Forested Wetlands at the Watershed Center

Trillium grandiflorum (common names white trillium, great white trillium, white wake-robin, French trille blanc) is a species of flowering plant in the family Melanthiaceae. A monocotyledonous, herbaceous perennial, it is native to eastern North America, from northern Quebec to the southern parts of the United States through the Appalachian Mountains into northernmost Georgia and west to Minnesota. It also thrives on Vancouver Island. There are also several disjunctive populations, such as in Nova Scotia and Iowa. less ↑

Sphagnum is a genus of approximately 120 species of mosses. Sphagnum accumulations can store water, since both living and dead plants can hold large quantities of water inside their cells; plants may hold from 16-26 times as much water as their dry weight depending on the species. The empty cells help retain water in drier conditions. Hence, as sphagnum moss grows, it can slowly spread into drier conditions, forming larger peatlands, both raised bogs and blanket... less ↑

Dryopteris /draɪˈɒptərɨs/, commonly called wood fern, male fern (referring in particular to Dryopteris filix-mas), or buckler fern, is a genus of about 250 species of ferns with distribution in the temperate Northern Hemisphere, with the highest species diversity in eastern Asia. Many of the species have stout, slowly creeping rootstocks that form a crown, with a vase-like ring of fronds. The sori are round, with a peltate indusium. The stipes have prominent scales. less ↑

Tilia americana is a species of Tilia native to eastern North America, from southeast Manitoba east to New Brunswick, southwest to northeast Texas, and southeast to South Carolina, and west along the Niobrara River to Cherry County, Nebraska. Common names include American Linden and Basswood (also applied to other species of Tilia in the timber trade). less ↑

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 ↑

Identification

The Eastern Hemlock is the most blue-green conifer of them all. It’s branches wilt towards the ground. Each needle has two white bands running lengthwise on the top and bottom of the needle. The needles grow in rows on either side of the twig on which they are growing. The needles are flat. The tree in its general shape looks like an upside down cone. The bark is scaly and has a purplish-brown color.

Niche
The Eastern Hemlock is a producer. I know this because they make their own food; converting sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water. They provide food for porcupine which eats the Hemlock's bark, along with red squirrel. Unfortunately the tree also is considered home to invasive insects known as hemlock woolly adelgid and elongate hemlock scale which feed on it’s wood.

The Eastern Hemlock grows best is cool moist climates without an abundance of sunlight. Hemlocks grow best in areas with many other trees, which provide shade. The reason Hemlock grows best in wetlands is because the soil is constantly saturated. Eastern Hemlocks often grow from a decaying stump or tree. The Hemlock serves as shelter for many animals including birds and other small animals. (Ex. Red Squirrel)

Sources
http://www.cornellplantations.org/our-gardens/natural-areas/invasive/hemlock-woolly-adelgid
http://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/sites/harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/files/publications/pdfs/orwig_Sierran_2008.pdf 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 ↑

Onoclea sensibilis, the sensitive fern, also known as the bead fern, is a coarse-textured, medium to large-sized deciduous perennial fern. The name comes from the observation by early American settlers that it was very sensitive to frost, the fronds dying quickly when first touched by it. It is sometimes treated as the only species in Onoclea, but some authors do not consider the genus monotypic. 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:

The Black Willow tree can be 30 to 60 feet tall. Also, the Black Willow has soft wood. Its fine-grained wood is used to make artificial limbs, boxes, caning and baskets. These trees are found along many streams. The Black Willow’s branches are spreading branches and it has a dark trunk. Thin narrow leaves often have stipules like tiny heart-shaped collars at the base. The flowers are called catkins. They are less puffy than those of a pussy willow tree. Male and female flowers are borne on separate trees and form small hairy seeds.

Niche
The Black Willow is a producer. It is a producer because it gives food to other plants and animals. The Black Willow is also a producer because it makes oxygen. This helps the ecosystem because it gives the animals that eat the tree energy and oxygen. The oxygen is for all living things. If we didn't have any trees we wouldn't be here on this earth because there would be no oxygen for us to breathe.

Sites or books:

Trees: A Guide to Familiar American Trees by Herbert S. Zim and Alexander C. Martin 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:
Eastern White Pines are evergreen trees and have straight trunks, with smooth, gray bark. The needles on this tree grow in a clump of 5 and each one grows to about 5 inches. Instead of flowers, this tree has small, yellow cones. The “fruit” of this tree are large, brown pine cones. This pine tree in particular is a softwood tree, and can live over 400 years. The Eastern White Pine used to cover most of northeast North America. This tree can grow to 164.0 to 188.8 feet. It grows 1 meter in the “ages” 15 to 45.

Niche:
The niche of this organism is to create shelter, shade and energy for other organisms, which makes it a producer. Being a producer means you get your energy directly from the sun, and give your energy to other organisms. The young trees get eaten by white tailed deer. American Bald Eagles love to nest in this tree.

Eastern White Pine Sites: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinus_strobus
http://plants.usda.gov/factsheet/pdf/fs_pist.pdf
http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/eastern_white_pine.htm 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:
Red maple usually have a narrow compact crown. Red maple can grow to a height of 60 feet or more. Leaves are deciduous. Leaves are 2.5 to 4 inches long. They are usually green and slippery.

Niche: The red maple is a producer. It takes in carbon-dioxide, sun and water, it then releases oxygen. It provides shelter for other animals. Fungi can grow on the trunks. This tree is one of the most common and widespread deciduous trees in north america. They are often found in swamps and in poor dry soil conditions.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acer_rubrum 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
The pitch pine can be identified by the needles. They are in groups of three. It is a medium sized tree. The needles are about 11/2” - 5” long. The branches are often thick.

Niche
The pitch pine is a producer. I know this because it makes its own food. Sprouts and seeds are for deer, cottontail rabbits, and meadow mice. Birds including quail, chickadees and juncos eat pine seeds as mice do also. They can be shelter from rain. It can also provide shade. 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 ↑