28 de julio de 2024

Help with Letters to a Pre-Scienist!

It's time to sign up to be pen pal with Letters to a Pre-scientist. This program pairs people in STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) fields to correspond with a student, usually in middle school, about college, careers, life. It's worthwhile. Sign up here: https://prescientist.org/register/

Publicado el 28 de julio de 2024 por sedgequeen sedgequeen | 0 comentarios | Deja un comentario

04 de junio de 2024

Having too much fun with iNaturalist

Some people in Arizona are having far too much fun with iNaturalist. Take a look at this map of Creosote Bush, Larrea tridentata, a dominant plant of the Sonoran Desert. Each dot = 1 posted observation. Zoom in on an area east of the southern end of the border of Arizona and Mexico. 🙂

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=129627&subview=map&taxon_id=68205

(There's another north and east of those.)

Publicado el 04 de junio de 2024 por sedgequeen sedgequeen | 3 comentarios | Deja un comentario

27 de marzo de 2024

The node on bamboo stems

I thought that the leaves on branches would be important for identifying bamboos. I was mostly wrong. Much more important are culms (main stems) and the sheaths on them.

Culms consist of nodes where buds and branches originate and internodes between them. In most bamboos, the internodes are cylindrical, uninterrupted, hollow cylinders. Between internodes are the nodes (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/24976209). Branches originate at nodes (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/188842578). Nodes are solid and have a couple of rings. The next paragraphs explain node architecture, staring at the bottom of the node.

The sheath scar is the place where the culm leaf sheath was attached. It is usually dark, differing in color, often protruding a bit (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/193091108). Occasionally it involves two close-together, parallel lines (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/193091108), depending on sheath thickness or how it detaches. The sheath scar may be horizontal (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/24976209) or tilted ( https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/195794898 ).

The node itself is above the sheath scar. It starts within the sheath so is a bit narrower than the scar but becomes wider as it grows up, a slight inverted pyramid (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/193091108, https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/195794898). Sometimes it's nearly cylindrical.

The supranodal (or nodal) ridge (or ring) is actually part of the node itself. It's a thickened ridge of tissue from which the branch buds may emerge. It is a shape, not be any line of tissue on the surface. Sometimes shading makes it obvious and sometimes there is also a difference in color https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/(https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/193091108). It may be exaggerated so it seem distorted, wider than the sheath scar (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/189532708) or about equal to the sheath scar (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/188401643) or in some species it's not present and the area is just a cylinder. The sheath scar and supernodal ring may be close together (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/195794147) or farther apart (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/193091108).

Branch number turns out to be more important than I ever would have guessed. Some species have one per node (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/186581970), e.g. Pseudosasa and Pleioblastus. The common genus Phyllostachys is characterized by having 2 branches per node, sometimes with a third, smaller branch (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/188842578). Some bamboos have several branches per node (e.g. Samiarundinaria fastuosa, https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/195794898, and Bashania fargesia, https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/193091108). In any species, the lower nodes often lack branches (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/188401648).

I'll include a couple of internode traits that involve nodes. In that distinctive genus Phyllostachys, the internode is grooved from one node to the next, the groove originating just above a branch (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/188842578, https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/195795204). Lower parts of culms often don't have branches, and if they don't, they lack grooves, too (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/191824162); look higher up to find them. Leaf sheath often fall off the culm quickly; they're early deciduous (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/191824162, e.g. on Phyllostachys) or they may be retained, sometimes for years (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/197501761, e.g. for Pseudosasa). Sometimes they are tardily dehiscent; they detach on the sides but stay attached at the middle and often stay on for a year or so (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/189532707, e.g. Bashania and Semiarundiaria.).

Publicado el 27 de marzo de 2024 por sedgequeen sedgequeen | 0 comentarios | Deja un comentario

07 de diciembre de 2023

DNA for Identification

What if results of DNA sequencing don't match result of morphology (eg. the organism's appearance in iNaturalist photos)?

The bits of DNA that are sequenced tell you a lot about the relationships between the bits of DNA. That often, but not always, tells about the relationships between the organisms. Why not? Most often, incomplete gene sorting. The population of the common ancestor included both variations in the DNA -- let's call them A and B. In the ancestors of one species, A was lost. In the ancestors of the other, most A was lost and B predominates, but A still exists in low numbers. Thus sampling any single individual can be misleading.

Other possibilities include past hybridization followed by backcrossing, or some kind of horizontal gene transfer. Also, even the best of labs can have occasional incidents of contamination. (Sorry, but that can't be completely excluded from just one run.) Also, though it isn't as much a problem now as in the early days of PCR, the PCR reaction can become highly biased if the first cycle copies some untypical DNA sequence, perhaps from an organism's surface or from its last dinner, and that gets amplified. Also, though I hate to say it, we have probably all mislabeled a photo from time to time.

People forget that DNA sequences are genetic markers but structures of teeth and genitalia and other structures, even many behaviors, are also genetic markers. So is color pattern (though it may be a highly variable genetic marker in some species). Relying on just one marker is a kind of shorthand, good enough in most cases but sometimes misleading.

Publicado el 07 de diciembre de 2023 por sedgequeen sedgequeen | 1 comentario | Deja un comentario

14 de julio de 2023

Correspond with a student through Letters to a Pre-Scientist

Letters to a Pre-Scientist is a program that pairs students (about 6th through 9th grade, but if varies) with people involved in science, technology, engineering, or math (professionals, grad students, etc.). It's a great program. It's sign-up time! Please participate! See https://prescientist.org/

Through the program, the student writes four letters (physical letters) to you over the course of the school year and you respond to each one. Many of the kids have never written or received a letter before. The hope is that you'll make science seem more accessible to the student, but just corresponding with an adult is a learning experience for them.

On-line training is required, some time in August.

All students in each class participate, so you may hear from excellent students or really poor ones. Classes are usually in financially stressed areas.

Please participate in this program.

Publicado el 14 de julio de 2023 por sedgequeen sedgequeen | 1 comentario | Deja un comentario

21 de junio de 2023

Show Me The Other Side!

When I'm trying to identify a willow observation, I may need to see the underside of the leaf, but too often no such view is provided. I can't reach through the internet to flip that leaf! I depend on you, the observer. Please flip it for me. Please. Below are some examples where seeing both sides is important.

Leaves. Show the upper and lower surface. For some species, we'd like the view of the lower surface to be close enough view to see the hairs. Of course, the camera may not cooperate with that.

Flowers. We all love beautiful photos of the front of a flower. However, identification may require information about the sepals or phillaries or the flower shape, so also get a photo of the side or back of the flower. (And don't forget to include leaf photos! The flower may not be enough for ID.)

Galls. Identification is much improved if we can see how the gall is shaped on both upper and lower side of the leaf. So flip the leaf and photo both sides.

Butterflies. Both the upper and lower side of butterfly wings may be useful for identification and if you don't know what genus it's in, you don't know which side is more important. So photo both sides if possible. Obviously, you can't flip a live butterfly over, but if you wait a bit, the butterfly may move enough that you can get a photo of top and bottom. (Sometimes the butterfly just will not expose both sides. Go ahead and post what you have. This is often enough for ID, but not always.)

Dead birds, snakes, turtles, frogs, etc. Animals are rarely polite enough to die with their most identifiable side up, so it the corpse is relatively fresh, photo the obvious side and then, please, use your foot or a stick to flip it, then photo that other side. Please do NOT flip and post really gross dead animals. (Or if you do post them, post something non-gross as the first photo, even if that's just a cropped picture of a bit its tail or toe.)

Mushrooms and shelf fungi. Seeing the top surface is important, of course, but we need to know if the fungus has gills or pores, and sometimes details of those structures, so please show the lower surface. A photo of the stem of the mushroom may be useful, too. You may need other, microscopic features, too, but that's another issue.

Lichens. Identification is likely to require seeing both top and bottom of any flat lichen.

Snails (including sea shells). Take three photos, showing the top, the bottom, and the side. The side photo should show the opening where the snail body is or was.

Slugs. Besides the top view, get one of the right side, the side with the opening slugs that breathe through. In a few cases, you need a photo of the bottom of the slug's foot, too, though I admit I usually don't disturb the animal that much.

Clams. If the clam is alive, make sure you get the side and the hinge area. If you're dealing with empty shells, get the outside and inside, making sure you show well the area near the hinge inside.

Different species may have different requirements for identification. In general, get at least two photos when possible, including a general view as well as close-up(s). That said, if you have an idea what it is, you may know that one view is important and others are not. We'll always try to ID with what you give us, but sometimes we do need your help to see more of the organism.

Publicado el 21 de junio de 2023 por sedgequeen sedgequeen | 8 comentarios | Deja un comentario

31 de mayo de 2023

Too much a botanist

"Stranded Tuber Rescued" cried the headline on the first page of the newspaper. I wondered, what species? How did it become stranded and what does that mean for a tuber? Why was it rescued; is it rare? Turns out the tuber was a man riding an innertube down a river. Aargh!

Publicado el 31 de mayo de 2023 por sedgequeen sedgequeen | 10 comentarios | Deja un comentario

12 de abril de 2023

Bamboo Identification in Oregon and Washington (preliminary)

So far, we have found five wild and quasi-wild bamboo in Oregon and Washington. They are Arrow Bamboo (Pseudosasa japonica), Broad-leaf Bamboo (Sasa palmata), and members of the genus Phyllostachys. Obviously, we will be very interested to see observations of additional species in our area.

Phyllostachys species have a groove or flat surface extending up the stem from one node to the next. The leaf sheaths low on the stems fall of early. They typically have 2 branches per node on the main stem. Pseudosasa japonica and Sasa palmata lack that groove and have persistent leaf sheaths. I think both have just one branch per node; I'm sure Ps. japonica does. Pseudosasa is a taller, sturdier species with small, narrow leaves (to 2 inches, 5 cm, wide). Sasa palmata is shorter and more slender and has broader leaves (to 3.5 inches, 9 cm, wide).

Although the name Common Bamboo (Bambusa vulgaris) is commonly applied to Oregon and Washington observations, it is not common and probably not escaping (if present) in these states.

Note: We're at the very beginning of the learning curve for bamboo identification. We're improving, but so far we have just enough knowledge to be dangerous, so take any ID's we make with a grain of salt.

[Edited April 16. We are learning.]

Publicado el 12 de abril de 2023 por sedgequeen sedgequeen | 0 comentarios | Deja un comentario

Bamboo in Oregon and Washington

My colleagues and I are trying to figure out which bamboo species are growing wild or quasi-wild in Oregon and Washington, and to map where they grow. Would you please help us by posting appropriate bamboo sightings in these two states?

We are most interested in wild bamboo that are spreading down waterways or were plants spread accidentally by human activities (earth moving, dumping yard waste). We also want to know about quasi-wild bamboo forming long-abandoned stands that have spread within their site (e.g. in abandoned home sites). We have some interest in plants that have spread from cultivation less extensively (e.g. into an adjacent road ditch or under a sidewalk), but we are not interested in clones that have spread a little in a garden or into adjacent property.

What to photo? (1) The whole plant. (2) The main stems, showing stem color, persisting leaf sheaths (if present), tops of those leaf sheaths, and color or structures at nodes. (Node = the thickened ring where leaves or branches originate.) A photo with your hand or some other standard can help tell how wide the main stems are. In one species here, the lowest few stem internodes (places between nodes) are very short, much shorter than most internodes; photo that if you notice it. (3) The number of branches that grow from one node on the main stem. (4) Leaf shape. (5) The bases of leaf blades, where there may be conspicuous hairs. Their presence or absence can be a useful clue for identification. (6) The rhizomes (horizontal stems) if visible, but no need to dig for them. (7) If you find new shoots growing up this year, photo the sheaths and those projections, vestigial leaf blades, that grow at the sheath tip.

Comments can help. Estimate plant height, if possible. (Or show a person standing near the bamboo, for scale.) Bamboo stems may be absolutely smooth, as if enameled, or may be minutely scabrous (rough). If rough, they may feel rough when running your hand up or down the stem or only one way. Please describe. Are the leaves green or glaucous (blue-green or gray-green) on the upper and/or lower surface?

Some wild stands have Bamboo Mites, genus Stigmaeopsis, (e.g. https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/152900504 ). These don't matter to our project, but they can give you a second observation at the site, if you want. Be careful not to spread the mites to cultivated bamboo stands.

Publicado el 12 de abril de 2023 por sedgequeen sedgequeen | 1 observación | 0 comentarios | Deja un comentario

30 de noviembre de 2022

On Identifying Queen Anne's Lace (= Wild Carrot = Daucus carota)

iNaturalist has over 14,000 "needs ID" observations of Daucus in North America, although we have only two Daucus species and one (D. carota) is abundant and usually easily identified. Please help get more of these identified!

Here are some things I learned when working on this.

A. Daucus carota has an array of tiny white flowers, the ones on the outer edges a little enlarged. Lots of other plants have the same pattern, so this by itself isn't enough for identification.

B. Daucus carota often has a dark purple flower in the very center. If present, this allows identification! (in North America) Its absence means nothing, though. Example: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/143044211

C. The bracts at the base of the flower cluster (compound umbel) in Daucus carota are moderately long and have 3 to 7 slender lobes. Example: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/142548223 This is unusual in North American members of the Carrot Family, so if the plant looks good otherwise, this will tip me over to identifying it as D. carota.

D. The nest-like structure formed as the seeds mature is distinctive -- the easiest way to identify Daucus carota! Example: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/143284547 Late in the fall, the outer branches may spread out again. CAUTION: Visnaga daucoides, introduced to California and the Gulf Coast has slender nest-like fruiting heads, but each has a whole tangle of many, many bracts at the base and the seeds have very short bristles. CAUTION: In the native annual Daucus pusillus the fruiting structure is similar but flatter, more cup-like, and very dense, with shorter bracts with short lobes.

E. Daucus carota stems are coarsely hairy. That's not enough to identify one, but it it's smooth, it's not D. carota.

F. In the Carrot Family, leaves are often useful for identification. Unfortunately, Daucus carota leaves look a lot like those of some other species, including the weed Scandix pecten-veneris. (On the other hand, leaves that look like D. carota leaves and are posted as D. carota leaves usually are D. carota leaves . . . . )

Similar species:

The Texas endemic Daucosma laciniata has pinnately divided bracts and bractlets like Daucus carota. It differs in having much less divided leaves and glabrous fruits, and its inflorescences don't form a nest-like structure in fruit.

Daucus pusillus is smaller, lacks the purple center flower, and has more divided bracts that usually have blunt tips and are usually longer than the cluster of flowers or fruits. It grows on both coasts. It also grows along the Gulf Coast and north to at least Oklahoma.

Visnaga daucoides (= Ammi visnaga), introduced to California and the Gulf Coast has slender nest-like fruiting heads, but each has a whole tangle of many, many bracts at the base and the seeds have very short bristles.

Publicado el 30 de noviembre de 2022 por sedgequeen sedgequeen | 8 comentarios | Deja un comentario
Vida Silvestre es una entidad asociada a la Organización Mundial de Conservación