Forested Wetlands at the Watershed Center

The molluscs or mollusks/ˈmɒləsks/, compose the large phylum of invertebrate animals known as the phylum Mollusca. Around 85,000 extant species of molluscs are recognized. Molluscs are the largest marine phylum, comprising about 23% of all the named marine organisms. Numerous molluscs also live in freshwater and terrestrial habitats. They are highly diverse, not only in size and in anatomical structure, but also in behaviour and in habitat. The phylum is typically divided into 9 or 10... less ↑

The American toad (Bufo americanus) is a common species of toad found throughout the eastern United States and Canada. It is divided into three subspecies—the eastern American toad (B. a. americanus), the dwarf American toad (B. a. charlesmithi), and the rare Hudson Bay toad (B. a. copei). A new taxonomy considers this species Anaxyrus americanus. less ↑

Millipedes are myriapods of the class Diplopoda that have two pairs of legs on most body segments. Each double-legged segment is a result of two single segments fused together as one (the name "Diplopoda" comes from the Greek words διπλοῦς (diplous), "double" and ποδός (podos), "foot"). Most millipedes have very elongated cylindrical or flattened bodies with more than 20 segments, while pill millipedes are shorter and can roll into a ball, like a pillbug. less ↑

Identification
Eastern Newt is best identified by it’s bright orange color and black circles in two rows lengthwise down it’s back. These circles are filled by the same bright orange color that consumes the majority of the newts body. The newt grows to 1.75-2.75 inches long. The Eastern Newt's larvae are small and thin with a pale green-brown color, and a dark line through each eye and two rows of light spots on their back just like the mature newts. The mature male and female newts begin to gain a brown color as they age.

Niche
The Eastern Newt is a consumer. I know this because they get their energy from consuming other organisms such as worms, insects, small crayfish, amphibian eggs, fish eggs and more. This makes the newt a carnivore. The newt is important in an ecosystem, being a predator towards small invertebrates such as water fleas, snails, and all kinds of insects. The Eastern Newt is Prey for birds, mammals, and other amphibians although many organisms flee due to the newts toxic skin.

Sources:
http://www.biokids.umich.edu/critters/Notophthalmus_viridescens/
http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/eastern_newt.htm
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Notophthalmus_viridescens/ less ↑

Identification:
A crow lives just about everywhere. This includes woods, riversides, fields, parks and towns. You can often find crows in small groups (occasionally in large flocks). You can tell it is a crow rather than a raven by the voice and structure. A Common Raven can be 27” in length and have a wingspan of 46”. An American Crow can be 20” in length and have a wingspan of 36”. When the crow flies it has a steady rowing wing beats.

Niche:
The crow is a consumer because it eats insects. These insects include grasshoppers, beetles, spiders, crickets and locusts. They also eat roadkill. Unusual, but they also eat slaughterhouse waste and garbage. Whenever possible, crows will eat apples, beans, corn, cherries, peas, grapes, wheat, figs, and almonds. This helps the ecosystem because they can eat the “waste” in the ecosystem to keep it clean.

Sites or books:
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/page.aspx?pid=2501
http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/common_crow.htm http://diet.yukozimo.com/what-do-crows-eat/

Sibley Field Guide to Birds by David Sibley less ↑

Identification:
The purple martin is a kind of swallow, and is larger than other birds of its genus. From bill to the end of its short, forked-shaped tail is 20 centimeters or 7.9 inches. Male martins are fully black with a steel blue sheen. Female martins are dark on top with an off-white underside. Pre-adult males look very much like females, but solid black feathers emerge on their chest in a random pattern as they grow into their adulthood. Martins eat flying insects that they catch as they fly around. This bird rarely ever lands, other than to gather materials for making a nest. Martins are vulnerable to the cold and rain due to the fact that they have distantly migrated from North and Central America.

Niche:
The Purple Martins niche is to cut back the population of flying insects, by consuming them as they fly around. This bird is a consumer because it eats other organisms to get its energy. Being a consumer means you get your energy from consuming other organisms.

Purple Martin Sites: http://thenatureniche.com/2013/05/29/purple-martin/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purple_Martin
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/purple_martin/lifehistory less ↑

Identification:
The snapping turtles have a large head and a strong beak instead of teeth. The edge of their jaws are sharp to rip apart food. Their tail is armored by dermal scales. The carapace has laterally reduced pleurals. The shell is covered by dermal scutes that create a horny armor on the turtle’s shell. Their feet are webbed and have 4 to 5 claws on each of their feet.

Niche
The snapping turtle is a consumer and a omnivore. Snapping turtles eat plants, small fish, snakes, insects, frogs, small birds and will even eat dead animals or other turtles.

Sources:
http://www.what-do-turtles-eat.info/what-do-snapping-turtles-eat/ less ↑

.Identification:
Common garter snakes can be identified by their 3 lengthwise stripes on the body (these stripes are mostly yellow, but can also be brown, green or black). The ground color is usually dark brown but may be black, green, or olive. Adults can reach 18-54 inches.

Niche:
The garter snake is a consumer because it eats and doesn't produce anything. The garter eats worms, slugs, larval amphibians, some insects, small fish, nestling birds, and small mammals. The garter snake spends most of its time baking in the sun. This snake is found across North America.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Garter_Snake less ↑

Identification
The spotted salamander is identified by the large, round, yellow spots on its back. They attach their eggs to the undersides of rocks. It also has vertical grooves on its sides.

Niche
The spotted salamander is a consumer because it eats worms, grubs, and other small insects. That makes it a carnivore. It has poison glands that makes it so snakes, squirrels, opossums. chipmunks, raccoons, turtles and skunks won't eat them.

Sources:
Reptiles and Amphibians by Herbert S. Zim and Hobart M. Smith
http://www.animalfactguide.com/animal-facts/spotted-salamander/ less ↑

Identification:
You can identify the wood frog by its size and color. They have dark brown and black stripes around their eyes. Their size varies from 1.5 inches to 2.5 inches. They also have webbed toes. You can usually tell the difference from the male and female by their size. Another way to tell a female from a male is the female is more or a reddish white and males are just white under belly and neck.

Energy Role:
The wood frog is a consumer because it eats insects, snails, worms, spiders and some small fish. It’s a consumer because it doesn’t produce anything but also doesn’t decompose anything. Frogs are usually carnivores but some aren’t. Wood frogs play a specific role in their ecosystem. less ↑