Eurasian Eagle-owl (Bubo-bubo)

English and Scientific Name:  Eurasian Eagle-owl (Bubo-bubo)

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Aves

Observation: Upon approaching this owl, I couldn’t help but notice how large it is.  It has very distinct colors and looks like a “rough” bird.  A dog started to bark at the owl while we were there and the owl immediately stared at the dog and puffed out to such a big size.  It almost looked like it gained weight before my eyes, that’s how much it puffed out.  It does that when it gets angry or feels threatened.    

Questions:

1.      Is the Eagle owl the world’s largest owl?

2.      Where does the name Eurasian stem?

3.      Because of the name “eagle owl” is there a connection between the eagle and the owl?

Scientific Research:

Jacobs, J. Warren. Bald Eagle (Haliætus leucocephalus.) and Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) Occupying the Same Nest. The Wilson Bulletin, Vol. 20, No. 2 (Jun., 1908), pp. 103-104.  Article Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/4154205

Because of the name “eagle owl” is there a connection between the eagle and the owl?

On January 15^th, 1908 it was discovered that both and eagle and an owl were occupants of the same nest (Jacobs, 1908).  A researcher climbed 70 ft to view the top of the nest and discovered two Eagle eggs and 4 feet from the bottom discovered two Owl eggs.

Websites:
http://www.owlpages.com/owls.php?genus=Bubo&species=bubo
http://aviary.owls.com/owls/eagle-owl.html
http://www.conservationcentre.org/scase21.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurasian_Eagle-owl

White Snakeroot (Ageratina altissima)

English and Scientific Name:  White Snakeroot (Ageratina altissima)

Kingdom: Plantae

(Unranked): Angiosperms

(Unranked): Eudicots

Observation: The white on this flower is very bright.  The green leaf is also a very bright green.  I also viewed this at the wildlife refuge.  Usually when I see a white flower it has been from a flower shop and manicured in some fashion but this was not which was fascinating to me. 

Questions:

1.      Where does the white snakeroot reside?

2.      Why do they call it the white snakeroot?

3.      Is it poisonous?

Scientific Research:

Sackett, Walter. The Connection of Milksickness with the Poisonous Qualities of White Snake-Root (Eupatorium urticaefolium). The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Vol. 24, No. 3 (Mar., 1919), pp. 231-259. Article Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/30082048

Is it poisonous?

The white snakeroot has been associated with a disease of cattle, sheep and horses, variously designated as “milksickness”, “milk sick”, “staggers”, “trembles” and “slows”.  Later opinion has tended to confirm this view (Sackett, 1919).

Websites:
http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/woodland/plants/wh_snakeroot.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Snakeroot
http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/weedguide/singlerecord.asp?id=1040
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=AGALA

Japanese Honey Suckle (Lonicera japonica)

English and Scientific Name:  Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica)

Kingdom: Plantae

Unranked: Angiosperms

Unranked: Eudicots

Observation: I have never seen this before today’s visit.  It really opened my eyes that the trees are brought over from other regions.  I did learn today that the oriental region of plants are aggressive.  After my research, I learned that this plant is sold in American Nurseries (wikidpedia, org., 2011).

Questions:

1.      Since honey is in the name, is it edible?

2.      Does it have a smell?

3.      Since this is an oriental region based plant, is it used in herbal medicine?

Scientific Research:

Andrews, E.F. THE JAPANESE HONEYSUCKLE IN THE EASTERN UNITED STATES, Torreya,
Vol. 19, No. 3 (March, 1919), pp. 37-43. Article Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/40595996

Does it have a smell?

Yes, it is has a very fragrant and flowery smell. 

Website:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_Honeysuckle
http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/plants/honeysuckle.shtml
http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/loja1.htm
http://mdc.mo.gov/landwater-care/invasive-species-management/invasive-plant-management/japanese-honeysuckle-control

Honey Locust Tree (Gleditsia triacanthos)

English and Scientific Name: Honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos)

Kingdom: Plantae

Phylum: Angiosperms

Class: Eudicots

Observation: I would see these on the sidewalk randomly but never knew exactly what they were.  I realized I usually see them in the fall and just step on them as I’m walking.  I paid attention to the pod looking pieces and it reminded me of snap string beans. 

Questions:

1.      Since honey is in the name, is it edible?

2.      Do they only grow in the fall?

3.      How tall can the tree grow?

Scientific Research:

Meehan, Thomas. On a White-Seeded Variety of the Honey Locust, Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, Vol. 37, (1885), pp. 404-405. Article Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/4061140

Since honey is in the, name is it edible?

Honey Locust trees, single specimens bear fruit annually, thus making the pods edible.

Websites:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honey_locust
http://www.treehelp.com/trees/locust/locust-types-honey.asp
http://www.cirrusimage.com/tree_honey_locust.htm
http://www.arborday.org/trees/treeguide/TreeDetail.cfm?ID=24

Duckweed (Lemnaoideae)

English and Scientific Name: Duckweed (Lemnaoideae)

Kingdom: Plantae

Phylum: Angiosperms

Class: Monocots

Observation: My first thought upon seeing this at the class trip was this looks like some sort of fungus.  Since it is in water I wonder what happens to it on ground?  It seemed to be grouped together so I assume that meant it was a lot.  It’s not like you can see 12 roses where you can count how many you have this duckweed looked as if you could only estimate how much was there and even that seems questionable.

Questions:

1.      Can it only live in water?

2.      Does it start out with stems and then fall off?

3.      With no stems how does it grow?

Scientific Research:

McLay, C.L. The Distribution of Duckweed Lemna Perpusilla in a Small Southern California Lake: An Experimental Approach, Ecology, Vol. 55, No. 2 (Mar., 1974), pp. 262-276.  Article Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1935215

Can it only live in water?

Duckweed is an aquatic plant and resides floating in water.  Additionally, it is an unrooted plant.

Websites:

http://www.mobot.org/jwcross/duckweed/duckweed.htm
http://www.naturia.per.sg/buloh/plants/duckweed.htm
http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/resources/documents/DW/Dw2.htmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duckweed

Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata)

English and Scientific Name: Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata)

Kingdom: Plantae

Phylum: Angiosperms

Class: Eudicots

Observation: What I learned about this is that it can actually grow in an infertile environment (wikidpedia.org, 2011).  I didn’t think it was possible for plants to grow in such an environment.  This is another organism that I viewed at the wildlife refuge. 

Questions:

1.      Is it edible?

2.      Why is it able to grown in infertile environments?

3.      Does it need water to grow?

Scientific Research:

Rey, Pedro. Spatio-Temporal Variation in Fruit and Frugivorous Bird Abundance in Olive Orchards, Ecology, Vol. 76, No. 5 (Jul., 1995), pp. 1625-1635. Article Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1938163.

Is it edible?

Yes, olive orchards play an important role in maintaining frugivorous bird populations in the Mediterranean area.

Websites:
http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/plants/autmnolive.shtml
http://www.in.gov/dnr/files/Autumn_Olive.pdf
http://mdc.mo.gov/landwater-care/invasive-species-management/invasive-plant-management/autumn-olive-control
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autumn_Olive

Stonefly (Plecoptera)



English and Scientific Name: Stoneflies (Plecoptera)

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Insecta

Observation: I saw this in during one of my many trips to Dunkin Donuts.  It was poised on the menu while I was ordering my items.  I immediately thought it was a grasshopper but after researching I found out that it wasn’t.  I realize so often if we are familiar with an organism if we see something that looks similar to the one we’re familiar with we automatically classify it as the familiar organism.  There are a myriad of organisms that we are just so unfamiliar with their existence.

Questions:

1.      Can it hear me?

2.      How did it end up here?

3.      Can they live in water?

Scientific Research:

Allan, J. David. Feeding Habits and Prey Consumption of Three Setipalpian Stoneflies (Plecoptera) in a Mountain Stream, Ecology, Vol. 63, No. 1 (Feb., 1982), pp. 26-34. Article Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1937027

Can they live in water?

Yes they can live in water but they cannot live in polluted water so if residing in water it has to be fresh water.

Websites:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plecoptera
http://bcadventure.com/adventure/angling/bugs/stonefly/stonefly.phtml
http://www.troutnut.com/hatch/13/Insect-Plecoptera-Stoneflies
http://bugguide.net/node/view/76