Nature of New York: 2011

August 9, 2011

Nature Journal - Brook Trout

Kingdom: Animalia, Phylum: Chordata, Class: Actinopterygii, Order: Salmoniformes, Family: Salmonidae, Genus: Salvelinus, Species: Savelinus fontinalis

Brook Trout - http://www.fisheyeguyphotography.com

The beautiful Brook Trout (Savelinus fontinalis), is native to New York and is our official state fish. Also known as the "speckled trout", this species was once so common in NY ponds, lakes, and streams that surveys only noted waters where the trout were absent. Fishing for brook trout is wildly popular throughout NY State, as well as other parts of North America. "Their beauty and fighting ability attracts the skilled, as well as the novice, angler" (http://www.dec.ny.gov).

Trout fish are extremely popular and many individuals and programs across the state continuously care for their existence and preservation. DEC stocks millions of trout into NY waters each year. Trout Unlimited, a private, non-profit organization, also works to find ways to improve and protect trout habitat through education and other hands-on efforts (http://www.tu.org/). There are 4 species of trout found in NY waters: 1) Brook Trout, 2) Lake trout, 3) Brown trout, 4) Rainbow trout. Fly fishers and other anglers flock to the gorgeous areas where brook trout thrive with hopes of catching this beautiful fish.

Description:

Brook trout have small growth rates and size. 6-10 in. long in streams, 10-12 in. long in ponds
Although rare, can reach up to 8 lbs., most brook trout weigh around 2 lbs.
Their lifespan is fairly short, reaching a maximum of 5 years.
Considered the most beautiful of the trout species, their coloring sets them apart. They have a square tail and an olive green background with lighter wavy markings along their backs. Tan or red spots run along their sides. They have a bright, white line along the front edge of their lower fins.
Male coloring becomes quite bright during spawning season. Their flanks and belly become orange-red with a black stripe along each side. (http://fish.dnr.cornell.edu)

Habitat & Range:

Brook trout live in clean, cold waters such as small brooks, lakes, ponds, and streams. Their preferred water temperature ranges from 52-64 degrees.
They are native to New York and are widely found throughout eastern North America.
Often the first species to disappear in polluted waters.
Brook trout spend most of their lives in freshwater then return upstream to spawn.
Adult brook trout feed on snails, salamanders, frogs, and other small mammals and fish.
Young brook trout eat smaller items such as insects, plankton, and crustaceans. (http://www.dec.ny.gov)

Range of brook trout - shaded area. http://www.huntfishguide.com

Breeding:

Brook trout spawn during the fall season, from late September to November.
Solitary females use their tails to dig a depression(called a redd) in clean gravel or cobble sites, and in groundwater seepage areas in ponds.
A mature, female trout usually has about 1,000-3,000 eggs.
Male trout fish will dart into the nest to fertilize the eggs deposited by the female.
After the nest has been made, the eggs are deposited, fertilized, and covered under a layer of gravel. Both parents then leave the nest and move on. The young trout are then on their own.
The eggs hatch within 95 to 100 days. Once the eggs hatch, the young trout (called alevins), stay in the gravel for about one week. They then leave the nesting area in search of food. (http://www.dec.ny.gov)

Predators & Conservation:

Predators include other salmonids - especially smallmouth bass. They also include humans, larger predatory fish, birds, minks, otters, raccoons, and pollution.
Trout populations are used as a measure of healthy land, water, and environment.
Once abundant in the remote areas of the Adirondacks and smaller streams of Long Island, brook trout populations have decreased due to habitat deconstruction and the introduction other fish within their waters.
Pollution is a significant threat to trout populations. They can not survive in waters polluted by acid rain, toxic chemicals, runoff, and other effects of urban and commercial development.
Management systems and regulations have been put in place to ensure the longevity of this species. Trout fish are raised and then stocked in areas where their populations have decreased or are non-existent.
DEC provides NY waters with millions of trout fish each year so that the species can continue to thrive and coexist among humans and other species.
Ongoing educational and research efforts are being made to ensure that this species remains healthy and a part of our waters.

Additional resources for fishing regulations, preservation tips, etc.:

Info & link for Catching and Releasing Trout: http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/9224.html
Fishing Tips & Advice: http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7920.html
I FISH NY program/Fishing Education: http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/44804.html
Fishing Guide for Brook Trout: http://www.huntfishguide.com
Fishing responsibly and other guidelines for NY State: http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/9223.html
Fishing license requirements/conservation tips: http://www.takemefishing.org

Brook trout - http://oldmanriveror.blogspot.com

Brook trout eggs - http://www.fws.gov

Brook trout - http://fish.dnr.cornell.edu

Small brook trout - http://www.nps.gov

Fly Assortment for fly fishing - http://www.troutsflyfishing.com

Beaverkill River - trout fishing area in Roscoe, NY -photo by me.


Brook trout - http://www.statesymbolsusa.org

1904 Ad for Bristol fly fishing rod - http://www.periodpaper.com

Nature Journal - Common Mullein

Kingdom: Plant, Phylum: Magnoliophyta, Class: Magnoliopsida, Order: Scrophulariales, Family: Scrophulariaceae, Genus: Verbascum, Species: Verbasum thapsus

Common mullein - Verbascum thapsus, is known in the U.S. as a common, invasive alien. It was brought over by European settlers and traditionally used as a medicinal herb in the mid-1700s. The leaves and flowers can be made into a tea and used as a remedy for coughs, diarrhea, and asthma. The leaves also work as a stimulant for the lungs when smoked. Oil from its flowers can be used to treat ear infections, hemorroids, inflammations, infections, and more (http://www.nyctophilia.net). The plant also produces a menthol extract used as an insecticide for mosquito larvae. In Virginia, it was used as a fish poison and quickly spread through the United States, becoming more established throughout the east (http://www.nps.gov).

I came across this interesting plant on the trail leading to Breezy Point. It's appearance is eye-catching and looks similar to a corn stalk. On my trip to Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge there were numerous Common mullein plants throughout the West Pond Trail.


Group of mature Common Mullein. Photo taken by me @ JBWR

Description, Habitat & Range:
Common mullein, a biennial plant. It is also known as "wooly mullein", "Lamb's Ears", "Flannel mullein", and "blanketweed". Mullein seeds are tiny and can lay in the soil for decades before germinating. Seeds are released by the parent plant during the fall and winter. A single plant can produce anywhere from 100,000-180,000 seeds which remain operable for over 100 years! Many insects attempt to pollinate the common mullein, however, only select bees are successful at pollinating this plant. If the plant has not yet been pollinated by an insect, it will self-pollinate. (http://en.wikipedia.org)

Mature mullein grow up to 5 to 10 feet in height (including their flowering stalk). Their flowering bloom lasts from June to August. Their clustered yellow flowers are small, velvety in texture, and consist of 5 petals. The plant takes a little over two years to mature, flower, and die. In their first summer cycle, mullein germinate and then produce a tap root and a rosette of bluish gray-green, felt-like leaves. During this vegetative phase, the first-year mullein are low-growing and their leaf size ranges from 4-12 inches in length and 1-5 inches in width. The leaves are much larger towards the base of the weed.

Common mullein grow in areas where the average annual precipitation is between 3-6 inches. In addition, the growing season must last for at least 140 days. Mullein thrive in open, unshaded areas. The plant prefers dry, sandy soil but will also grow in open areas of forests, meadows and industrial wastelands. This invasive plant is common across North America, Hawaii, Europe, and Asia.

Management of the Common Mullein:
Common mullein is known as an "ecological threat" and can be difficult to manage. Common Mullein can spread easily and quickly. Once established, these plants can easily take over areas where native plants usually grow. New and continued growth can be managed by hand-pulling, hoeing, raking, and sowing native plant seeds. There is only one seed predator of the common mullein plant. Larvae of the Mullein Seed Eating Weevil - Gymnetron tetrum, eat the seeds inside of the developing seed capsules.(www.nps.gov , www.co.lincoln.was.us)

Mullein Seed Eating Weevil http://www.insects.at

Interesting History:

In addition to its medicinal uses across Europe, Common mullein has an important history within Greek mythology. Ulysses was given a stalk of common mullein by the Gods for protection again the enchantress Circe.
Ancient Greeks and Romans used mullein stalks as torches.
During the Middle Ages, its "powers" were used to ward off evil spirits and demons. (www.co.lincoln.was.us, http://wssa.net)

Mature C. Mullein - taken @ JBWR.

Winding, flowering stalk. Taken @ JBWR

Stalk of Common Mullein @ JBWR

Mullein among wildflowers and grasses @ JBWR

Mullein on trail near Breezy Point

Close Up of mullein flower. http://www.nps.gov

First year growth. Photo by Dr. J. Meade, http://njaes.rutgers.edu

Maturing mullein. http://www.delange.org

Illustration of mullein. http://chestofbooks.com

Medicinal/herb mullein http://bellirosa.com

August 4, 2011

Nature Journal - Horseshoe Crab

Kingdom Animalia Phylum Arthropoda Class Merostomata Order Xiphosura Family Limulidae

Genus Limulus Species Limulus polyphemus


photo by alex rex - http://www.flickr.com/photos/aliasrex/5820249834/

The horseshoe crab is a fascinating species. Horseshoe crabs have been around for an estimated 300 million years and are thought of as “living fossils”. Aside from that, they have hardly changed throughout this lengthy timeline. I have never seen a horseshoe crab alive but have come across many of their shells along the shore. I chose this creature because of its unique characteristics and history.

They are found along the western Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico. Horseshoe crabs largely populate the Delaware Bay. They live in shallow ocean water along the soft, muddy bottom. To avoid predators, they are mostly active at night. Horseshoe crabs bury themselves in the sand during high tide and resurface mostly during low tide.

There are 4 different living species of horseshoe crabs. The Limulus polyphemus is the only one found in the Atlantic region and the Gulf of Mexico. The others are found in S.E. Asia. (1) Carninscorpius rotundicada, 2) Tachypleus gigas, 3) Tachypleus tridentatus (www.marinebio.com)

Anatomy:

www1.appstate.edu

Their hard shell protects horseshoe crabs. They shed their shell numerous times during their life span. After the age of 3-4 years, horseshoe crabs molt only once per year.
They have 2 large, compound eyes and a number of tiny eyes along the carapace.
They have 5 pairs of legs that they use for getting around and to put food into their mouths.
Their mouth is located at the base of their legs and covered with spiny bristles that aid in pushing the food into the mouth.
In addition to using their rigid tails to flip back over, they also use their tails to dig in the sand.
Females are larger that males. The Atlantic H.C. (Limulus polyphemus) can grow up to 24 inches long. Young horseshoe crabs grow larger each time they molt.
It takes 8 to 10 years for an adult to develop.
Their food sources include worms, mollusks, crustaceans, some smaller fish, and algae.

Breeding:

photo by bill hubick, www.billhubick.com

Breeding season is each spring during high tides along with new and full moons.
During this season, horseshoe crabs migrate to shallow coastal waters.
Males select a female mate by clinging onto their back.
The females dig a hole in the sand and lay their eggs while the male fertilizes them.
The female can lay up to 20,000 eggs. The eggs then take about 2 weeks to hatch.
The eggs are an important food source for many migratory birds.

Predators:

www.dnr.state.md.us

Aside from shorebirds eating eggs and juvenile horseshoe crabs, the main cause of death is overfishing. Horseshoe crabs are used by fisheries as bait for the American eel and conch. This trend has caused a decline in the species. Within the last decade, restrictions have been put in place against their use for bait and biomedical purposes. (http://marinebio.org)
Before artificial fertilizers were created, horseshoe crabs were captured, dried, and used as fertilizer. This also caused significant decline in the number of horseshoe crabs along the Atlantic.
Urban development along the shorelines has aided in the decline of this species. This type of development causes pollution, change of habitat, and overall changes to the horseshoe crab’s ecosystem.
Horseshoe crabs are currently listed as Lower Risk/near threatened. Many fear that with the decline of horseshoe crabs, a large disruption in its ecosystem will occur. This has already led to a decline in the migratory shorebirds that feed off of their eggs.

Some fun facts about horseshoe crabs:

Though many think of them as crabs, they are actually more closely related to spiders, scorpions, and belong to a subphylum known as chelicerata.
“Horseshoe crabs can swim upside down in the open ocean using their dozen legs (most with claws) and a flap hiding nearly 200 flattened gills to propel themselves” (www.horseshoecrab.org).
A hard shell protects their entire body. As long as they aren’t flipped over, this shell protects them from shorebirds and other predators.
If upside down, they use their long, straight tails to help flip them over.
Horseshoe crabs are survivors. They can go up to one year without food and can survive in extreme temperatures and salinity.
They have been a great help to the medical world. “The medical profession uses an extract from the horseshoe crab's blue, copper-based blood called lysate to test the purity of medicines. Certain properties of the shell have also been used to speed blood clotting and to make absorbable sutures” (http://www.beach-net.com/horseshoe/Bayhorsecrab.html).
Scientists have also found horseshoe crab’s eyesight to be very helpful in research for the blind, etc. “In 1967, Dr. H. Keffer Hartline received the Nobel Prize for his research on horseshoe crab vision. He discovered how sensory cells in the retina help the brain process visual cues, enabling horseshoe crabs to see lines, shapes, and borders. This mechanism, called lateral inhibition, allows horseshoe crabs to distinguish mates in murky water. Research of this type is helpful to understanding human eye diseases like retinitis pigmentosa, which causes tunnel vision and can lead to total blindness” (http://www.beach-net.com/horseshoe/Bayhorsecrab.html).

More images, art, and poems about horseshoe crabs:


photography.nationalgeographic.com

Photo taken by me at Breezy Point, 7/11


Photo taken by me at Breezy Point, 7/11


by Lily Swan, 3rd Grade, mixed media collage, www.horseshoecrab.org

by Matthew Bergan, 2nd grade - www.horseshoecrab.org


by Caitlin Wood, 6th grade - www.horseshoecrab.org

Horseshoe crab eggs - photo by Kevin Fleming, www.wilddelaware.com


www.marinebio.org

Remnants of a horseshoe crab at Plumb Beach- photos taken by me

August 1, 2011

Nature Journal - The Piping Plover

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Charadriiformes Family: Charadriidae Genus: Charadrius Species: C. melodus

The Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) is a small, light colored shorebird found along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, and inland in the northern Great Plains. Piping Plovers are found along sandy beaches and alkali flats. These small, timid birds can be hard to spot, as they easily blend into the sand. (http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/piping_plover/id) The Piper Plover is listed as "threatened" by the Endangered Species Act. Audubon NY's Long Island Bird Conservation has programs in place that monitor and protect nesting grounds, recruit volunteers, and find solutions for predators and other threats (http://ny.audubon.org). In July, I went on a birdwatching trip in Breezy Point in search of nesting Piping Plovers. I was lucky enough to see two adults and one chick.

photo by John Schwarz

Description:

Weighs 1.5 to 2.25 ounces
Up to 5.5 inches long
Males and females are similar in size and plumage
The adult has yellow-orange legs, a small orange beak with a black tip, and a black band across the forehead from eye-to-eye.
During breeding season, a more pronounced black ring is visible around the neck.
Nests are on the ground, within sandy areas.
Plovers sprint along the sand, stopping and starting as they look for food.
They have a distinctive bird call, a "melodious, organ-like, two to four tone whistle" (http://www.dec.ny.gov/)

Habitat, Migration, & Breeding:

Piping Plovers spend their winters in warmer places from Texas to North Carolina, the Bahamas and Greater Antilles. They migrate to the North during each Spring and nest on sandy beaches.
Food consists of worms, crustaceans, and insects. Much of their food source is found in tidal wrack, dunes, and along the shore.
Their nests consist of scrapes that are made during courtship. The male flies over the female and swoops down to grab her attention. The male then selects the nest site and they begin the nesting process. During the breeding season, Piping Plovers are monogamous.
Females usually lay four eggs, which hatch after 25 days. The chicks fledge after about 3 to 4 weeks.

http://www.dec.ny.gov/

Threats & Predators:

Beach population, urban development along the coastline, and the destruction of natural sand dunes has been a significant cause of decline among the plovers.
During the 19th & 20th centuries, plover feathers were used for women's hats in upper class societies. This led to the initial decline of the plover and other rare birds.
Their nests and eggs camouflage into the sand, which helps protect them against most animal predators. However, this technique doesn't work so well with off-road vehicles and beachgoers who may unknowingly squash the nests and eggs.
As the eggs hatch and people flock to the beach, more danger ensues for the birds. "When these painfully shy birds see people or gulls on the beach, they protectively coral their chicks back to the dune--sometimes causing the protein-needy youngsters to starve while they are in hiding" (WNY, Ch.4).
If a predator nears the chicks, the adult plover will feign a broken wing to draw attention to itself and away from the chick.
In addition, domestic dogs, cats, foxes, skunks, herring gulls, raccoons, opposums, and stormtides are all major threats to nesting plovers.
"The piping plover became a protected species under the Endangered Species Act on January 10, 1986. Along the Atlantic Coast it is designated as threatened, which means that the population would continue to decline if not protected. The Endangered Species Act provides penalties for taking, harassing or harming the piping plover and affords some protection to its habitat". (http://www.fws.gov/northeast/pipingplover/overview.html)