Quaking Aspen

Quaking Aspen

Populus tremuloids also known as the Quaking Aspen is mentioned many times in my observations. The quaking aspen is the widest spread tree in America. They cultivate from Alaska to New England and down through the rockies. During the fall the yellow and green colors this tree makes are astonishing. The quaking aspen benefits many birds and animals, from elk and beavers to pika and grouse. The quaking aspen gets its name from its leaves. The leaves quake in gentle breezes from their flattened leafstocks. They flex as they move in one direction and so that means they twist easily. The name tremula comes from the Eurasian aspen, so its cousin is the American aspen also called tremloids.

http://artfiles.art.com/images/-/Marc-Moritsch/Autumn-Foliage-and-Tree-Trunks-of-Quaking-Aspen-Trees-in-the-Crested-Butte-Area-of-Colorado-Photographic-Print-C12722494.jpeg

What is interesting about this tree, is that it’s bark offers no protection against fire. When a fire of any size that can effect the aspen in any way, the trunks die. However, the roots are protected by four to five inches of soil, so they can survive through fires. The lodge pole pine reacts the same way as the quaking aspen during fires. Aspens grow much faster than the lodge pole pines, because the roots hold more energy than the seeds of the lodge pole and it’s own seeds. A recent study has shown that fires also stimulates the germinations of the seeds buried in the soil. Most of the aspen trunks came from root suckers, not seeds. Groves of aspens are all the same sex, with one interconnecting root system. Aspen groves can be very large, one grove near us in Utah is 106 acres and in all weighs around 6,600 tons.

Reproduction from aspen seeds are very rare because fires burn the seeds. Now reproduction from root sprouts is becoming rare too, because of animals eating the suckers before the aspens reach tree size. For many years there has been controversy in Yellowstone over the aspen trees, because some people think that the aspen trees are declining in population and humans need to step in and start to help. On the other side, people think there are too many animals eating these trees and that some of them need to be removed from their habitat. Yet another opinion is that biologists argue that elk and other animals are not effecting the aspens. Some say that elk lower most of the aspen groves, but in the long run, aspens will regrow quickly and reestablish the population.

Works Cited

Works Cited

Mark Moritsch. Quaking Aspen Tree. 5-30-08. http://artfiles.art.com/images/-/Marc-Moritsch/Autumn-Foliage-and-Tree-Trunks-of-Quaking-Aspen-Trees-in-the-Crested-Butte-Area-of-Colorado-Photographic-Print-C11894931.jpeg

Mathews, Daniel. Rocky Mountain Natural History. Portland Oregon. Raven Editions. 2003.

Moose. 2008. Wkipedia. May 28, 2008. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moose

Moose Reproduction. 2008. Northwest Territories. Wildlife division. February 13, 2008. http://www.nwtwildlife.com/NWTwildlife/moose/reproduction.htm

Peter Mirejovsky. Moose. May 28, 2008. http://canadianbiodiversity.mcgill.ca/data/sppphotos/mammals/moose.jpg

Observation 8

Site/Location: Back Yard/ Rafter J

Date: 5-29-08

Time: 8:10 pm

Temperature: 47 Degrees F

Weather: Mostly Cloudy, Chilly

Soil: Wet from rain

Hypothosis: It will start to warm up here in Jackson because it is getting closer summer.

Observation 8

It stopped raining for at least a little while. Today I only saw a robin. But, I did see the yellow headed black bird earlier today. While I was observing I noticed that it was much colder in the evening then in the afternoon, it was probably because the sun was about to good down behind the mountains. The leaves on the trees and bushes are now fully bloomed. They bloomed so fast because of the moisture from the rain helped them grow. There is also more colors in the trees like green, yellow, and orange. The plants in my garden are starting to grow and pop up in some places, like the willow bushes, daises and dandieloins. 

Observation 7

Site/Location: Back Yard/ Rafter J

Date: 5-28-08

Time: 5:00 pm

Temperature: 43 Degrees F

Weather: Sunny, warm, mostly cloudy

Soil: Wet from rain

Hypothosis: More flowers like dandilions, tulups, daises, and leaves on tree will start to grow                           more because of the rain and some of the sunshine jackson has been getting in                                the past week.

Observation 7

Yes! It finally stopped raining, a least for a little bit. The grass is so much longer than my last observation. Its longer because of the rain we have been getting and the few bits of sunshine every now and then.  Also the grass is much greener. I also noticed that there was more insects like spiders, ants, and flies crawling around in it. There was some competition for food between these insects. There are no more dry spots in my yard, because it has gotten a lot of moisture from the rain. The usual birds are out, the robins, sparrow, and magpies. But, I did see a new bird, it was a yellow headed black bird. The yellow head black bird is much smaller then some of the other birds in my observation area. On the honeysuckle bushes I noticed that berries were started to grow on them. 

Observation 6

Site/Location: Back Yard/ Rafter J

Date: 5-21-08

Time: 5:01 pm

Temperature: 40 Degrees F

Weather: Raining, cloudy, cool

Soil: Wet from rain

Hypothosis: Animals won't be able find food because of the weather. Because it is raining survival needs will lower, there's less food, not enough shelter, and not a suitable climate,because it is raining and cold.

Observation 6

It is raining outside. What it thought was weird was that the birds like the robins, sparrows and magpies were still outside, singing. I thought they would trying to find shelter to stay warm. But, there was competition for food and shelter. There was interspecific and intraspecific competition. Birds off the same species were competing for food and shelter. Birds of different species were competing also. 

While it was raining plants were getting watered. That means their going to get greener if it keeps raining and then the weather clears up and gets sunny for the plants to grow. So, then animals like birds, and deer can get the food and nutrients they need.  

 

Moose

Alces alces, also known as a Moose. Moose are very frequent visitors to my back yard. They are the largest member in the deer family. Rafter J is an excellent habitat for moose. It has all the survival needs for this mammal. There’s food, water, shelter, and a suitable climate. For food, Rafter J has willow bushes to feed themselves and their young. Flat Creek runs through this community, so the moose have water. Moose can use the heavy bushes as shelter. The climate is good too. It rains so that can give the plants water and so they can live and give the moose food.

Moose are very large animals. They are about 6 to 7 feet tall and weigh from 600 to 800 pounds. They are brown, because they need to blend in with their surroundings so predators can’t get them. Moose have long legs because they need to get though the tall snow in the winter. Also they need to see over tall grass and bushes. This in a very good adaptation for these animals to help them survive. Moose antlers are important because they can use them in many different ways. They use them to protect themselves from predators, to fight other moose for a female moose, and when their antlers fall off, smaller animals can eat them for calcium. Moose only have a few predators. A pack of wolves can be a threat to females with calves, because the baby is weaker than their mother and that could slow them down. A hungry bear could also pose a threat to old, weak moose and young calves. Moose don’t travel in packs, they either journey by themselves or with their young.

Observation 5

Site/Location: Back Yard, Rafter J
Date: 5-19-08
Time: 4:52pm
Temperature: 72 degrees F
Weather: Very Warm/ Partly Cloudy
Soil: Wet from my mom watering
Hypothosis: Mountains are going to get more plant life, because it is already getting green. The snow is melting, and its sunny and getting much warmer.


Obsevation 5

It was very warm at my obsevation site. The robins and sparrows were out as usual. I noticed that the honeysuckle bushes started to grow berries and leaves. The berries are red and I knew before this oberservation that those berries are poisonous to humans. Also I noticed that now the big willow tree by my tree house is budding as well as the aspen trees. The grass is much greener since my last obervation and so the hills and mountains in the distance.

Observation 4

Site/Location: Back Yard, Rafter
Date: 5-15-08
Time: 4:34pm
Temperature: 61 Degrees F
Weather: Sunny, Warm
Wind: Slight Breeze
Soil: Dry
Hypothosis: More animals will start to come into area, so there will be more interations between
the animals.


Observation 4

It was really warm at my obersevation area. So, more animals are out so that means there is more biodiversity. I saw mostly birds, like magpies, robins, and sparrows. There are a few dandi lions growing and there grass in my yard and common area is getting taller and greener. Finally all the snow is gone in the yard, there is still some in the mountains though. When all the snow melts more animals like deer, elk, bears, and moose will come into the valley for food.

Observation 3

Site/Location: Back Yard, Rafter J
Date: 5-13-08
Time: 5:37pm
Temperature: 48 Degrees F
Weather: Few Clouds
Wind: Very Light Breeze
Soil: Damp
Hypothosis: As the weather warms up, more plants will grow because of the warm weather and it will start to rain more then snow so that moisture will hydrate the plants.



Observation 3

The birds are out again! But, there was only sparrows and robins. The grass in greener too, from the rain. There are still a few dry spots. Also, the grass is longer, there are more insects in it, like ants, and spiders. I noticed that the aspen trees had buds. This year the budding has been delayed because this winter and spring has been cloudy so, there hasn't been much sunlight for photosythesis. There are not anymore flowers yet, but when it gets warmer they will start to grow. Normally in the summer there are tulups and daisies.

Observation 2

Site/Location: Back Yard, Rafter J
Date: 5-12-08
Time: 8:00pm
Temperature: 37 degrees F
Weather: Partly Cloudy
Wind: Slight Breeze
Soil: Damp from rain and snow
Hypothosis: It will start to rain more than snow because it is warming up.

Obsevation 2

While I was sitting observing my surroundings I noticed there were many populations and communities of birds. There were robins, sparrows, ravens, and magpies. Populations are groups of oraganisms of the same species living in the same area. Communities are different populations living in the same area. My ecosystem has high biodiversiy. It can support many species of animals. Theres water, food like trees, insects, and grass, and shelter for all theres organisms. The biodiversity is very strong here. Theres birds, dogs, cats, and trees.

Obervation 1

Site: Back Yard/ Rafter J
Date: 5-6-08
Time: 6:00pm
Temperature: 65 degress
Weather: Sunny with a few clouds and a small breeze.
Soil: Dry dirt

Observation 1

My observation is in my back yard in Rafter J. To get there I just walk out the back door of my house and walk to where my yard ends. My yard is pretty big. Theres room for a tree house, a trampoline, and a halfpipe. So theres room for trees and bushes. There are a few trees. There are apsens, willows, and pine trees. There are also a few bushes. Where the yard ends is then a common area full of tall grass and lots of insects. My hypothesis is as it gets closer to summer it will get warmer. More animals and insects will come into this area. The grass will get greener and the trees will change in color.