Download Field Biology May 2006

Field Biology May 2006
Biodiversity of the Nature Area
Saint Mary’s College
Notre Dame, Indiana
This is a preview of a project in the works to provide
details of the flora and fauna of the SMC Nature Area,
perhaps even a “virtual” tour of the stations of the trail.
Stay tuned…
St. Mary’s Nature Area
Species Diversity
Ephemeral Spring Wildflowers
• Dame’s-Rocket
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(Hesperis matronalis L.)
Brassicaceae, Mustard Family
perennial herb
blooms May-Aug.
introduced scattered counties in Indiana
corolla with 4 petals, purple, pink or white,
leaves lanceolate or deltoid-lanceolate with
small sharp teeth
found in open woods, roadsides
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source: Indiana Wildflowers, Yatskievych 2000
Trees of the Nature Area
• Pawpaw (Indiana banana)
• Asimina triloba (L.) Dunal.
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Annonaceae, Custard-Apple Family
small tree to 30 feet, often in “colonies”
very large simple alternate leaves with
smooth edges (odoriferous when bruised)
brown/maroon flowers, rancid odor; 6
petals, blooms Apr-May
fruit ripens in October; green to blackish
berry with pulpy edible seeds
widespread in Indiana
habitat: woods, esp rich moist soils along
streams
source: 101 Trees of Indiana Jackson 2004
Animals of the Nature Area
• Red-backed Salamander
• Plethodon cinereus
• Plethodontidae
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small (6-13 cm) slender salamander; naso-labial
grooves present; mottled gray and white belly;
“redback” phase has a reddish dorsal stripe,
“leadback” --dorsal dark like sides
humid woodland habitats, under rocks, logs during the
day, feed at night on small invertebrates; occupy small
individual territories and home ranges
eggs produced in early summer; kept in underground
burrows accompanied by female until hatching (4-8
weeks later); no aquatic phase
source: Amphibians and Reptiles of the Great Lakes
Region, Harding 2006
Conservation note:
Important ecological
component of forest
ecosystem
Nature trail forest and
Saint Joseph River
Cut area and
opened canopy