Humble Pie

If I were a hummingbird migrating South for winter, say wanting to go South from Florida, I would totally check out Puerto Rico this time of year. Last weekend as I was walking up the road collecting plants in my press I noticed many flowers were tubular in form and red in color. Whilst merrily strolling and collecting, two small birds swooped to a nearby, overhead branch. The playful birds jumped back and forth through the varying strata of the hibiscus tree's crown, chirping happily as I watched. I stepped lightly towards the tree overhanging the road, as to not alarm, in attempt to glimpse these darting little buggers. Unexpectedly, one bird perched on a branch only 20 feet away at which time I was able to make out an emerald green body, red throat, and long beak. Now I am no ornithologist, but those characters match nicely with hummingbirds I've seen.

Hummingbird? (center of picture)

Hummingbirds? Tubular, red flowers? Duh! It fits so nicely. Hummingbirds are migrating south for the winter and they arrive in PR just in time for the tubular red flowers blooming. 

Neorudolphia volubilis

After leaving the blithe birds to their affairs and continuing on my own blissful botanical promenade, I savored my astuteness for taking two observations, random pieces of the ecological puzzle, and fitting them together so soundly. 'Over the course of millennia, hummingbirds have selected for those flowers blooming in fall,' I thought.  'How marvelous! I'm a scientist!' I reassured, myself. 

Ipomoea sp.

Continuing to appreciate my surroundings, I climbed to the top of a Buchenavia tetraphylla, a separate topic of discovery, before returning the way I came. I passed some blooming Impoea sitting in a Callophyllum calaba: Supporting evidence that the abundance of red flowers, surely correlates to presence of the hummingbirds.  The hummingbirds were long gone by the time I reached the hibiscus they were perched in. Further down the road collected some hibiscus flowers to replace the previous collection destroyed by mold. Close by I spotted a large Clusea rosea flowering and decided to scramble up the steep uphill road embankment in sandals immediately after a downpour. Needless to say, it was a muddy blunder. The ferns covering the embankment had prickles, too. During the brief ascent, I was thankful for Puerto Rico's lack of poisonous snakes and insects, otherwise my body would have likely been found in an embarrassingly conspicuous lump next to the road. As it happens, I retrieved a Clusia specimen and uneventfully arrived back at the field station.

Hoping to impress one of my fellow volunteers with a picture of the hummingbird mentioned earlier, I hastily uploaded the digital images of my excursion.

Ravenia urbanii

"Hey Gordon, the image is sort of poor quality, but check out this picture of a hummingbird I saw on my walk. Do you know what kind it is?"

I began to turn my computer around so he could view the photo, identify the species of hummingbird, whereupon I would divulge my splendid observation and conclusion.

"That's not a hummingbird. It's a tody," said Gordon with all the tact of a teacher to their kindergarten student.

Hirtella rugosa (I've witnessed hummingbirds visit these flowers)

Like I said, I'm no ornithologist. Of course, the tody had been mentioned by everyone I work with at least once, yet I assumed it to be something completely different. Based on this assumption, I synthesized an explanation out relatively little information and my ignorance got the better of me. My idea was completely drained of merit after Seth, a recent masters student, mentioned he was pretty sure migrating hummingbirds don’t really stop at Puerto Rico.

Clusia rosea

After checking in a couple bird books, I was comforted to know the emerald-throated hummingbird does migrate to the northern Bahamas and Puerto Rico, albeit rarely. If mid October does have significantly higher number of plants with red tubular blooms, it is not likely connected to the southern migration of hummingbirds. If it weren’t for a healthy helping of humble pie now and then, the Sun could still be orbiting a 7,000 year old Earth that never hosted dinosaurs. 

more pictures here

El Verde field Station and Immediate Environs

From top to Bottom:

• Uphill from the field station (El Verde), a creek crosses beneath the road. This is the view from the uphill side of the bridge. A waterfall is just upstream from the road that replenishes a sizable swimming hole. When the water is high, you can jump off the rocks. Downstream from the bridge water tumbles and falls down rocks and boulders to a series of more pools, the deepest and largest is the lowest. A species of Clusia grows among the rocks and I was happy to discover a passion-vine with fruits alongside the forest edge. The passion-fruits were not ripe, but I had to sample them. Very Sour. Yes, that is the ocean in the distance.
• This picture was taken from the field station's driveway on my return from collecting plants along Rt 186. I made it back just in time before a down pour.
• This picture are the living quarters. The building is shaped like an "S" in block letters. There are two kitchens, one of which with tables to comfortably fit 12 people sitting on benches. There are Gentlemen and Lady quarters that can sleep 10-12 people each, colloquially called "the Man Cave" and "Lady-Lair," respectively.
• The last picture shows the "science" portion of the field station housing offices, conference room, herbarium/insectarium, drying rooms and supply rooms. The van is named Giselle (sp?). She takes us to town for shopping and more importantly, to our field sites to measure trees.

See more pictures here.

Filling the Void

I realize I haven't been posting anything in a while, which surely devastates those four of you who sparingly visit this page. I deleted my facebook account because it is evil: It is my hope that transitioning to flickr and this blog will fill the resulting void. The format in which pictures are posted on this blog displeases me. Until I get around to formatting the html, this flickr account will have to suffice. The picture quality is probably better there anyhow...I'm doing you a favor.

This doesn't necessarily have to do with plants, but there are pictures of plants on the flickr site. I will probably make a set; the equivalent of an album on facebook for you facebook drones. That's right I'm not capitalizing facebook, and yes, I'm calling you a drone. It'll catch on.

Anywho, more plant stuff to come. In the meantime, enjoy pictures from my strange life.

a fly on the watch

Earlier this week, I found myself in the field surrounded by sagebrush with more galls than I’ve ever previously seen. It seemed every plant had at least 50 to 100 small grape-sized galls. Their reddish and green color scheme had been bleached by the sun, turning them a sallow gray, their texture noticeably drier and almost papery compared to a month earlier. While going about my work, I was unconsciously brushing numerous flies away from my clip-board, arm and face, and each time, getting progressively agitated. One fly, haughty enough to land on my arm, met his demise right before I pieced together the blatant reason for abundance: Lots of galls! Those flies sure had some gall(s)…sorry I couldn’t resist. It would seem the onset of summer initiates the emergence of the flies, ending any exogenous chemical contribution from insect to plant maintaining the gall structure, which would explain their physical change. Of course, that’s just my guess. Sounds convincing enough…but why was that location overrun with so many galls?

 (one of the pestering flies)

(this is a really tall sagebrush. the pole in the picture is 1M long)

Sagebrush Galls

The image of a solemn cowboy silhouetted against a setting sun with sagebrush as a stalwart companion dominates our conception of the West. The landscape is dominated by sagebrush, or Artemisia spp. A member of the sunflower family, this genus has astonishing adaptations that allow it to thrive in torrid summers and frigid winters. Initial encounters with this genus reveal its conspicuous, rather intense, fragrance. Physiological attributes aside, Artemisia is a vital player in range ecology: it is a main component of the desert climax communities, is a food source and protective cover for wildlife, contributes to the structural diversity of the vegetative landscape, and has the potential to provide microhabitat to support invertebrate life.

Abnormal growths along branches and leaves became apparent to me as I struggled to comprehend the numerous species and subspecies of this shrub. Some galls looked like an earthen red and green versions of a cheerleader’s pom-pom. Others had similar coloration, but were tumorous in shape with a smooth epidermis, their interior the color of brown sugar and cottony-fibrous texture. The center of these galls revealed a small larva and confirmed my assumption that they were insect-induced.

Although Fronk et al. (1964) identified four different dipterous species in Wyoming that produce Artemisia galls, there are seven in total. These galls are magnets for of other insects including beetles, Hemiptera species (not true insects) and Lepidoptera species; all were observed over-wintering in the galls. Of course, there are also parasitic wasps drawn to the galls deposit their eggs in the galling larvae.

In 2000, Sanver and Bradford compiled information from published journals on inquiline (organism that derives benefit from gall tissue and not necessarily the larva it contains) communities: Unlike the concepts of diversity or abundance that tend to positively correlate with proximity to the equator, the highest gall frequencies occur in temperature regions with harsh climates. Southern Idaho matches that description perfectly. In Arizona, Ferdinand and Price (1988), observed increased galling occurring in hot dry areas compared to riparian areas of the same latitude and altitude

None of the information I perused mentioned Artemisia species and sub-species hosting specific insects or galls that would make identification easier, but Floate et al (1996) did show three Chrysothamnus nauseosus sub-species were able to be identified with gall characters more effectively than by plant morphology. If only sagebrush species had such a diagnostic tool, seasonal range/bio. techs like myself, would have a much easier time collecting data in the field. The host specificity of insects on Chrysothamnus nauseosus (recently renamed Ericameria nauseosa) may be evidence of a diverging population right  before our eyes. Possible reproductive and physiological changes in the host plant caused by these galls and their insects could act as a selection pressure resulting in further speciation.

That is cool to think about. So, with all the sagebrush species and their sub-species, it makes me wonder if they are converging or diverging. My boss is confident they are diverging. However, could climate change cause previously diverging groups to overlap in range, hybridize, outbreed and reconnect gene pools? Sounds like a nice research project.

 

 

Fernanded, G. Wilson, and Price, Peter W. 1988. Biogeographical Gradients in Galling Species Richness. Tests of Hypotheses Oecologia, Vol. 76, No. 2 (1988), pp. 161-167Published

Floate, K.D., Fernandes, Wilson G., Nilsson, Jan A.. 1996. Distinguishing Intrapopulational Categories of Plants by Their Insect Faunas: Galls on Rabbitbrush Oecologia, Vol. 105, No. 2 (1996), pp. 221-229

Fronk, W.D., Beete, A.A., and Fullerton, D.G. 1964. Dipterous galls on Artemisia tridentate complex and Insects associated with them. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 57: 575-577.

Sanver, Dilek and Hawkins, Bradford A. 2000. Galls as habitats: the inquiline communities of insect galls. Basic Appl. Ecol. 1, 3–11.

I realize my last post was a while ago. My excuse is preparation for a road trip to Idaho. I’m in Idaho now and trying to get into a routine of posting on a basis as regular as I can manage. Before my trip, I was also in the process of helping my parents, primarily my mother, design and implement changes to their backyard. The yard’s dimensions are about 50 by 65 feet with a garage that takes up about a fifth of that space. Throughout my memory of the backyard only a few of aspects are constant: the sidewalk leading to the garage, three dwarf Canadian hemlocks, and the red bench next to the west fence.

My mother was keen on having something that she called an “outdoor room” that involved a pergola. Other than that stipulation I was free to design (I use that word very loosely) a new backyard and garden as I pleased. I think a garden should be, in order of importance, environmentally sound, nutritive, and aesthetically pleasing.

By environmentally sound, I mean using native plants suited for your climate as to reduce anthropogenic watering and fertilizing, while providing habitat and/or forage for wildlife. The more structural and biotic heterogeneity in your garden, the more hospitable it becomes for certain wildlife. Well, in this case, more layers of vegetation are best suited for providing shelter for avian critters. Obviously, some birds prefer open fields and fewer vertically oriented vegetative impediments. Given the location of this backyard and its urban setting more canopy layers suit the birds of the area, but any plant assemblage can be created to attract the desired wildlife. Specifically, for this backyard garden, I wanted the changes to increase carbon sequestration.

Creating a garden to be “environmentally sound” doesn’t exclude its ability to grow food. Perhaps some sacrifice on the side of environmental integrity must be made in the name of food production, but too often are humans removed from the notion of being natural. Humans are natural and the fact we are conscious of it makes us a very special part of nature. Plus, we are not the only living thing to modify their environment to suit survival requirements. At least in temperate areas, berries and nut trees can provide healthy, native sources of food for humans and wildlife. Of course, traditional garden veggies can also be grown more sustainably by using organic gardening practices and planting heirloom vegetables bred for your climate. Enough can’t be said for compost.

Different folks have different ideas about what is aesthetically pleasing and that will ultimately dictate what a garden will look like. Lawns have been popular for far too long. They are like parasites that have lodged themselves in the brain of homeowners across North America and instruct their hosts to feed them. The low functionality of lawns is probably the reason why I’m vehemently against them. Sure, you can have barbeques on a lawn and run without the worry of tripping over anything, but not terribly useful otherwise. Besides, most places have parks and other public places where such needs can be met without sacrificing the potential of your own property. We fertilize lawns to grow, but we don’t want them to grow too much so we cut them. After patches of grass die, instead of letting them produce their own seed to fill in bare spots for free, we go out to the store to buy seed. We then spend money on water for growing the seed and the grass. Michael Pollen’s words are more eloquent than mine when it comes to the inanity of grass and lawns. My point is, don’t fall into the trap of conformity. By a gardening magazine, Google images of garden styles you fancy. Develop a garden that suits your tastes and your lifestyle.

Consider how much maintenance you want to invest in a garden. For most, the less work the better. Nearly all gardens, including those consisting of natives will require regular care until establishment, weeding, the occasional trim, staking, etc. In most cases, less lawn equals less work. One option for maintenance is absolutely nothing, which rewards the onlooker with the phenomenon of succession.

Unfortunately, this is not a popular idea and doesn’t always appease my garden criteria. So I set to work looking for a nursery that sold native plants and to my surprise, there was only one within a reasonable distance. In fact it was a small native plant nursery called Fiddlehead Creek Nursery that has a very informative website and a fair amount of stock to choose from. Using the plants the nursery had in stock that fit the site conditions, the backyard renovation plan started to gain momentum.

To increase sunlight It was agreed upon by my family that one of the Canadian Hemlocks would be cut down along with the two invasive Norway maples. The two maples being cut down had grown rapidly to a height of over three stories after a mature hemlock overshadowing them was removed for fear of falling on our garage. Because of their proximity and apparent preference to fall near power lines, I nimbly ascended to the canopy to limb the maples. After my aerobatic arborescent maneuvering the trees were truncated to a size safe enough to avoid electrical damage. The Canadian hemlock slated to be cut acted as a cushion for the falling maples. When the maple branches were cleared, it was time to cut the dwarf hemlock. It was a little sad because the tree had been there throughout my childhood and my mothers. I wound up counting approximately 76 rings! Good ol’ tree. The maple was a third that age. With the trees gone and stumps removed an image of the garden to be emerged. Sunlight was introduced to a part of the yard that hasn’t had it in years.

While cutting down the Norway maple and Canadian hemlock created a new space for the desired outdoor room, it also destroyed two significant carbon sinks. To mitigate this loss, I would obviously need to plant woody species. The outdoor room would increase the privacy of my parents’ backyard and woody species were ideal. A couple other strategically placed small trees would, in a few years, enclose the backyard nicely. An American Hazelnut and a chokeberry met the size and soil requirements as well as my three garden ideals. Although they are not native, I proposed planting two cherry trees (Prunus cerasus) and a Honey Crisp Apple tree (my favorite kind of apple). They are moderate growers that will be really fun to have around, especially after about five years when they can start producing fruit.

Purple flowering raspberries and elderberries (both native) were also selected to quickly fill in lower vegetative layers, while the woody species became established. The raspberry can be staked to aid in giving it shape, which will hopefully blend effectively with the elderberries. The rest of the garden is self-explanatory from the diagram. The area of grass was decreased significantly by rototilling then mulching. Raised beds were to be put in one of the sunniest locations of the yard. Eventually, a butterfly garden will be put. I estimate it will take 10 years for garden to grow into what I and my mother envision. In the interim, elderberries, raspberries, the raised beds and an established grape vine will keep my parents occupied with making jellies, jams, tasty salads, and hopefully wine!

See attached drawing of the new layout here!

Fossils at Mine Kill State Park.

Tuesday I decided to take a trip down to Gilboa, NY with an old friend. Driving up the Schoharie Creek is very pretty. The valley becomes more dramatic as you head south and towards the Catskills. Shale cliffs emerge on the mountainsides and thoughts of fossils strike your imagination. The drive also exhibits debris from high waters and destruction from tropical storm Irene.

We eventually stopped at Mine Kill State Park to explore. The park itself is not that interesting and sits across the river from the hydroelectric plant and HUGE electrical wires. Not picturesque. Although, there were some huge tulip trees and the biggest shag-bark hickory I've ever seen. After making our way down towards the river, we started our search. Nothing in the river bed, but the cliffs made for some interesting finds.