had started to bud. There were numerous mounds of dirt from what I suspected to be some type of mole homes or excavation. If so, it is a prime example of living things erosion. Snakegrass was also found near the banks of Cache Creek. Interspecific competition is widely shown near the stream with pine trees, willows and tall grasses. I believe the tall grasses and small trees are competiting for the larger trees' shade. Also that the large trees, willows, and tall grasses are competing for nutrients in the stream as well as a consistant water source.

Observation 5: 5/22/08

OBSERVATION 5:(5/22/08): The weather conditions of my area was a light rain and very cloudy with no visible blue sky. Soil conditions were extremely marshy from the previous heavy rainfall. The tempurature was approximately 38 degrees F at the time of 6:57 P.M. on Thursday the 22nd. Biodiverisity near Cache Creek increased immensely. Plants seemed to thrive from the amount of both recent rain and sunshine that they were obviously not used to. The lichen, moss, and pind trees show a commensalistic symbiotic realationship, because the the moss creates a home on the tree and thus benefits, while the tree is unaffected. This interaction also creates a niche for the tree to fill for the moss.There were no insect activity near the stream due to the rain. There was absolutely no snow and an apparent increase in the greeness of all the plants. Cache Creek rose an extreme amount, and the water had started to rise over top the banks. There was some type of plant that was reddish brown with fourth inch thorns growing off the branches. The biotic factors of this community were chipmunks chattering in high tree tops, a few all black birds chirping, and a plump robin who flew across the stream. There was also an abundance of moose scat underneath many of the large pine trees.

Becky Griest
Ms. Overly
Science Pd 2
20 May 2008
MOOSE

Moose live in numerous parts of the world, and their immense size is a symbol of both gentleness and power. This giant has just a few predators besides man. Some species of wolf, grizzly bears and black bears pose a threat to this massive creature. Moose are equipped with strong hind and front legs to fend off predators. This organism also has huge nostrils for a keen sense of smell. Its size is extremely large. It reaches heights of 6 feet or higher and weighs over 1,000 pounds. It is equipped with thick, tough tongues and lips, and 12 sets of broad flattened, teeth at the rear of its mouth to aid in its consumption of its woody foods. White tailed deer can also indirectly cause harm to this majestic organism through disease. A large population of deer can transfer a disease called moose disease to the organisms causing sometimes causing fatal consequences. Eagles, ravens, foxes, martins, fishers, wolverines, and bears are just some of the animals that act as scavengers to the moose's carcass. This niche assures that all of the moose will be consumed when it dies.
Moose's food source consists of a variety of plants. The main part of its diet is a woody plant material and fresh leaves that come from trees, shrubs, willows, aspens, dogwood, red maple, and aquatic plants such as water shield and pondweed. Where these plants grow, affects where the moose live and roam through out their life times. These areas include mixed dense forest, forest tundra, open areas such as small fields, and most usually around bogs, swamps, and streams.
The moose's scientific name is Alces alces. They grow and shed antlers seasonally similar to deer and elk. When their antlers are shed, these provide food sources for smaller organisms such as mice and voles. These animals usually prefer to travel either alone or with a partner and young and are not commonly seen in herds.

Observation 4 (5/15/08)

Observation 4: 5/15/08: The temperature of my area was 55 degrees F, and the snow seems to be melting extremely fast. There was little to no snow coverage in my area. Snow was only found in the denser forest in the shade. Green grass looked to be getting stronger and larger everyday. The stream was flowing intensely with all of the runoff from the nearby mountains. My area is also located in a canyon near Snow King and should recieve ample amounts of melting snow to feed the creeks. The animal activity consisted of a lone magpie, several sqirrels in the nearby trees calling to each other on different sides of the stream. The magpie may have been refueling on water because I'm not sure of its food sources. Soil conditions were dryer than usual but still swampy in some areas.

Observation 3 (05/13/08)

Observation3: 05/13/08: The temperature was approximately 43 degrees F and had little wind on my thrid observation. The snow conditions were extremely minimal and had melted quite noticabley since my last observations. Soil conditions were still marshy and swampy is some areas but for the most part the grass and dirt was simply moist. There was a population of several small birds that were gray and had a white stripped tail. These birds stayed hidden in the bushes using the anti-predator adaptation of camoflage. There was also two does wandering through the areas quite relaxed. The deer seemed to be feeding on low appearing grasses when I spotted them. I startled them and they sprinted out of view. The brown grass is now speckled with determined, green grasses growing up through. The mosquito population seemed to have grown immensely since my last visit. It could have been just the weather conditions, but they may have been displaying the anti-predator adaptation of masting.

Observation 2 (05/05/08)

Observation 2: My Cache Creek observation area was at a tempurature of 51 degrees F at the time of 6:56 P.M. on May 5, 2008. The weather was sunny with a few scattered clouds but no rain or precipitation clouds seemed present. There was a slight breeze coming from the south-east. The soil conditions still seemed extremely marshy and wet near and around Cache Creek. I observed minimal fauna in my area. Birds chirped, but stayed hidden from view so I am not sure of what species this bird was. Chipmunks or squirrel chittered in numerous tree tops. I observed several mounds of moose or elk scat. There was also some type of omnivour or carnivour scat near the stream. Most of the scat appears near or around the stream. There seems to be a sufficiant amount of food sources for a variety of populations. The willows seem to provide food for moose and shelter for birds and their nests. Hopefully I will be able to watch some of these animals and their interactions soon!!

Observation 1: Description of Area (05/05/08)

Observation 1: Description of Area
My area for observation is located right off Cache Creek Drive on the dirt road. The area includes a portion of Cache Creek and a high amount of biodiverisity within the plant life. The area varies in terrain and includes both a plain-like area and carniferous or pine areas. Snow near Cache Creek is still present but attempting to slowly melt. The snow coverage is approximately one fourth of the area on May 5, 2008. There is part of an old fence running through my area but is not big or sturdy enough to keep most animals out. Near the stream there is an abundance of both willow and small grasses for food sources. At the time most of the grass is brown, but apparent grasses are attempting to break through. The tree coverage of this area is minimal but if you travel a small distance the forest quickly becomes dense. The height of the trees is quite high, most likely around thirty feet. The type of habitat in my area is riperian because it is near a stream. Due to the snow melt and the stream, it is very marshy in some areas making the soil extremely moist. A small amount of rocks are present in the area and only occur near the creek. The size of my area is about half the size of a football field. The tempurature of my area was 53 degrees F.