Observation 8

Temperature- 60 degrees

Weather Conditions- Cloudy

Wind Conditions- no wind

Soil Conditions- very moist

After all these observations i have noticed some predator prey relationships. The weather creates a factor for some organisms to live. It affects the robins because the babes can't hatch when it's this cold. There isn't a ton of competition but there is some. There is noticeable competion for the fox who visits. The red tailed fox is a scavanger so with a hawk present and horses in the pasture it makes it difficult for the fox to find food. The hawks are one of the main predators of the mouse and the horses feed off of the grass. Since it is a scavenger the fox will be able to find some food somewhere. The robins will hopefully hatch soon and hopefully won't become prey of the fox or hawk or any other organisms that enter this area.

Observation 7

Time of Day- 10:26

Temperature- 60 degrees

Weather Conditions- cloudy and rainy

Wind Condition- no wind

Soil Conditions- very moist from all the rain we have been getting

Throughout all of my observations no succession has taken place. I have noticed some symbiotic relationships though. On a tree nearby there was some moss growing on the very bottom which is Commensalism. The moss on the bottom of the tree is benefiting from the tree but the tree has still remained unharmed. There has been even more flowers coming up and trees turning greener. The baby robins that i have been watching are still have not quite hatched yet. I can see that the mother robin is very protective over them because everytime i go over there she starts chirping and flapping her wings. Many of the same organisms have made their habitats and no new ones have moved in. In the field there are many birds in the trees and the fox comes around everyonce in a while. There is also a fox that comes through and visits which stirs up alot of the different populations.

Flora Report-The Lodgepole Pine Tree

The Lodgepole Pine, or Pinus contorta, got its name from having its layered planks which were used by the Native American's to build their lodges. This tree has a tall straight trunk with a narrow pine structure and is native to the Rocky Mountain and Cascade Sierra Rangers and grows throughout the Interior of the tree. It is one of the most abundant conifers. Their needles are 2-3 inches long and are usually found in bundles of two. The cones from this tree are generally 1-2 inches long, with an outer layer of pitch that protects it and requires heat and fire to release seeds. The Lodgepole Pine requires more water to survive opposed to the Douglas-fir and Ponderosa. It can also tolerate high water tables. This pine is highly adaptable and can grow in a variety of different environments including water logged bogs and dry sandy soils. The melting snow in the spring helps the tree for rapid growth in the early summer also. The Lodgepole prefers to live in areas that recieve full sunlight because after a fire takes place the Lodgepole Pine can utilize this place and grow in the Pioneer community. It is usually the first to invade after a wildfire filling the niche making homes for animals and plants. It also provides a home and food for squirrels, small birds and the porcupine. They also create a niche by growing in areas that have bare ground. The trees create new niches as they move into the area by helping plants that maybe can’t survive in a lot of sunlight.

Works Cited

Nationalgeographic.com. National Geographic. 5/21/08. http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/mallard-duck.html
The Superior Waters Project 5/21/08 http://wildernessclassroom.com/superior/Mallard-male.jpg
www.na.fs.fed.us US Forest Service 5/21/08 http://www.na.fs.fed.us/pubs/silvics_manual/volume_1/pinus/contorta.htm
www.images.google.com Tree and Stub Guide 5/22/08 http://shand.saskpower.com/images/greenhouse/seedguide/lodgepolepine.gif

Observation 6

Temperature: 40 degrees

Weather Conditions: Clouds covering sun, just stopped raining

Soil Conditions: very moist due to all the rain

A few more organisms have entered my area since i recently checked. There is a nest of robins that is nesting in the corner of our porch. The baby robins haven't quite hatched yet so the mom and dad are protecting the nest very closely. It will be interesting to see the baby robins adapt to basic survival needs and learn to fly. The robins make their nests in open woodlands, grasslands and many peoples backyards. Not too many organisms have inhabited in my area lately allowing the organisms that are here to have a better chance of survival. I have not noticed too many interactions. The one thing i did see though was a red tailed fox prounce on a mice. There has been alot of rain lately which is allowing some organisms to enter my area and some to leave.

Observation 5

Time of Day: 4:00pm

Temperature: 45 degrees

Weather Conditions: cloudy and raining a little.

Wind Conditions: slight breeze

Soil Conditions: very moist

In my area alot has been changing. The biodiversity is increasing tremendously. Many different species of animals are starting to invade space utilizing different spaces. All the rain that has been happening in the valley is increasing soil moisture tremendously. I noticed that many worms have been coming out due to the rain. This moisture is good for the plant life but it also needs sunlight to bloom fully. In our front yard many daffodils and tulips have bloomed which are going to start bringing in bees to pollinate them. The trees are finally starting to bloom and the grass is almost all green. In noticed on some trees the tips were bitten off by moose.

Fauna Report-Mallard Duck!

The Mallard Duck, also known as the Anas phatyrhynchos, is the best known duck and most recognizable. The Mallard Duck is found all over the world and breeds throughout North America, Europe, Asia and New Zealand. Duck populations are the most plentiful in New Zealand.
The Mallard Duck is 56-65cm long and have a wingspan of 81-98cm and weighs between seven to eight pounds. The males have a bright green head, a black rear end and a yellow beak with a black tip. Females don’t consist of nearly as many colors as the males. They have a brown colored body with chestnut and gray chests.
There are only a few predators of the duck. They consist of large fish like the Pike and Crocodilians. Humans also have an impact of the duck population. The ducklings are mainly killed by the larger fish while the adults get caught by humans. The physical conditions are wetlands and ponds. The mallard ducks are a distributor of seeds. They eat the plants/seeds and it goes through their digestive track and eventually makes its way back into the ground and increases the plant growth. These ducks also consume insects which can affect the environment because if the Mallards weren’t present it could increase insect population and therefore have an affect on plant life. The niche the Mallard Duck fills is simply keeping insect populations to a minimum and distributing seeds to help vegetation.