Reflections

Field Observations:

I cannot imagine a better way to start my day than visit the Kessling Wetland.  It was 70 degrees (F) and incredibly humid when I made it to the wetland at 9:30 in the morning.  The sky was clear with just a few clouds lingering on the horizon.  Countless cicadas were buzzing everywhere creating a beautiful chorus. 

As usual, I started observing in the northeast corner of the wetland, but decided to walk counterclockwise around the wetland this time.  The northeast corner of the wetland was full of several varieties of blooming wildflowers.  The blue vervain continues to bloom, but is starting to fade.  Countless bumblebees were buzzing around the great lobelia and the halberd-leaved rose mallow that are also near the blue vervain.  I absolutely loved watching the bumblebees collect nectar and hurry about among the beautiful blooms.

While walking along the northern shoreline, I was lucky to see and photograph the great blue heron that hangs out in that area.  The heron was just on the other side of the cattails from me and saw me well before I saw it.  The heron was gracious enough to stay still for a few seconds, allowing me to take two pictures, before rising up and flying to the opposite side of the wetland.

Walking along the western shore, I was startled by a pair of mallard ducks taking flight from somewhere nearby, but just out of sight.  I watched them fly around the corner of the wetland to the southwest bay.  As I watched, I noticed that there was a third female mallard by itself standing in the shallow water.  I was able to photograph it so I could more easily identify the species once I looked at the pictures.

The western shore was full of diversity of all forms of life.  A pair of painted turtles were sunning themselves on logs.  Several honeybees and bumblebees buzzed around the flowers.  A graceful little white butterfly hurried past me, always just out of my reach.  As I crept towards the southwestern corner of the wetland, I was stunned to see the elusive green heron standing on a dead tree branch high in the air.  The heron watched me carefully as I photographed it, but suddenly flew away as soon as I took one step closer.

Along the southern shore, I was greeted by the song of several species of songbirds.  I was patient, and waited for the birds to come closer so I could better identify them.  This charismatic song sparrow perched on a high tree branch and proceeded to fluff its feathers and observe me from a safe distance.  It was quite fun to watch this spunky little bird.  

The incredible variety and resiliency of life in a wetland continues to amaze me. Although the water level in the wetland has fallen since I started my observations a few weeks ago, I continue to see more life taking hold in the exposed mud.  The thick muck threatened to trap my boots in its suction-like grasp, so I did not dare to venture far from shore.  Just in the small opening near the canoe on the eastern shore, I saw frogs and damselflies using the shoots of the young grass shoots for cover.  In the exposed mud, I saw many hand-prints from a raccoon that must have visited that spot the night before.  It would be quite the experience to observe the wetland at night and learn more about a whole new group of fascinating animals.

Climate Change negatively impacts Wetlands:

For several decades scientists have been warning of the impact that climate change will have on the earth, its ecosystems, and the health of people, animals, and plants.  While all ecosystems will be impacted, wetlands stand to face some of the most drastic changes.  Wetlands are defined and driven by the presence of a consistent level of water and moisture.  Climate change threatens to change the distribution of water throughout the globe, drying out most of the remaining native wetlands.  

In the wetlands that do not dry out, it is predicted based on preliminary experiments conducted by the Smithsonian that the invasive species, Phragmites australis, will take over, quickly choking out all native plants.  While there is a native variety of Phragmites, its European counterpart is far more aggressive and can survive under the stress of air and water pollution.  It may sound like a pretty good thing that there is a plant that will thrive in the polluted air and water that may be in the near future, Phragmites australis is not a sufficient food source and does not provide sufficient habitat for native animals to survive.

Some other impacts that climate change would have on wetlands is as follows:

- changes in salinity, sediment imputs, and nutrient loading

- migration patterns of wetland-dwelling species will need to be altered to avoid extinction

- loss of biodiversity (plants, amphibians, fish, insects, birds, etc...)

- expansion in range for many invasive aquatic weeds

- loss of flood control from wetland buffers

- increase the amount of toxic algae

While climate change is a very real, and very scary thing that is happening right now, there are steps that can be taken by every individual to slow the catastrophe.  For example, pre-packaged and "fast food" use large amounts of materials and energy to produce, not to mention they also have lots of fat, sugar and extra calories.  An easy alternative is to pack your own lunch, eat more vegetables and fruits, or shop at your local farmers market before heading to a supermarket to buy groceries.  Another way to reduce your impact on climate change is to change the way you travel.  I'm not saying that you have to walk or bike everywhere, but that it is beneficial to plan ahead.  Whenever possible, carpool, use public transportation, or plan errands in advance to minimize the time spend driving.

It is the responsibility of every individual to take action so that the beautiful world that we are living in will remain equally, if not more, beautiful for many generations that are yet to come.

If you are interested in learning more about climate change, I recommend that you check out some of the sources I used.  Also, two books that I have enjoyed are: "Climate Cover-up" by James Hoggan, and "Eaarth" by Bill McKibben.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2014). Climate and Health. Retrieved from: http://www.cdc.gov/climateandhealth/prevention.htm

Erwin, K.L. (2009). Wetlands and global climate change: the role of wetland restoration in a changing world. Wetlands Ecology and Management. 17:71-84.

Mandia, S. (2010). Global Warming: Man or Myth?: Climate Change Impact on Freshwater Wetlands, Lakes, & Rivers. Retrieved from: http://profmandia.wordpress.com/2010/08/16/climate-change-impact-on-freshwater-wetlands-lakes-rivers/ 

Stromberg, J. (2013). How will the wetlands respond to climate change?. Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved from: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/how-will-the-wetlands-respond-to-climate-change-164048534/?no-ist 

Four New Species:

Great Lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica)

The large racemes or spikes of blue flowers make Great Loelia one of the showiest flowers along the wetland shore.  Great Lobelia is found in moist thickets and swamps and loves to grow in the damp soils found around the Kessling Wetland.  On the bottom of each of the irregularly shaped blue flowers is a slightly bulging stripped pattern.  Great Lobelia grows in full sun to part shade in consistently moist soil, a set of characteristics that are present in the northeast corner of the Kessling Wetland.  While making observations on the wetland, I noticed that several bumblebees were enjoying drinking the nectar from these beautiful flowers.

Newcomb, L., (1977). Newcomb's Wildflower Guide. New York, NY. Little, Brown and Company.

Missouri Botanical Garden. (2014). Lobelia siphilitica. Retrieved from: http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=i460

Green Heron (Butorides virescens)

Hiding in the southwestern corner of the Kessling Wetland, this Green Heron finally stayed still long enough for me to capture this image.  I was quite a far distance away, so I apologize for the poor clarity.  Green Herons live around lakes, ponds, marshes, and streams.  They have relatively short legs compared to other herons and are characterized by their deep chestnut colored neck.  Green Herons eat insects, frogs, and small fish.  The large population of frogs at the Kessling Wetland is more than enough to support this lone Green Heron.

Audubon. (2014). Green Heron. Retrieved from: http://birds.audubon.org/birds/green-heron

Peterson, R.T.. (2002). Peterson Field Guide to Birds of Eastern and Central North America. New York, NY. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)

This female Mallard was standing in the shallow water near the shore of the wetland.  Male Mallards are easily identified by their green head and white ring around their neck.  Females are trickier to identify, but have a similar blue stripe that is bordered by a white bar on either side on the speculum, just like the male Mallards.  Malards live in an array of habitats including marshes, wooded swamps, ponds, rivers, city parks, and grain fields.  These ducks eat aquatic plants, rootlets, and tubers from the bottom of ponds and other similar water bodies.  The Kessling Wetland has an abundance of aquatic vegetation and is able to support a healthy population of dabbling ducks.

Ducks Unlimited. (2014). Mallard Facts, Figures, Description, and Photo. Retrieved from: http://www.ducks.org/hunting/waterfowl-id/mallard#ad-image-0

Peterson, R.T.. (2002). Peterson Field Guide to Birds of Eastern and Central North America. New York, NY. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

Halberd-leaved Rose Mallow (Hibiscus militaris)

Commonly found along riverbanks and swamps, these beautiful large flowers are over 4 inches wide and have petals that are almost 3 inches long.  Hibiscus flowers, such as the Halberd-leaved Rose Mallow, have stamens that are in a column protruding from the center of the flower.  The broad leaves have long stalks with a smooth surface on the underside.  A unique characteristic of the Halberd-leaved Rose Mallow is that the lower leaves are 3-lobed and spear shaped, whereas the upper leaves are unlobed.  Halberd-leaved Rose Mallow is found in areas that are not highly disturbed and have moist soils, such as the shoreline of the Kessling Wetland.

Illinois Wildflowers. (2012). Halberd-Leaved Rose Mallow. Retrieved from: http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/wetland/plants/halberd_mallow.htm 

Newcomb, L., (1977). Newcomb's Wildflower Guide. New York, NY. Little, Brown and Company.

Creative Reflection:

As I am finishing my last blog post on the Kessling Wetland, I have come to realize that while it has been a struggle at times, willing my way through identifying species and attempting to be as still as possible while taking photographs, I have learned an incredible amount of information on wetlands and loved every moment that I spent there.  I had the amazing opportunity to watch the sunset over the wetland and could not shake the feeling that while I may be done with making required weekly observations for this blog, I will always feel a special attachment to the Kessling Wetland.  

Beauty in the Unknown

Field Observations:

I continue to be in awe of the beauty that lives in the Kessling Wetland.  As I headed out to do my observations on a humid 80 degree (F) day, I was struck by the incredible volume of sound coming from the creatures that live in and around the wetland.  This was by far the loudest that I have ever heard these animals.  The crickets, frogs, and other "critters" were so loud that I could just barely hear the crunch of the gravel beneath my feet.

As I looked around, I noticed that the beautiful milkweed flowers are continuing to fade.  Although the blooms are not as vibrant, they continue to attract a wide variety of insects and other pollinators.  I saw a beautiful bumblebee lazily crawling around the flowers.  A pair of giant swallowtail butterflies stopped briefly to take a drink of the nectar before moving on.  Moments later, a lone graceful monarch butterfly danced around the remaining blooms, then hurried off to wherever it was going.

While standing a short distance away from the milkweed flowers, I noticed a strange flying animal.  At first glance, I thought it was a hummingbird.  The animal beat its wings so quickly, I could barely see them as it hovered by the flowers drinking their nectar.  Its body was slightly smaller than any hummingbird that I have seen, and as I looked through the zoom of my camera, much to my astonishment, I noticed that this "bird" had antennae.  After attempting to take some pictures of the "bird", struggling with field guides, and asking for help, I eventually discovered that the strange "bird" that I saw, was in fact a hummingbird moth.

Non-native species in the Wetland:

It is a bit disheartening to know that nearly every wetland has at least one species on non-native plants or animals.  While doing observations at the Kessling Wetland, I have seen Purple Loosestrife, Reed Canary Grass, and Narrow-leaf and Hybrid cattail.  All three of these species are aggressive invasive plants.  They grow quickly and in thick mats that will choke out all other plants, creating a sea of one single species.  Since these plants are not native, many of the native animals that live in the wetland are not able to use these non-native plants for food or shelter.  This causes the native plants and animals to have difficulty surviving in the ecosystem due to decreased available space for native plants to grow, inadequate food for the native animals, and loss of the necessary shelter that was provided by native plants.

The images above were taken in previous weeks of observations in the wetland.  The image on the far left is Purple Loosestrife, characterized by the spike of purple flowers emerging from the top of the plant.  The center image is Narrow-leaf or Hybrid Cattail.  It is nearly impossible to distinguish if a plant is the invasive narrow-leaf, or a hybrid with the native common cattail.  Only genetic testing can determine the exact species.  The far right image is Reed Canary Grass, a cool-season grass that is characterized by its flat, rough leaves and tendency to grow in thick mats due to its use of rhizomes and seeds in reproduction.  All three of these plant species are further described in previous blog posts.

Campbell, S., P. Higman, B. Slaughter, & E. Schools. (2010). A Field Guide to Invasive Plants of Aquatic and Wetland Habitats for Michigan.  Michigan State University Extension. 

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. (2010). Common Wetland Invasive Plants in WI.  Retrieved from: http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/Invasives/documents/wetland_species.pdf

Four New Species:

Golden Northern Bumble Bee (Bombus fervidus)

The Golden Northern Bumble Bee is characterized by its mostly black face and head, and a black band that is present on the abdomen between the wings.  The thorax of these bees is mostly yellow, with the location of the black band determining the sex of the individual.  These bees both drink nectar and eat honey.  This individual was observed using its "tongue" to slurp up nectar from these milkweed flowers.  The Kessling Wetland continues to have many flowering swamp milkweed plants that are favorite sources of nectar for the Golden Northern Bumble Bee along with several other insects.

Milne, L., & M. Milne. (1980). National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Insects and Spiders. New York, NY. Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. 

Hummingbird Moth "Common Clearwing" (Hemaris thysbe)

This magnificent insect was given its name because of they way that it looks and behaves similarly to hummingbirds.  The Hummingbird Moth, when fully developed, has 1.5 to 2 inch wings that it pumps back and forth with incredible speed allowing it to hover and fly in a similar manner as a hummingbird.  Like the hummingbird and most butterflies, the Hummingbird Moth feeds on the nectar of flowers.  

Hummingbird Moths are usually found along forest edges, meadows, flower gardens, and wherever there are plenty of flowers available.  Since several flowers continue to bloom around the Kessling Wetland, the Hummingbird Moth is right at home with plenty of food to sustain itself.  

Milne, L., & M. Milne. (1980). National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Insects and Spiders. New York, NY. Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. 

Soft Rush (Juncus effusus)

This plant was growing along the edge of the open water of the Kessling Wetland.  Since the Soft Rush is a strictly wetland plant, it is well adapted for the wet soils that are present at this location. Soft Rush has clumps of small, scaly flowers that emerge from one point on the side of the stalk near the top.  These flowers are greenish-brown and typically bloom from July through September. The leaves of the Soft Rush are spearlike basal sheaths that wrap around the base of the stalk where they gently swoop away from the plant.  Soft Rush is important in the wetland ecosystem.  The roots of the Soft Rush are a food source for muskrats and other wetland animals, while the stems serve as shelter for many wetland birds.








Niering, W.A. (1998). Wetlands. New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.

Common Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis)

While the Common Evening Primrose does not typically occur in the moist areas of wetlands, this one secured a preferable location along the edge of the Kessling Wetland.  This beautiful wildflower grows from 2 to 6 feet tall with yellow flowers that are up to 2 inches across.  What makes this wildflower rather interesting is that these flowers open at night and close by noon.













Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. (2014). Oenothera biennis. The University of Texas at Austin. Retrieved from: http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=OEBI

United States Department of Agriculture. (2014). Oenothera biennis L. Retrieved from: http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=OEBI

Creative Reflection:

A haiku:

Incredible sights.

A diversity of life.

Beautiful wetland.

Metamorphosis

Field Observations:

This was such a beautiful afternoon to spend in a wetland.  The sky was dotted with puffy white clouds that drifted lazily along.  A soft breeze kept me cool while wading through the shoreline under the toasty 80 degree (F) heat of the early afternoon sun. What started as a quick half hour distraction from working on homework quickly turned into almost two hours of relaxation while attempting to capture the incredible beauty and diversity that lives in this small wetland.

After a short detour to grab my rubber boots, I made the short walk to the northeastern edge of the wetland and began to explore.  I was delighted to see the return of my beloved dragonflies, but this time, they were joined by several butterflies.  It was a joy to watch them interact and compete for the best place to land on the elegant swamp milkweed flowers.  The swamp milkweed plants are still producing stunning flowers that continually attract insects.  Some of the older blooms are starting to die back, but these seem to be continually replaced by another flower nearby.  After spending so many hours this summer visiting this wetland, I am proud to say that I am starting to be able to identify a few of the dragonfly and butterfly species without needing to constantly reference a field guide.

As I continued my observations, headed to the south along the eastern shore, I noticed the incredible number of frogs that live along the shoreline.  I still have difficulty noticing them before they scurry under the algae and floating plants for cover.  It seems that after a few days of relatively calm weather, the thick layer of algae and floating vegetation has returned to take its place as a blanket across the surface of much of the open water.

Upon reaching the southeastern corner, near the small outlet of the pond, I had the amazing opportunity to watch several giant swallowtail butterflies interact as they fluttered between blooming swamp milkweed flowers.  It was breathtaking to watch as one of the butterflies would follow another from flower to flower, always hovering a few inches behind it.  Usually I have much difficulty coming close enough to take a quality picture of butterflies, but these giant swallowtails appeared to have no interest in my presence.  I would have stayed there to watch them interact all afternoon, but alas, I eventually had to move on.

Along the western shore, I decided to venture out from the land and into the shallow waters along the shore.  In doing so, I was able to better see how the plants are limited by water depth changes and bottom soil types. I noticed this because as I started to move to different depths and soil types, it became increasingly more difficult for me to take a step in the water without losing my boot to the suction of the mucky sediment.  I also was able to see more frogs and turtles attempting to hide under logs, between branches, and in emergent vegetation.  When I waded out into the water near the northwestern corner of the wetland, much to my surprise, I stirred up a single duck and a great blue heron.  Later that day, I again saw this single duck splashing around and possibly playing with the families of geese that are now less frequent visitors of the wetland. 

Winter Survival of Wetland Species:

Winter in wetlands can be a brutal place.  Temperatures plummet below freezing, leaves die and fall off of trees, the days are short, the water is frozen, but the wetland is still alive.  Although at first glance, the brown of dead and dormant emergent vegetation my fool you into thinking that the life in the wetland is gone, there are many strategies that the plants use to keep coming back, year after year.

One of the most common strategies to survive the winter is dormancy.  This is a physiological process that is triggered by the gradual decrease in the length of daylight hours.  Important compounds for plant growth, such as nitrogen, phosphorous, and carbohydrates are transported from the leaves to the permanent tissues of the plant, such as the stem or rootstock.  The leaves then produce a hormone called abscissic acid which stops the continued growth of the plant, forcing it into dormancy.  By becoming dormant, the plant is able to focus its energy on preserving the necessary compounds to restart growth until the days become longer at the beginning of spring.

Animals are not all able to simply turn themselves off for the long winter months. Painted turtles will dig down into the mud below the ice and hibernate until the spring arrives.  They are actually able to survive for several months without oxygen with their body temperature hovering a few degrees above freezing. This is possible even when the air temperature is reaching well below the freezing mark, since the layers of snow and mud act as insulators, conserving heat and keeping the cold-blooded turtle alive.

Cox, D.D. (2002). A Naturalist's Guide to Wetland Plants: An Ecology for Eastern North America. Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press
Ducks Unlimited. (2014). Wetlands in Winter. Retrieved from: http://www.ducks.ca/learn-about-wetlands/wildlife/wetlands-winter/ 
Jackson, D.C. (2002). Hibernating without oxygen: physiological adaptations of the painted turtle. The Journal of Physiology. 543(pt3): 731-737. 

Four New Species:

Monarch (Danaus plexippus)

Characterized by the stunning black and orange pattern, this large (4 inch) butterfly is truly majestic.  Commonly confused with the viceroy butterfly, the two can be distinguished by taking a close look at the pattern of black veins across the orange wings.  Monarch caterpillars feed on milkweed leaves, a common flowering plant around the Kessling wetland.  The adult butterflies also feed on the milkweed, but as adults, they drink the nectar of the flowers instead of eating the leaves, and can be found anywhere that milkweed plants are flowering.

 It is interesting to point out that Monarchs migrate 2,000 miles from Canada to Mexico every year.  Since the lifespan of a single butterfly is not long enough to complete such a long journey, the females lay eggs along the way.  It will take about four generations of Monarchs, each taking the place of the previous generation, to complete the journey from Canada to Mexico.

Milne, L., & M. Milne. (1980). National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Insects and Spiders. New York, NY. Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. 

Silky Dogwood (Cornus drummondi)

There are several species of dogwood plants, many of which are found in wet places, such as around wetlands.  The Silky Dogwood, with silky-hairy twigs and smooth leaves, is similar to a few other species of dogwood.  The shrub can reach a height of up to 10 feet and produce bluish berries that grow in clusters.  The Kessling Wetland is an ideal habitat for Silky Dogwood since it flourishes in moist, poorly drained, moderately acidic to neutral soils which are present around the shoreline of the wetland.  Silky Dogwood is shade tolerant, but is not well adapted for droughts.

Petrides, G.A.. (1972). Peterson Field Guide to Trees and Shrubs. New York, NY. Houghton Mifflin Company.
USDA & NRCS. (2002). Plant Fact Sheet: Silky Dogwood. Retrieved from: http://plants.usda.gov/factsheet/pdf/fs_coam2.pdf 

Common Cottonwood (Populus deltoides)

A tall tree that stands proud adjacent to the wetland, the Common Cottonwood is easy to identify.  There is a Swamp Cottonwood, but it is identified by having a more rounded appearance in its leaf shape than the Common Cottonwood.

The Common Cottonwood, much like the Swamp Cottonwood, enjoy the consistently moist soils associated with the edge of wetlands, much like the Kessling Wetland.  Since the soils along the edge of wetlands are often well saturated with water, large trees, such as the Common Cottonwood, develop a sprawling, extensive root system.

Missouri Botanical Garden. (2014). Populus deltoides. Retrieved from: http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=a894
Petrides, G.A.. (1972). Peterson Field Guide to Trees and Shrubs. New York, NY. Houghton Mifflin Company.

Reed Canary Grass (Phalaris arundinacea)

This non-native grass has the potential, much like the narrow-leafed cattail, to invade much of the rest of the wetland.  Reed Canary Grass thrives in wet, slightly disturbed soils, making the Kessling Wetland an ideal habitat.  Reed Canary Grass is a cool season grass that can grow up to 6 feet tall.  It reproduces via rhizomes, horizontal stems that grow below the soil surface, sprouting a new plant nearby.  Since rhizomes do not travel far from the parent plant, Reed Canary Grass tends to form in thick mats that completely block the growth of other plants.

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. (2014). Reed Canary Grass (Phalaris arundinacea). Retrieved from: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/terrestrialplants/grasses/reedcanarygrass.html

Creative Reflection:

Chasing Butterflies...

I have recently become attuned to my love of things that fly.  After looking through the many pictures that I have taken over the past few weeks, I noticed that well over half of them are of birds, dragonflies, butterflies, or attempts at taking pictures of them. Actually, very few of the pictures that I have taken of birds have come close to looking like a picture of a bird.  Dragonflies have been my favorite so far to photograph because of their tendency to perch on twigs and stems, also making them easier to focus upon.  While doing my observations this week, I was thrilled to be able to get close enough to these giant swallowtail butterflies to finally take some quality pictures.

"Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you."
~ Nathaniel Hawthorne

Can't Stop; Won't Stop

Field Observations:

What a joy it is to observe a wetland.  I am continually amazed by the incredible resiliency and determination of wetland inhabitants to not only survive, but thrive.  The night before I headed out to the wetland, an intense storm rolled through the area. Wind, rain, and hail pounded the wetland, breaking branches and spreading leaves across the ground.  When I ventured out to the wetland the next day, I discovered, to my amazement, that there was relatively little destruction.  One tree was broken a little more than it was before, and large areas of grasses among the cattails were bent over and tangled.  The high winds had disturbed the water of the pond enough that the thick layer of duckweed and algae that normally covers most of the surface was broken up and covered a smaller area. 

When walking around the wetland, I was able to see a surprising amount of wildlife, especially for the 72 degree (F) and gusty day.  A beautiful giant swallowtail butterfly was fluttering around and feeding on a swamp milkweed plant.  I could have stayed there for hours watching the delicate dance of the butterfly as it drank the nectar from the flowers.  It was amazing to see the butterfly hover just above the flower, then grab on just before a blast of wind would violently shake the plant.  The butterfly would drink the nectar, then continue on to another swamp milkweed and latch on to drink the nectar, all the while continuously flapping its wings in an attempt to stay attached on the flower in the gusty winds.

Upon reaching the southwest corner of the wetland, I had the treat of seeing several painted turtles sunning themselves on logs. They, like many of the other animals, are incredibly difficult to photograph since they are so leery of larger animals, especially humans.  I had to be careful to not move too quickly or make any sudden movements, so as to not scare the turtles into the water for cover.  I felt as though I was so far away that the pictures would never turn out, and narrowly missed a picture of a turtle leaping off of a log into the water.

Unfortunately, with all of the gusty winds, I did not see many dragonflies.  I have really enjoyed attempting to photograph them, and was looking forward to practicing my photography skills with them.  I also was not given the opportunity to view any large birds around the wetland.  The usual families of geese were absent when I went out for my observations.  However, there was evidence that the geese had been there recently in the form of algae pathways created from the swimming birds.

After walking around the edge of the wetland, I had seen an amazing number of organisms that were able to survive the intense storm.  There were several frogs along the bank, butterflies dancing among the flowers, turtles sunning themselves on logs, and a few small songbirds in the trees.  Most of the plants were able to bounce back from the high winds.  The cattails stood tall among the many bent over grasses along the shoreline.  The trees were resilient and held their ground against the battering of the storm.  I continue to fall in love with the plants and animals that call the Kessling Wetland home, and am honored to be welcomed there day after day.

Ecotones around the Wetland:

A simple definition of an ecotone is the transition area of vegetation between two plant communities that has some characteristics of both communities.  These can be large or small in area and provide a unique environment that is often beneficial to members of the two neighboring communities.  In other words, an ecotone is an area where two types of habitat come into contact and provide habitat for organisms that live in both of the neighboring habitats.

Ecotones can be further described as discrete, convoluted, or diffuse.  Discrete ecotones have a distinct boundary between the two ecosystems. Convoluted ecotones have a difficult to define boundary between the two ecosystems due to a large amount of intermixing.  Diffuse ecotones are spread over a wide area and are also difficult to distinguish the exact boundary between the two ecosystems.

The Kessling Wetland is surrounded by several other ecosystems that are distinct from the wetland.  Most of the eastern shoreline is bordered by forest with a path dividing the two communities.  The southwestern corner is also bordered by forest as well.  The southern edge of the wetland is bordered by a prairie, along with the northwestern edge.  The northeastern edge of the wetland has a difficult to define border.  It is mostly met by the mowed lawn of the Kessling Farmstead and the scattered trees between the farmstead and Reith Village.

The image above was taken while standing on the western shore looking to the eastern shore.  Directly behind me is a prairie, and on the opposite shore you can see the forest meeting the edge of the wetland.  Since there is a path that travels directly along this transition area, the eastern edge has a discrete ecotone.  There is a definitive place where the forest and wetland meet with a minimal transition zone.

The image above, taken on 18.07.2014, captures several ecotones.  The photograph was taken while standing in the northeastern corner of the wetland, looking to the west.  Near the area of the Reith Village buildings, there is an area that lacks trees, planted with prairie plants and having several paths throughout the area, this is another discrete ecotone.  There is some transition space, but the path creates a more abrupt change than would be seen in a more natural setting.  Just to the south of Reith Village, there is a stand of trees that grows right up to the waters edge.  There is a fair amount of mixing between forest and wetland species in this area, leading me to believe it is a convoluted ecotone.  To the northeast of Reith Village, closer to where the picture was taken, is an area with a convoluted ecotone.  The two ecosystems blend in a complex manner that it is difficult to determine where one begins and the other ends.

Encyclopedia Brittannica. (2014). Ecotone. Retrieved from: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/178617/ecotone
Graves, R. (2011). Ecotone. Retrieved from http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/152345

Four new species:

Giant Swallowtail Butterfly (Papilio cresphontes)

Among the largest of the North American butterflies, the Giant Swallowtail measures up to 5 1/2 inches wide.  These beautiful insects are commonly found in deciduous forests and citrus orchards across most of the United States east of the Rocky Mountains.  Giant Swallowtails are identified by the brown to black wings with yellow spots and stripes on the upper surface.  The underside of the wings is yellow in appearance with some grid-like black markings.  The caterpillars feed on the leaves and flesh of citrus plants, while the adults feed on flower nectar.

This particular adult Giant Swallowtail was seen near the edge of the wetland feeding on a swamp milkweed flower.  The abundance of these flowers likely attracted this Giant Swallowtail to the area.

Milne, L., & M. Milne. (1980). National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Insects and Spiders. New York, NY. Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.
Butterflies and Moths of North America. (2014). Attributes of Papilio cresphontes. Retrieved from: http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Papilio-cresphontes

Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta)

Found throughout most of the northern and eastern United States in slow-moving shallow streams, rivers, and lakes, the Painted Turtle is at home in the Kessling Wetland.  Painted Turtles have a characteristic set of yellow and red stripes on their neck, legs, and tail.  The shell, or carapace, also has red bars or crescents along the edge.  There are several sub-species of Painted Turtles.  These each have a slightly different painted pattern, and are easiest to distinguish based upon the location of the turtle.

Painted Turtles are found most often in the southwest corner of the Kessling Wetland where the water is more protected from high winds and disturbance.  There are many logs in this area that the turtles sun themselves on.  They also especially enjoy the soft bottom and ample vegetation of Kessling Wetland.

Behler, J.L., & F.W. King. (1979). National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians. New York, NY. Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.

Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata)

Identified by the bright purple-blue flowers growing in a numerous spikes at the top of the plant, Blue Vervain can grow up to 5 feet tall.  The leaves are lance-shaped and coarsely toothed, growing in a opposite pattern along the stalk.  Blue Vervain is a fairly common plant in most of North America. It produces seeds that are food for many birds, including several species of sparrows, and the cardinal.  Verbena moth caterpillars also feed on the leaves, and Blue Vervain serves as the larval host plant for the common buckeye butterfly.

Blue Vervain grows well in the moist soils near wetlands, which explains why it is present in the Kessling Wetland.  It can also be found in moist meadows, pastures, riversides, ditches, marshes, and river-bottom prairies. 




Newcomb, L., (1977). Newcomb's Wildflower Guide. New York, NY. Little, Brown and Company.
Kirk, S., & S. Belt. (2010). Plant fact sheet for blue vervain (Verbena hastata). Beltsville, MD. USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, Norman A. Berg National Plant Materials Center. Retrieved from: http://plants.usda.gov/factsheet/pdf/fs_veha2.pdf

Northern Leopard Frog (Rana pipiens)

Northern Leopard Frogs are found in northern North America from around the Great Lakes, west to the Rocky Mountains, and north to Hudson Bay. These nocturnal, slender frogs have light-colored dorsolateral ridges that span from near the eye to the groin.  Between the two ridges, the dark spots have a slight halo of lighter coloring, distinguishing them from the Southern Leopard Frogs which lack the halo appearance.

Northern Leopard Frogs are found in a variety of habitats ranging from moist fields, to mountains, to brackish marshes, to freshwater wetlands.  The Kessling Wetland provides much cover for these frogs along the edge of the open water, and has an abundance of food sources available for these frogs.  As described in an earlier post, all frog species are tied to the water throughout their life cycle.

Behler, J.L., & F.W. King. (1979). National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians. New York, NY. Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.

Creative Reflection:

The wetland comes to life, 

rebounding from the storm.

The storm can't blow it down.

The wind can't break its spirit.

The sun shines brightly on a new day.

The animals continue their will to survive.

The storm can't blow it down.

The wind can't break its spirit.

Life in the wetland can't stop. 

Life in the wetland won't stop.

The storm can't blow it down.

The wind can't break its spirit.

What does the Frog say?

Field Observations:

After a full week of class and homework, I welcomed the opportunity to spend some time observing the Kessling Wetland at the Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center of Goshen College.   I was so excited to be outside that I couldn't sit still.  I grabbed my rubber boots and started to explore the eastern shoreline. Before I knew it, I had spent an hour enjoying the 79 degree (F) and sunny weather while taking pictures of nearly everything that I saw. 

As I was headed out to the wetland, I heard the roar of an airplane overhead.  I looked up to the North to see a crop duster flying in loops just above the treetops as it turned around to spray the field that is to the north of the farmstead.  The normally noisy wetland was impossible to hear over the roar of the plane's engine.  It was beautiful to watch the pilot maneuver the plane in the tight turns, just above the treetops.

The three families of geese that call Kessling Wetland home were quite active today.  Some of the older 

goslings were starting to become more independent, swimming off just a little further from their parents than before.  The families also would fly short distances as a miniature flock from one end of the pond to the other.  It is always a joy to watch these birds grow and mature day after day.

As I walked along the shoreline, I finally had the opportunity to see some of the noisy frogs that hide along the edges of the wetland.  Although it should have been obvious, the key to actually observing these frogs is stealth. I had to be careful to walk slowly and not make much noise as I crept up to take a look at these sneaky frogs.  They were incredibly difficult to photograph because as soon as they heard any noise from my camera, they would quickly spring up and dive under the thick layer of algae and duckweed covering the surface of the pond.  After much patience and skill, I finally mastered the art of sneaking a picture of these well camouflaged animals.

Once I reached the southern shore of the wetland, I witnessed two beautiful song birds fluttering around and eventually perching on a high branch.  They were too far away and silhouetted against the sun, so I was unable to identify them, but their casual interactions were quite charming. I wish I could have gotten a better view to watch them longer.

Closer to the ground, buzzing around the milkweed flowers, were a dozen honeybees.  They had no interest in me.  They were incredibly focused on finding the nectar from the next beautiful flower that they could find.  I could have spent the entire afternoon watching the bees scurry from bloom to bloom in an elegant dance of excitement.

I was so entranced in watching the honeybees that I almost missed the two herons fly across the wetland to the opposite side of the pond.  The pair rose up with grace and with a few strong flaps of their wings had flown across the pond.  Carefully, each chose its place to perch on a cluster of exposed logs. They remained there for several minutes, eyeing me carefully as I slowly crept closer to capture a better photograph.  After what felt like hours of careful positioning and quiet maneuvering, I was able to snap a unobstructed picture of the majestic birds.

As I walked back to the farm towards the end of my hour long observation, I was overwhelmed by the sheer number of gorgeous flying insects.  Butterflies, dragonflies, moths, and damselflies were in abundance. It seemed that no matter where I looked, one would be fluttering around or resting on a beautiful flower, stem, or branch. It was incredibly fun to watch these amazing insects.  Although I wish I could have captured an image of each, some were far to fast for me to take position and focus before the fascinating creature flew to a new resting spot.

Succession in the Wetland:

The Kessling Wetland, nestled between the Kessling farmstead and the Rieth Village, is speckled with floating vegetation and is surrounded by emergent vegetation that leads to some shrubs and then larger trees. This pattern of plant life is characteristic of aquatic succession.  Hydrosere, the process of a freshwater environment slowly filling in with vegetation until dry and covered in forest, is the name that describes aquatic succession. This process occurs much slower in fast moving water since the current continually batters the shoreline making it difficult for new vegetation to establish.

In slow moving and stagnant bodies of water, such as the Kessling Wetland, hydrosere occurs much faster.  The slow moving current allows vegetation to creep slowly inward towards the center of the water body.  As this vegetation dies, it sinks to the bottom and decomposes, adding a new layer of soil, filling in the pond with sediment.  New vegetation grows on top of this decomposed material and when it eventually dies, it adds another layer of new sediment.  These layers stack on top of each other, slowly making the water body shallower.  Most vegetation found in a wetland environment can only survive within a specific range of water depth and moisture content.  That is what leads to the pattern of succession seen in the Kessling Wetland and other similar locations.

In the traditional framework of succession, the Kessling Wetland is in the early stages.  There is still a large area that remains open water throughout the summer months.  Moving from the center of the open water towards the shore, each stage of hydrosere can be observed.  The pattern moves from open water, to floating vegetation, to emergent vegetation, to shrubs and bushes, and finally to larger trees.  As succession continues, these zones will slowly move inward, filling in the pond.  However, moving water will slow this process, helping the pond to retain its open water.

Jackson, M.T. (1997). The Natural Heritage of Indiana. Bloomington, IN. Indiana University Press

Four New Species:

Bulfrog (Rana catesbeiana)

This aquatic species of frog spends most of its life in ponds, lakes, and other slow moving bodies of fresh water.  Bullfrogs live in areas with much vegetation that provides camouflage and cover in the event of a disturbance.  Bullfrogs are nocturnal and feed primarily on insects, crayfish, other frogs, and minnows.   The life cycle of a bullfrog also ties it to the water.  Bullfrogs, along with other species of frogs, hatch from an egg that is submerged under the surface of the water, typically attached to the stalk of a plant.  When these eggs hatch, a tadpole emerges.  The tadpole is essentially a head with a tail that lives entirely under water for several weeks until it begins growing legs.  As the tadpole grows, the legs slowly appear, the tail slowly disappears, the lungs continue to develop, and the gills slowly disappear.  After several weeks of development, the frog is in the shape most associated with being a frog.  Bullfrogs are identified by their large external eardrum (tympanum), fully webbed hind feet, and a lack of dorsolateral ridges.  In regards to habitat, The Kessling Wetland has much of the necessary emergent vegetation in the form of cattails along with much duckweed floating on the surface of the water to provide camouflage and cover for these frogs.  As evidenced in my observations of butterflies, dragonflies, and several other insects, the Kessling Wetland hosts much of the preferred food for bullfrogs.  The bullfrog pictured here is most likely a young fully-developed bullfrog.

Behler, J.L. (1979). National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians. New York, NY. Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)

Herons are identified by their long legs, long neck, long slender bill, and characteristic folded neck when in flight. The Great Blue Heron lives in areas such as marshes, swamps, shores, tidal flats, and moist fields where they feed primarily on fish in the shallow water.  The Kessling Wetland provides the appropriate habitat for these birds to thrive.  There is much cover along the shoreline to provide some camouflage and protruding branches for them to perch upon. The pond is filled with fish, frogs, and other aquatic species that serve as food for these majestic birds.

Audubon. (2014). Great Blue Heron. Retrieved from: http://birds.audubon.org/species/greblu1

Peterson, R.T. (2010) Peterson Field Guide to Birds of Eastern and Central North America. New York, NY. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

Mild Water Pepper (Polygonum hydropiperoides)

Growing in a large mat along the shore, Mild Water Pepper is identified by the five part flowers growing in an erect spike at the top of the plant.  The sword-like leaves are similar to grasses in that they hug the stalk in a sash-like fashion. Mild Water Pepper grows in shallow streams and other wet places, such as the edge of the Kessling Wetland.  The slow-moving and stagnant water allows this plant to become well established along the shore creating habitat for many shoreline vegetation loving species.

Newcomb, L. (1977). Newcom's Wildflower Guide. New York, NY. Little Brown and Company

Honey Bee (Apis mellifera)

When thinking about a wetland, honey bees are not usually the first creature to come to mind.  These insects build hives in hollow trees.  They have a complex social behavior resulting in distinctly different sub-types of bees within the hive.  For example, there is one queen, a handful of male drones, and many female workers, each with distinct physical characteristics.  In order to make honey, the worker bees leave the hive to collect pollen from flowering plants.  Since there is an abundance of blooming Swamp Milkweed along with many other flowers surrounding the Kessling Wetland, the Honey Bees seem to be quite at home.


Milne, L., & M. Milne. (1980). National Audubon Society Field Guide to Insects & Spiders. New York, NY. Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.

Creative Reflection:

The reclusive frog sits...

                                      waits

hiding near the surface watching the pond.

                                                                                 Duckweed and algae wrap around him

                                                                                                   delicately concealing 

                                                                                  hiding the statuesque observer

The wind rustles cattails

                                            music in the breeze

hiding the frogs nestled along the shore

                                                                                  A pebble crunches beneath my feet 

                                                                                  hiding behind a bush

                                                                                                                                   I freeze

The cautious frogs dive beneath the surface

                   letting out a screech of fear

hiding under the camouflage of green