Field Study #r4

 Time: 4:31-4:56pm

Climate Conditions: Cloudy & Humid

Temperature: 65°F

Length of Day: 10hrs 31min

Animals:

It's a little hard to tell in this picture, but there were some small footprints that I believe are also from a raccoon, similar to the ones I saw on one of my previous field studies. They also might have been the same footprints because there hasn't been much rain recently, so they might have just not washed away, which would also make sense because they seem less prominent.

This was under one of the larger trees in my area. The grass was very matted down and there seemed to be animal trails running all around it. It's likely a deer bed because they are fairly common in the area. I didn't really get a good picture of the trails, but there seemed to be a lot more than last time, which makes me if the seasons are affecting how they are acting and if they are moving around more.

I had taken a video of some birds that I noticed, but it wouldn't upload correctly. They seemed to be fighting and were chirping and diving at each other, and I was thinking that they're probably doing it for territorial reasons or if it is mating season for their species. I'm not sure what kind of birds there were since I couldn't really get up close.

There weren't nearly as many bugs out this time, which I believe is due to the changing of seasons. It was harder to find evidence of animals in general, which I also thought was odd considering how much easier it was to find them on past visits.

Plants/vegetation:

* I used an app called PictureThis to identify specifics about each plant

This is the bittersweet nightshade that I noticed two field studies ago. Since my past visit, it has spread drastically and grows all over the edge of the creek and around other plants. There are some places where it looks like it is almost choking out other plants. The top picture shows that spread on the side of the creek.

The bottom picture I thought I should add because it shows the correlation between the leaves and the berries that I was wondering about before. The berries are literally growing on the leaves in this picture. Though, I was curious why this was the only plant where I've seen the two connected instead of in different areas.

Also, I did download a plant identifying app that said that it was in fact bittersweet nightshade (solanum dulcamara). I also found that it might be connected to some small white flowers that I've mentioned in previous visits.

These berries are from the tree that I called a black cherry tree, but I thought it would be important to note that the berries have turned an even deeper shade of red (now more maroon) and seem to be overripe and starting to decay, which makes sense because of the change in seasons and approaching winter. Additionally, I found out that it is not what I thought it was, and that the tree is actually a siberian crab apple (malus baccata) and that it is slightly dangerous.

At first, I thought these were some type of bug, but then I realized that they were something that had come off of a plant. They had found their way onto my clothes throughout the visit. They are called Devil's beggartics (bidens frondosa) and are completely non-toxic. They can absorb heavy metals like copper and zinc, which helps clean polluted soils.

Last time, I also talked a little bit about the algae, but this time it seems to have spread even more. I think it might be due to the fact that the water has become deeper and less turbid. Fall turnover (read the following link for more information from Michigan State) can also increase algae growth because of the nutrients that were stuck on the bottom are pushed up and act almost as a fertilizer for the algae.

https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/great_lakes_also_experience_seasonal_temperature_changes

This common milweed has been growing for while, but I didn't pay much attention to it until now. It seems to have almost "exploded" with fluff. According to PictureThis, it was used in ropes and fabrics, and is able to support 30 times its own weight in water.

While many things have changed throughout my visits, I have consistently noticed these small leaves growing in the grass. It is an invasive herb called poison hemlock (conium maculatum) that is toxic if eaten, and can be dangerous to dogs and cats. It can be used for healthy reasons as well as harmful ones.