The Mighty Cottonwood

Field Observations

Lately I have gotten to the habit where every morning I am out and about trying to get my walk in.  I remember when I first got here, only a few weeks ago actually, I would take my time and take in all of the beauty around me, observing different insects, flowers, etc..  Lately however I seem to be in such a hurry and thinking about everything I need to get done, and not appreciating the natural beauty around me.  So this week I tried to really slow down, not rush around the area trying to take the perfect photos, or identify all the plants, but rather take time to just sit and listen, observe, and to just be. 

In every walk with nature one receives more than he seeks. –John Muir

One of the most prominent things I noticed this week while observing the ecosystem was the ecological importance of the staghorn sumac.  When first arriving at the site I saw this dead brushy area as a scar on the landscape but after observing the area it is anything but.  It is an area flourishing with life, the birds love it and a minute doesn’t go by without some bird coming or going.  This week in particular there was a small downy woodpecker that just moved all along the dead sumac branches and would stop and stare at me, and then go back to pecking.  Also the male cardinal loved perching on top observing the world around him.  Even the insects like the dragonflies loved to zoom in and out, and up and down, like an amusement park ride.  So for me it was really interesting to see an area at first dead and desolate, but in reality teeming with life, I just had to take the time to sit and observe. 

The other thing I noticed this week was in addition to the tall beautiful purple ironweed there was a plethora of large milkweed bug nymphs.  You can see a photo of them below but they seemed to be on just about every milkweed plant I could find.  To me they were so interesting because they look very similar to their adult form, which makes sense, but at the same time just seemed so lively and bustling with energy compared to the adults.  I am going to be curious to see over the next few weeks how they continue to evolve and go through their various instar stages.  So my lesson this week was to just slow down and enjoy the journey!  

The nymphs of large milkweed bug.  (K. Bradley 7/27/2016)

Species Identification

Common Mullein (Verbascum thapsus)

This is an erect woolly stemmed plant with a dense spike of yellow flowers containing 5 yellow petals.  When looking across the field this plant is easy to spot growing vertical with bright yellow blooms.  The flowers themselves are ¾-1 inch wide and grow up and down the white wooly stem in a dense spike with small areas blooming at any one time (Newcomb, 1977).  Common Mullein is noted for its large velvety feeling leaves that can reach up to 1 foot long, with the largest ones occurring at the base of the plant.  The plant itself can reach upwards of 7 feet but most in this area were measured at 3-4 feet.

Common Mullein is a biennial plant and can flower from June until September but here in Wysong many of the plants are already phasing out for the year.  Once the plant is established it can grow quickly and form a dense ground cover, and if not managed can cause problems with the native forbs and herbs.  It is commonly found in old fields and roadsides and prefers well drained sandy soils which help explain why there are a few examples here in the old field (Common Mullein, 2015 & Thieret et al., 2001).  

Common Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) with characteristic 5 petal yellow flowers. (K. Bradley 7/25/2016)

Common Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) with the last few flowers blooming for the year.  (K. Bradley 7/25/2016)

Common Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) with true bugs foraging and reproducing on the unopened stalk. (K. Bradley 7/22/2016)

According to Thieret et al. (2004) Common Mullein has a very interesting natural history being naturalized from Europe, and has much historical significance.  For example the Romans used to dip these flower spikes in grease and used them as torches, with the leaves still being used by some today as wicks.  Also Native Americans and early settlers used the wooly leaves to line their socks and moccasins to help keep warm during the cold winters.  There are many medicinal uses such as tea can be made from the leaves and can be used to treat ailments like earaches and the leaves can be used to treat sunburns.   

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Tall Ironweed (Vernonia gigantea)

When looking across Wysong tract right now the most noticeable forb is this Tall Ironweed.  It is easily observable due to its tall stature; it can grow up to 10 feet tall, but seems to be only about 6 feet tall here in places.  It also has brightly colored purple flowers in heads containing 13-30 individual flowers.  What sets it apart from the New York Ironweed is that the bracts are blunt compared to bracts that are long and narrow.  The leaves on the plant are lance shaped and finely toothed (Newcomb, 1977).  It is common in moist meadows, low grounds, on streambanks, and bottomland fields (Thieret et al., 2001).

Tall Ironweed (Vernonia gigantea) Tall in stature and growing throughout the old field.  (K. Bradley 7/25/2016)

Tall Ironweed (Vernonia gigantea) Common flower heads, like small purple pom-poms. (K. Bradley 7/22/2016) 

Tall Ironweed is growing in this area for the mesic soil conditions and high water table in this area.  It blooms in late summer and fall, which makes sense because this week was the first time I saw any flowers emerging although over the next few weeks I think there will be a large flush of new flower growth.  According to the Missouri Botanical Garden, n.d., Tall Ironweed is commonly used in landscaping for plant borders due to its tall stature and due to its prolific seeding it is recommended to remove the flower heads before the seed develops.  According to the Ohio Perennial and Biennial Weed Guide (2016) ironweed refers to the stem toughness and that it is very difficult to dig up with a shovel.  Also tall ironweed is the third most troublesome pasture weed in Kentucky.   

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Leaf Footed Bug (Order: Hemiptera, Sub-Order: Heteroptera, Family: Coreidae, Species Possibilities: (Euthochtha glaeator coreid bug or Anasa tristis squash bug)

The Hemipteran order contains the true bugs and in North American alone comprise of 4,500 species.  True bugs, such as the one seen below have a first pair of wings that fold flat on the back.  The word Hemiptera actually means half wing in Greek, which is seen by the fact that the rear pair of wings is shorter than the front half of the wings.  They also have sucking mouthparts, which to some resemble a straw, to help them feed.  True bugs go through incomplete metamorphosis which means they go through 5 nymphal stages before becoming an adult. 

Leaf Footed Bug foraging on Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) (K. Bradley July 22, 2016)

The family Coreidae, or leaf-footed bugs, comprises medium to large insects, generally more than 3/8’’ long.  They get their name for having leaf like enlargements of their hind legs, as seen in the photo their hind legs look swollen and show spikes.  These large true bugs have 4 segmented antennae, large compound eyes, and a pair of simple eyes.  When looking at the wings they have many parallel veins (Milne & Milne, 1980 & True Bugs, 2014).  To many people these are seen as pests due to their piercing-sucking mouthpart making it very easy to attack plants, such as your cucurbit species (squash, cucumbers, and cantaloupe, etc.) or other plant fruiting structures.  Depending on the time of year in the plant's lifecycle the feeding habits can cause either no harm or detrimental harm to the plant.  

Here in Wysong this Coreidae is sitting on Yarrow (Achillea millefolium).  Also if you notice the two white/yellowish eggs near the head is an indication of a parasitic egg that has attached itself to this bug.  Given the vast distribution of foraging material this insect has plenty to eat, just a short flight away is a large garden or even prairie plants, and so much more in between providing the perfect habitat.  When photographing this bug I couldn’t find any others around so perhaps he is looking for a mate and needed a snack along the way.  

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Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina)

Staghorn Sumac is present mostly on the eastern side of the loop with small seedlings present throughout the area.  It is a large deciduous shrub to small tree with very crooked stems and straggly looking, with open crowns and often found in a dense clump, which is like it is here in the field (Jackson, 2003).  The ones here in some of the photos have been treated to exterminate them so you can easily see the shrub structure and dense twigs, and the other photos are taken on the other side of the trail where they have not been managed so you can see the characteristic leaflet shapes and large showy fruits.  Also while sitting down to observe this species I found that birds were really utilizing these dead shrubs as a place to sit and rest, or to just observe things from a perch since there was no vegetation.  So even as there was no vegetation or fruit the shrub was still ecologically useful.  

Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina) with its characteristic large leaflets and large showy fruit.  (K. Bradley 7/25/2016) 

The leaves are pinnately compound and contain anywhere from 11-25 leaflets and can be quite large, 12-18 inches, and are coarsely toothed.  The twigs are very dense, reddish brown, and hairy, which is where they get their name being similar to deer antlers in velvet.  If the twigs are crushed they excrete a milky fluid which some people are allergic to, and thus will cause a rash.  The fruit is also very indicative of this species with the fruits in a very dense red clumps comprised of small hard seeds (Kershner et al., 2008). 

Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina) with the dense, reddish, and hair stems appearing like velvet on a deer antler. (K. Bradley 7/25/2016)

Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina) inside the loop with all the foliage and fruit gone but still providing much needed structure for many songbirds, with two in this photo alone using it for both resting and perching points.  (K. Bradley 7/25/2016) 

According to USDA, 2002 sumac serves as an emergency winter food for many species of wildlife including pheasant, quail, turkey, deer, many song birds, grouse, squirrels, and rabbits.  This can be a very ecologically important species in the winter time as there is not much forage available and sumac holds the fruit for a long period of time.  Staghorn Sumac is considered an early successional species, and the habit it prefers is along roadsides and other open and edge habitats and is widespread in fencerows and thickets.  Also this species likes burned areas and re-sprouting is encouraged from fire or injury, thus making it flourish in this old field setting with prescribed fire occurring last spring and making way for new growth as an early successional species (USDA, 2002).   

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Response Question

This week the question refers to an ecotone.  An ecotone can be defined as the edge of an ecosystem or the transition between habitats, the area in which ecological systems and “meet and mingle”, and sometimes can form their own micro-ecosystem depending on the complexity.  In order to describe ecotones terms such as diffuse, convoluted, and discrete can be used to describe the overall shapes and patterns (Ecological Society of America, 2016).  Most of the time these ecotones occur at the edges of an area or physical boundaries, so think like the area where the tides come in against the sand dunes.  Here in the old field many of the ecotones are areas transitioning from old field to forested areas. 

In Wysong loop depending on the side you are on each has a slightly different ecotone.  This first one for example is along the western edge of the field and is a rather abrupt change from the old field to the forest, with many of the large trees coming right up to the edge of the trail as you look down the photo.  Although there are some graminoids present upon closer observation there is a sharp contrast between the forested area and the graminoids, so not much structural diversity, a rather abrupt change.  

Along the western edge of the old field. (K. Bradley 7/27/2016) 

Here along the southern edge of the field on a quick look is another abrupt change, from old field to forest, as you can see this large oak tree right along the edge.  But, as I took a closer look though the area there are a lot of structural layers, and as I walked through the ecotone it seemed to be more diffuse, especially when compared with the western edge.  There was more gradual shifting from old field to woody shrubs and tall grasses before ending up in the forest.  So as a small mammal here (for example a rabbit) if I had to make the transition from one ecosystem (forest) to the other (old field) or vice versa I would choose this route with the most cover from predators. 

Along the southern edge of the old field.  (K. Bradley 7/27/2016)

Along the eastern edge of the old field lies an even larger diffuse ecotone made up of many structural changes moving out from the forest into the grassland.  I also think that if the mowing were to stop today this side of the ecosystem has the greatest possibility for a more convoluted edge.  Here there are a lot more structural elements in the old field alone such as these old staghorn sumac and other woody perennials.  

Along the eastern edge of the old field.  (K. Bradley 7/27/2016)

To me the most important thing when going to assess the ecotone is to not just take a first glance without taking a closer look.  For me I had to think about myself as a rabbit (you could use any small animal here) and think about how hard the transition would be from one ecosystem to another.  Especially when you’re worried about a bird of prey for example you want to minimize your time in the open exposed area so areas with brushy edge would provide a more ideal habitat.  

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Creative Contribution (Original Poem and Photo by K. Bradley) 

Citations

Common Mullein, Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States. (2015). Retrieved July 25, 2016 from http://www.invasiveplantatlas.org/subject.html?sub=3080

Ecological Society of America. (2016). Ecotone Explained. Retrieved July 27, 2016 from http://www.esa.org/esablog/about/ecotone-explained/

Jackson, Marion. (2003). 101 Trees of Indiana: A Field Guide. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press.

Kershner, B., Matthews, D., Nelson, G., & Spellenberg, R. (Eds.). (2008) National Wildlife Federation Field Guide to Trees of North America. New York, NY: Sterling Publishing Company.

Milne, L., & Milne, M. (1980) National Audubon Society Field Guide to Insects and Spiders. New York, NY: Chanticleer Press.

Newcomb, Lawrence. (1977). Wildflower Guide. New York, NY: Little, Brown and Company.

Staghorn Sumac, USDA: NRCS Plant Materials Program, Plant Fact Sheet. (2002). Retrieved July 26, 2016 from http://plants.usda.gov/factsheet/pdf/fs_rhhi2.pdf

Tall Ironweed, Ohio Perennial and Biennial Weed Guide. (2016).  Retrieved July 26,2016 from http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/weedguide/single_weed.php?id=57

Thieret, J. W., Niering, W. A., & Olmstead, N. C. (Eds.). (2001). National Audubon Society Field Guide to Wildflowers Eastern Region. New York, NY: Chanticleer Press.

True Bugs. Arizona State School of Life Sciences. (2014). Retrieved July 26, 2016 from https://askabiologist.asu.edu/true-bug-anatomy