Natural History of PWS AK

Summary of Mineral Creek Summer 2011

2011-06-16T21:14:00.000-08:00

Time: 6:00-9:00 pm
Date: Wednesday 8 June, 2011
Place: Mineral Creek and Bog
Weather: Light wind, light rain, and cloudy

Plants:

Sitka Alder---Alnus viridis

Sitka Willow---Salix sitchensis

Sitka Valerian- Valerina sitchensis

Black Cotton Wood- Populus trichocarpa

Dwarf Dog Wood- Cornus pumila

Trailing Black Currant---Ribes laxiflorum

Red Berry Eilder---Sambucus racemosa L.

Fireweed- Epilobium angustifolium

Large Leaf Avens- Geum macrophyllum
Common Dandelions- Taraxacum
Fireweed- Epilobium angustifolium
Forget-me-not- Myosotis
Narcissus Flower Anemone- Anemone narcissiflora
Salmon Berry- Rubus spectabilis

Alaska Spiraea- Spiraea beauverdiana
Shepherd's Purse- Capsella bursa-pastoris
Trailing Black Currant- Ribes laxiflorum

Marsh Violet- Viola palustris
Wild Iris- Iris missouriensis
Chocolate Lilly- Fritillaria biflora
Sundew- Drosera
Nagoon Berry- Rubus arcticus
Star Flower- Borago officinalis

Crow Berry- Empetrum

Narcissus Anemone---Anemone narcissiflora

Cloud Berry- Rubus chamaemorus
Bog Blueberry- Vaccinium myrtillus

Marsh Cinquefoil---Potentilla palustris

Alaska Violet- Viola langsdorfii fisch
High Bush Cranberry- Viburnum trilobum

Bog Cranberry- Vaccinium oxycoccos

Devil's Club-Oplopanax horridus
Northern Red Currant- Ribes triste
Spiny Wood Fern- Dryopteris expansa
Cow Parsnip- Heracleum maximum
Smooth Alumroot- Heuchera glabra

Kelloggs Sedge---Carex Kelloggii

Horse Tail- Equisetum
False Hellebore- Veratrum viride
Bog Labrador's Tea- Rhododendron groenlandicum
Fern- Matteuccia struthiopterisSphagnum Moss
Fir Club Moss- Huperzia selago

Animals:

Bald Eagle- Haliaeetus leucocephalus

Caterpillar- Lepidoptera spp.
Violet Green Swallows- Tachycineta thalassina

This was a great trip, there was lots to be seen even before we arrived at the bog. The bog itself was amazing, full of mosses and a couple of wildflowers. This was the first time most of us had seen a sundew. On our way back we identified a couple more species, and the mosquitoes weren’t out as bad as they were on the way in.

Summary of Worthington Glacier Summer 2011

2011-06-16T18:37:00.002-08:00

Worthington Glacier

Plants

Fireweed---Eqilobium angustifolium

Sitka Alder---Alnus sinuata

Variable Willow---Salix commutata

Black Cottonwood---Populus trichocarpa

Creatures

Mew Gulls---Larus canus

Dwarf Willow- Saliz herbaccea

Crowberry - Empetrum nigrum

Artic willow- Salix arctica

Common Dandelion- Taraxacum officinale

Corral lichen- Cladia retipora

The glacier was an interesting trip. It is a very important place for a natural history student to visit, because this whole area was carved by ice, much like that one. It was cool identifying all of the pieces of the glacier and glacial area. The most interesting part of this area was simply the lack of plant life. Of course there isn't much for a reason, but it was cool to see the willows and dwarf fireweed doing what they are known for.

Summary of Thompson Pass Summer 2011

2011-06-16T18:30:00.003-08:00

Thursday 6/9/11

4:00PM-8:00PM

Cloudy, 53F, 11mph winds, Very little sunshine

Wildflowers

Common dandelion- Taraxacum officinale

Dwarf blueberry- Vaccinium cespitosum

Lapland diapensia- Diapensia lapponica

Mountain avens- Dryas octopetala

Kamchatcha Rockcrest- Arabis kamchatica

Crowberry -Empetrum

Labrador tea -Ledum groenlandicum

Mountain buttercup -Ranunculus populago
Small flower paintbrush- Castillja coccinea
Alpine azalea- Loiseleuria procumbens

Alpine blueberry- Vaccinium uliginosum L

Bell heather- Erica cinerea

Narcissus Flower Annenome Anemone narcissiflora

Villous Cinquefoil- Potentilla villosa

Starflower- Trientalis borealis
Alp lily- Lloydia serotina

Alpine bearberry- Arctostaphylos alpina

Pale gentian- Glaucous gentian

Blackish oxytrope- Oxytropis nigrescens

Mosses

Fir clubmoss- Huperzia selago

Moss heather- Cassiope mertensiana

Moss campion- Silene acaulis

Star campylium moss -Campylium stellatum

Moss heather-Cassiope mertensiana

Insects

Bumble Bee-Bombus

Birds

Bald Eagle- Haliaeetus leucocephalus

Lichens

Frogs pelt-Peltigera neopolydactyla

Star-tipped reindeer lichen cladina stellaris

Witches hair lichen- Alectoria ochroleuca

Cetraria nivalis

Red Capped Lichen-Cladonia cristatella

False Pixie Cup-Cladonia chlorophaea

Shrubs

Dwarf willow- Salix herbacea

Arctic willow- Salix arctica

Low-bush cranberry Vaccinium vitis-idaea

This was the very last trip that we took. It was one of the most interesting trips because we were able to see tundra plant life, and really see how they exist. Understand things like why they grow so small and why they will branch out in more peculiar ways. It was an impressive variety of plants in such small areas and a surprising amount of them were wildflowers. A very cool place with a great life system.

Summary of Shoup Bay Trail Summer 2011

2011-06-16T17:51:00.002-08:00

Thursday, 5/26/11

Sunny, 68 Degrees

Trees:

Black Cottonwood- Populus trichocarpa

Sitka Alder- Alunus viridis

Shrubs:

Salmonberry- Rubus spectabilis

Red Elder- Sambucus nigra
Felt Leaf Willow- Salix Alaxensis

Red Current- Ribes triste

Scoulers Willows-Salix scouleriana

Nettles-Urtica Species

Scoulers Willows-Salix scouleriana

smooth leaf-Saxifraga integrifolia

schoulers willow-Salix scouleriana

Northern Red Current- Ribes triste

Devils Club- Oplopanax horridus

Alaskan Blueberry- Vaccinium alaskaense

Twisted Stalk- Streptopus amplexifolius

Wildflowers & grasses

False Indian Corn- Veratrum viride

Cow Parsnip- Heracleum maximum

Skunk Cabbage- Lysichition americanus

Ostrich Ferns- Matteuccia struthiopteris

Oak Fern- Gymnocarpium dryopteris

Fireweed-Chamerion angustifolium

Alaskan Violets-Viola langsdorfii

Stream Violets-Viola glabella

Watermelon Berry-Streptopus amplexifolius

Chocolate Lily-Fritillaria Camschatcencis

False Lilly of the Valley- Maianthemum dilatatum

Monkshood- Aconitum Napellus

Purple Iris-Iris germanica

Shooting Star-Hydrangea macrophylla

Meadow Barley-Hordeum brachyantherum

Yarrow-Achillea millefolium

Arctic Rush- Juncus arcticus

stream violet- Viola glabella

wild geranium-Geranium maculatum

marsh cinquefoil- Potentilla palustris

beach greens-Arenaria peploides

Horsetail- Equisetum arvense

Goats Beard- Aruncus dioicus

Spiny Wood Fern- Dryopteris expansa

Smooth Alumroot- Huechera glabra

Monks Root- Lewisia redivia

Arctic Dock- Rumex arcticus

Nagoon Berry- Rubus arcticus

Lichens:

pin cushion orange lichen-Xanthoria polycarpa

insects:

Water Strider---Gerridae

Bumble Bee—Bombus

Spider Mite---Tetranynchus urticae Koch

Birds:

Raven---Corvus corax

Mew Gull---Larus canus

American Robin---Turdus migratorius

This was probably my favorite trail. It was long and it was super hot outside but it was beautiful. We saw so many things that we hadn't before and the trail has so many different areas. There was a giant tree that took almost the whole class to hug the whole trunk. I ended up shin deep in mud, which was also very exciting. Eventually I want to walk to walk the whole trail.

Summary of Gilahina Trail Summer 2011

2011-06-16T16:54:00.002-08:00

Friday 6/3/11

Sunny 68F

Trees:

Quaking aspen- Populus tremuloides

Green alder- Alnus viridis

Paper birch- Betula papyrifera

White Spruce---Picea glauca

Shrubs:

Wild Strawberry- Fragaria vesca

Lowbush Cranberry- Vaccinium vitis-idaea

Bearberry- Arctostaphylos

Wildflowers & Grasses:

Fireweed- Chamerion latifolium

Bastard toad flax- Comandra umbellata

Twin flower- Linnaea borealis

Tall lungwort- Mertensia bella

Narcissus flowered anenome- Anenome coronaria

Broomrape- Boschniakia rossica

Common Pink Wintergreen---Pyrola asarifolia

Yellow Anemone---Anemone ranunculoides

Dwarf Jacob's Ladder- Polemonium boreale

Dwarf Fireweed- Chamerion latifolium

Labrador Tea---Rhododendron groenlandicum

Wild Rose- Rosa virginiana

Horse Tail- Equisetum

Lichens:

Powdered Orange Lichen---Teloschistes flavicans

We stopped for lunch by Gilahina Creek and it had a neat little trail that right by the creek. We were all exhausted because this was the last trail we went on as we were heading home from our three day trip to McCarthy. Most of the plants there were ones that we had already identified, but there were some new once like the broomrape. It was a really nice, relaxing spot and I'm glad that we stopped there.

Fragaria vesca

2011-06-13T18:47:00.003-08:00

The wild strawberry can be found in Alaska along with the rest of the northern hemisphere. It is a very tolerant plant that can withstand varying levels of water as well as soil quality. The further south you find the wild strawberry the more shade tolerant, the further north the more sunlight tolerant. It is a flowering ground level fruiting plant that shoots runners as well growing from seed banks in the soil. Humans and most other alskan animals such as voles, birds, and bears love this fruit. The wild strawberry blooms in mid-spring and starts to produce fruit throughout the summer. Wild strawberries have documented throughout history as favorite of the people even during the roman empire. In europes past villagers used to string wild strawberries to the horns of their cattle as an offering to elves.

Resources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wild_strawberry

http://www.plantpropagation.homehydroponics.info/seed-propagation/wild-strawberries-interesting-facts-about-the-virginia-strawberry

http://urbanext.illinois.edu/strawberries/history.cfm

Gilahina Creek

2011-06-13T18:21:00.002-08:00

Firday, June 3, 2011, 2:45 pm- 4:00 pm
Sunny, patchy clouds
Temp: 68 degrees

Plants:
Wild Strawberry- Fragaria vesca
Fireweed- Chamerion latifolium
Bastard toad flax- Comandra umbellata
Quaking aspen- Populus tremuloides
Twin flower- Linnaea borealis
Tall lungwort- Mertensia bella
Narcissus flowered anenome- Anenome coronaria
Green alder- Alnus viridis
Paper birch- Betula papyrifera
Broomrape- Boschniakia rossica

This creek was very beautiful with multiple game trails. This was the firstplace that I had found wild strawberries in the wilderness. Despite others hestitation to explore this area I am glad that we got the opportunity.

Alp Lily

2011-06-11T14:41:00.003-08:00

The Alp lily, scientifically known as Lloydia serotina, was not always called that it was first named mountain spiderwort. This flower Starts out looking like a piece of dark grass and gets to be about 6 inches tall, but then in June a six petal white flower, with brown purplish veins blooms. The stem only has about two long thin leaves. Alp lily grows in rocky terrain, mountain tops and sense it grows high up on mountains it’s not eaten much by animals. Places like North America, the western states, throughout Alaska, Great Britain and New México. In the British Isles global warming is affecting the life of the alp lily, scientist say that it might be the first of the plant family to be extinct there.

http://science.halleyhosting.com/nature/basin/3petal/lily/lloydia/lloydia.htm

http://montana.plant-life.org/species/lloydia_sero.htm

http://www.enature.com/flashcard/show_flash_card.asp?recordNumber=WF0448

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lloydia_serotina

Alpine Azalea

2011-06-10T22:58:00.002-08:00

Loiseleuria procumbens is found is the tundra. This plant grows in mats. It only grows up to 15cm because of the short growing season on the tundra. It has tiny leaves that grow very close together with pink or white flowers. They often grow with lapland diapensia.

http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=LOPRhttp://www.fossweb.com/CA/modules3-6/StructuresofLife/activities/organism_cards/tundra.pdf

Thompson Pass/Worthington

2011-06-10T22:02:00.003-08:00

Thursday 6/9/11

4:00PM-8:00PM

Cloudy, 53F, 11mph winds

dwarf willow- Salix herbacea

crow berries- Empetrum rubrum

narcissus flowered anemone- Anemone narcissiflora

arctic willow- Salix arctica

common dandelion- Taraxacum officinale

green map lichen- Rhizocarpon geographicum

blackish oxytrope- Oxytropis nigrescens

low bush cranberry- Vaccinium vitis-idaea

dwarf blueberry- Vaccinium cespitosum

bell heather- Erica cinerea

alpine azalea- Loiseleuria procumbens

fir clubmoss- Huperzia selago

lapland diapensia- Diapensia lapponica

mountain avens- Dryas octopetala

Labrador tea- Ledum groenlandicum

frogs pelt- Peltigera neopolydactyla

alp lily- Lloydia serotina

small flowered painbrush- Castillja coccinea

moss campion- Silene acaulis

pale gentian- glaucous gentian

sitka alder- Alnus viridis

dwarf fireweed- Chamerion latifolium

Kamchatcha Rockcrest- Arabis kamchatica

black cottonwood- Populus trichocarpa

variable willow- Salix viminalis

There were a lot of cool things growing up on the pass. It was the only opportunity we had to explore the tundra. We were able to identify a lot of plants that we hadn't seen before. Most of the plants on the tundra are shorter than the ones we've seen before. The willows were very cool because we got to see the exposed roots that grow out from just below the surface. It's always dissapointing to see how much the glacier is receding. I remember it being a whole lot larger when I was a kid. There has even been a noticable change since I saw it last summer.

Mineral Creek

2011-06-10T19:56:00.003-08:00

8 June 2011
1800-2100
Overcast, Light wind and a slight drizzle
51 degrees F.

Trail head

Salmon berry- Rubus spectabilis
Fireweed- Epilobium angustifolium
Forget- me- nots- Myosotis alpestris

Trail

Red berry elder- Sambucus racemosa
Horsetail- Equisetum hyemale
Spiny wood fern- Dryopteris expansa
Smooth alumroot- Heuchera glabra
Stevens spirea
Shepherds purse- Capsella bursa-pastoris
Devils cub- Oplopanax horridus
Trailing Black currant- Ribes laxiflorum

Bog

Cloudberry- Rubus chamaemorus
Round-leaved sundew- Dosera rotundifolia
Bog Roesemary- Andromeda polifolia
Tufted Clubrush- Trichophorum cespitosum
Dwarf Nangoon Berry- Rubus arcticus
Sphagnum Mosses- Sphagnum spp.
Fir Clubmoss- Huperzia selago
Crowberry- Empetrum rubrum
Marsh Violet- Viola palustris
Wild Geranium- Geranium maculatum
Alaska Violet- Viola langsdorfii
Bog Blueberry- Vaccinium uliginosum

On the way back

Sitka Valerian- Valeriana sitchensis
Sitka Willow- Salix sitchensis
Sitka Alder- Alnus viridis

Animals

Bald Eagle- Haliaeetus leucocephalus

The trail was awesome. I have never been to a bog before, and seeing the sundew was a first. The bugs were not as bad as they could have been, which was a plus. Even though the bog was being destroyed by four wheelers and people littering there was still stuff to be seen out there.

Tundra and Worthington Glacier

2011-06-10T19:44:00.004-08:00

June 9, 2011

Weather- Windy , cold, and cloudy at a temperature of about 45.

Tundra

witches hair lichen- Alectoria ochroleuca
Blackish oxetrope- Oxytropis nigrescens
Narcissist Flower Annenome -Anemone narcissiflora
Cetraria nivalis
Starflower- Trientalis borealis
alp lilly Lloydia serotina
low-bush cranberry -Vaccinium vitis-idaea
star-tipped reindeer lichen -cladina stellaris
moss heather- Cassiope mertensiana
Alpine bearberry- Arctostaphylos alpina
Crowberry -Empetrum
Alpine willow -Salix petrophila
Dwarf willow -Salix herbacea
Glacous gentian- Pale Gentian
Lapland diapensia- Diapensia lapponica
Labrador tea -Ledum groenlandicum
Frogs pelt- Peltigera neopolydactyla
Star campylium moss -Campylium stellatum
Mountain buttercup -Ranunculus populago
Small flower paintbrush- Castillja coccinea
Alpine azalea- Loiseleuria procumbens

Worthington Glacier

Dwarf fireweed- Chamerion latifolium
Sitka alder- Alnus viridis
Scowlers willow -Salix scouleriana
Variable willow -Salix viminalis
Dwarf fireweed- Chamerion latifolium

The hikes were great, I thought that the tundra hike was going to be just a couple of the same species over and over, but there was more than I thought. It looks barren till you look at it. the Glacier was home to the nitrogen fixers, the ones that break down the rocks to make soil for others to live in. It was an odd site, I was at the glacier last summer and now it looks to have receded a lot more than I thought it would have.

Thompson Pass

2011-06-10T15:10:00.002-08:00

Thompson Pass

6/9/11

Chilly, windy and overcast.

Plants

Variable Willow---Salix commutata

Green Map Lichen---Rhizocarpon geographicum

Narcissus Anemone---Anemone narcissiflora

Blackish Oxytrope---Oxytropis Nigrescens

Alp Lily---Lloydia serotina

Lowbush-cranberries---Potentilla fruticosa

Alpine Izalia---Loiseleuria procumbens (L.) Desv.

Moss Campion---Silene acaulis

Labrador Tea---Ledum groenlandicum

Dwarf Willow---Salix herbacea

Bell Heather---Erica cinerea

Red Capped Lichen---Cladonia cristatella

Arctic Willow---Salix arctica

Villous Cinquefoil---Potentilla villosa

False Pixie Cup---Cladonia chlorophaea

Creatures

Bumble Bee---Bombus

Worthington Glacier

Plants

Fireweed---Eqilobium angustifolium

Sitka Alder---Alnus sinuata

Variable Willow---Salix commutata

Black Cottonwood---Populus trichocarpa

Creatures

Mew Gulls---Larus canus

Thompson Pass was cool but the wind was a major down side it was cold and unwelcome. I was surprised to find out how jagged and rough the rocks were it was interesting because i never would have imagined them that way and the small pools of water that were up there were much warmer than i had expected them to be which was very cool.

Worthington Glacier was also an experience i hadn't been there since i was about 8 years old and i can remember where the ice used to be and its way farther back then i had seen it. I was surprised to see all those sea gulls nesting around there too i didn't know they did that. I liked getting up close to the glacier though it was small it was still a giant to me at least.

Thompson Pass

2011-06-10T13:14:00.010-08:00

Thompson Pass

June 9, 2011

Weather- Windy , cold, and cloudy at a temperature of about 45.

Plants Observed-

Dwarf Willow- Saliz herbaccea

Crowberry - Empetrum nigrum

Artic willow- Salix arctica

Common Dandelion- Taraxacum officinale

Corral lichen- Cladia retipora

Low bush cranberry- Vaccinium vitis-idaea

Alpine blueberry- Vaccinium uliginosum L

Bell heather- Erica cinerea

Narcissi flower anemone-Anemone narcissiflora

Labrador tea- Rhododendron tomentosum

Freckled frog lichen- Peltigera aphthosa

Small flower paint brush- Castilleja

Alpine lily – Lilium parvum

Glacier-

Plants observed-

Sitka spruce- Picea sitchensis

Dwarf fireweed- Chamerion latifolium

Black cotton wood- Populus balsamifera L

Worthingto Glacier/Tundra Hike

2011-06-10T13:14:00.004-08:00

9 June 2011
1530-2100
37F-45F

Tundra
Narcissist Flower Annenome Anemone narcissiflora
Cetraria nivalis
witches hair lichen Alectoria ochroleuca
Blackish oxetrope- Oxytropis nigrescens
Starflower- Trientalis borealis
alp lilly Lloydia serotina
low-bush cranberry Vaccinium vitis-idaea
star-tipped reindeer lichen cladina stellaris
moss heather Cassiope mertensiana
Alpine bearberry Arctostaphylos alpina
Alpine willow Salix petrophila
Dwarf willow Salix herbacea
Crowberry Empetrum
Alpine azalea Loiseleuria procumbens
Lapland diapensia Diapensia lapponica
Labrador tea Ledum groenlandicum
Frogs pelt Peltigera neopolydactyla
Campylium stellatum Star campylium moss
Mountain buttercup Ranunculus populago
Small flower paintbrush Castillja coccinea
Glacous gentian Pale Gentian
Worthington Glacier
Sitka alder Alnus viridis
Dwarf fireweed Chamerion latifolium
Scowlers willow Salix scouleriana
Variable willow Salix viminalis

It was another amazing hike I had not been to Worthington yet but I will definatly be back soon. What I gound really interesting about this trip was up on top of the mountain tundra. Seeing how all that life can survive in such extreame conditions is fascinateing. Their was so much diversty up there than I ever could have expected. At worthington it was cool to see the markings in the sides of the rocks where the glacier ripped through. The Ice tunnel cave was amazing being able to look up inside there and look underneath a massive glacier was incredible.

High bush cranberry

2011-06-10T12:58:00.004-08:00

The shrub High bush Cranberry, scientific name Viburnum trilobum, is not really a cranberry at all it just looks and tastes like one. These red berries hang clusters from bunches of white flowers which stem from twigs with dark green maple look alike leaves then from rough tough grayish stems that can get to be about 4 meters tall. Birds and many creatures munch on these berries, people can eat high bush cranberries right off the plant or make jelly, sauce for meat, even ketchup. It has been used as a home remedies to cure swallows glans and pains like cramps. The berries ripen around September but not till the plant is at least 5 years old. The high bush cranberry is a pretty tough plant that can handle rough weather, it likes well-draining wet soil in forest and along rivers throughout the northeast and northwest of America.

http://www.gaspesielesiles.upa.qc.ca/fhtm/pfnl/en/PFNL%20anglais/1926226-Highbush%20Cranberry.pdf
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viburnum_trilobum
http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/roller/cranberry/resource/highbush-cranberry.jpg

Arctic Willow

2011-06-10T00:03:00.002-08:00

Salix arctica is a low growing rock willow that is found in the North American tundra. This plant enjoys dry open places or sphagnum bogs. It is known for its long branches that rest on the ground. They will swim in and out of the soil, for protection that it has learned through evolution. They have leaves that are a dark green with a light green bottom and fuzzy hairs that will assist with the frigged cold the Arctic is known for. It will seed like other willows with the fuzzy spike. The Arctic Willow's flowering will only often be around 5 centimeters though. The willow is famous for the pesticide that it creates to keep the Arctic Wooly bear, a caterpillar, away.

References:
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/arctic_willow.htm
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/56046/
http://www.jimteens.com/1/arctic_willow.htm