robogenesis's Journal

Currently subjects are anesthetized in 5% iso alcohol solution until unresponsive, euthanized in 91% iso alcohol, then dissected and photographed in water. Reproductive systems are preserved in ~80% iso alcohol after photographing. Isopropyl alcohol is used due to availability and cost.

Resources I'm using:

• GENITAL MORPHOLOGY DIFFERENTIATES THREE SUBSPECIES OF THE TERRESTRIAL SLUG ARION ATER (LINNÆUS, 1758) S.L. AND REVEALS A CONTINUUM OF INTERMEDIATES WITH THE INVASIVE A. VULGARIS MOQUIN-TANDON, 1855
• Slugs: A Guide to the Invasive and Native Fauna of California
• https://idtools.org/mollusk/index.cfm?packageID=1178&entityID=8188

With a 2' blacklight fixture, an RGB-LED lamp set to blue, and a simple fitted sheet on a PVC frame; These are the observations I've been able to make so far (plus several observations on the nearby moth-baited tree).

Took the bus up to Hurricane Ridge and hiked back down the Little River Trail. Longest hike I've done yet.

Hiked 11 hours, 10.5+ miles, took 6758 photos, used 1374 of them for 390 observations of 156 taxa (36 of them new to me).

An intermittently foggy and drizzly day, but absolutely beautiful regardless. There's so much in bloom! I didn't walk all that far but my quads are absolutely destroyed on account of the hundreds of squats I did to get photos of all the flowers.

Fun stats:
4.15 miles in 4:21, an average of 0.95mph.
3419 photos for 165 observations of 84 taxa (54 of them new to me).
13 photos per minute, 21 photos per observation, 40 photos per taxa.
A new observation every 133', a new taxa every 258'.

Made it halfway up the trail this time, there's some new things blooming and insects doing their things.

Walked 3 miles of the 7.7 mile Little River Trail. Total 6 miles in 6 hours, 232 observations of 103 species, including 40 species without previous observations along the trail.

I went for a walk today not really intending to document anything, but decided to take one photo of each species I saw. Of course I saw more than I thought I would, including what looks like Amanita pantherinoides that something devoured.

I'm also observing a honeysuckle that's quite literally growing something like 50 feet up a Douglas Fir. I'm pretty sure it's an orange honeysuckle, but I'm waiting for it to bloom to confirm.

I set out today looking for Giant White Fawn Lilies up the Elwha, and Miniature Lupine at Ediz Hook. Took the back route down Little River Rd and stopped in the DNR land to document the Pacific Dogwood along the road, and what do I find right out my door but Miniature Lupine!

After a quick stop I'm off to Madison Falls where I find that they're doing maintenance on the trail, so I explore the trailhead instead. Then I'm off up the Elwha, stopping every 100 feet to document something new. I intended to go farther, but my phone died after 1.5 miles with of all the photos I took. Oh well, guess I'll have to come back next time with a full charge and a battery bank... and maybe a bike.

Found my first morel (and conic morel) since I started mushroom hunting last fall. Spore printed and tissue cultured both (seemingly successfully).

I wasn't prepared for a real hike but before I knew it I was half-way there. Turns out it's not as bad when you stop every 50 feet to identify another species. In the end I decided not to push myself to the top on account of the shoes I was wearing and not bringing water, but I'll be back later to finish the job.