Observations: As I walk down the dirt road towards the Forest Learning Center, I can't help but think about all the ecotones surrounding the Vernal Pond. Ecotones are the areas of transition between two biological communities. The Forest Learning Center is located within the Vernal Pond boundaries and is a central point to all of the forest action. The Vernal Pond is open and airy in the understory of the Red Maples. The ground is moist but not wet, in fact it appears to getting dryer as the weeks go by. I can walk all around within the Vernal Pond. I can see all the vibrant ground cover growing quickly in fertile soil.
To the West of the Vernal Pond is a dense forest full of a beautiful variety of hardwoods, however a man-made road serves as the ecotone. The road divides the two areas quite discreetly. You can still see subtle remnants of the vernal pond to the West but the dense forest becomes much more discrete. This gravel road would be considered a low degree of convolution, but if you remain on the path, it quickly transitions into another Ecotone.
To the North of the Vernal Pond, the path straddles between an open patch of dry meadow and is surrounding by forest. Here the degree of convolution is also noticeable and the mowed path discretely blends in with the small meadow habitat. The common milk week is found in abundance here, along with meadow grasse. The forest discretely surrounds the prairie and the vernal pond.
To the East and South of the Vernal pond, the ecotone transitions to a soybean field. The only divide I've between the agricultural field and the vernal pond is the forest tree line, which filled with bushes, small trees, and sprinkled with a few large trees.
Species Identification:
Tall Bellflower Campanula americana is also known as American Bellflower. The blue-violet flower is star shaped in a leafy spike. Blooms provide a bright late-summer accent to moist thickets. It grows from three to five feet in height and has a straight stalk. It is a native plant to North America. The Tall Bellflower straddled the man-made road. I am sure it loved the abundance of sunlight along the dirt road and discovered it flowering in the adjacent areas along the north side of the trail.
Japanese Beetle Popilla japonica is a non-native species has iridescent copper-colored elytra (hardened Forewing) and bright metallic green thorax and head. 5 spots of white hair dot the side of the abdomen with 2 white tufts at the tip. Japanese beetles feed on foliage, flowers, and fruit. Foliage is typically skeletonized buy consuming only the leaf material between the veins, I noticed this right away in my observations. The Japanese Beetle is most often found in woods and meadows, so that makes the location along the trail prime feasting. This beetle was busy eating and didn't seem to mind my disturbance.
Botton Bush Cephalanthus occidentalis is a species of flowering plant in the coffee family, Rubiaceae. It is native to eastern and southern North America. Flowers are white and round with ball-like heads. It is a common bush in wetland habitats, including swamps, floodplains, riparian zones, and moist forest understory. This bush was thriving along the roadside of the Vernal Pond and it noticed it in several different places. It may also be referred to as common buttonbush, button-willow and honey-bells.
Turkey-tail Trametes versicolor is a common polypore mushroom found throughout the world. Usually overlapping or in rosettes, with small, leathery, thin, stalkless caps. Versicolor means 'of several colours', describes the fungus that displays different colors. Semicircular in shape and can be spoon or kidney- shaped. Found on dead deciduous wood or in wounds of conifers. It gets its name due to the shape and multiple colors that are similar to those of a wild turkey. I found the Turkey-tail in one specific spot on the North edge of the Vernal Pond. It was so striking and beautiful.
Creative: Below you will find the Plants and Animals found along the trails near the Vernal Pond
References:
Lincoff, G. (1981). National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mushrooms. New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf.
Milne, L. (1980). National Audubon Society Field Guide to Insects and Spiders. New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf.
Newcomb, L. (1977). Newcomb's Wildflower Guide. New York, NY: Hachette Book Group.
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