#iamanaturalist

[paleochick]

You walk past them everyday. They literally grow on trees, buildings, and rocks. These two literally landed on my driveway. What ARE they? A #lichen (LIE-Ken) is a combination of algae living among filaments of multiple fungi in a symbiotic relationship because...who wouldn't want to live with FUNGI? (BA-DUMP-SHH) Lichen: ✅Evolved 400+ million years ago ✅Are food for reindeer 🎅 ✅Grow SLOW. Rhizocarpon geographicum grows extremely slowly and can reach an age of over 1000 years! ✅Are used by scientists to show changes in the environment (they absorb pollution!) This is called lichen biomonitoring. ✅Slowly destroy rocks by producing chemicals and expanding/contracting. This is called biological weathering. I know Instagram is terrible for links, but check out this article by @edyong209 for a fun read: https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2016/07/how-a-guy-from-a-montana-trailer-park-upturned-150-years-of-biology/491702/ #scicomm #wearestemsquad #science #iamanaturalist #fungi #symbiosis #ohio #getoutside #explore #themoreyouknow

[artbypeleegirl]

This is what you do when your computer system is down at work and you’ve exhausted all the non-computer tasks you have to do....take your coworkers out to see their first Snowy Owls (there were three in this field) #birdnerds #birds #owls #iamanaturalist

[naturenaught]

Known as the spirit of the wilderness, the common loon is an iconoclast of the north. Famous for their haunting sounds, loons have four distinct calls. The tremolo, like a crazy laugh, is used to signal alarm or vocalize territorial defense. The wail, like a wolf howl, is used to regain contact with a mate. The yodel, like a broken whistle, is used only by males to defend territory. The hoot, like a 'Hey!', is used to locate and check on family members. [common loon; Gavia immer]"Who are you calling loonie?!" #Animalia #Chordata #Aves #Gaviformes #Gaviidae #Gavia #bird #loon #ornithology #ornitologia #ecology #ecologia #nature #iamanaturalist #Wisconsin (at Manitowish Waters, Wisconsin)

[artbypeleegirl]

Working on some #digitalart this afternoon for next year’s Festvial of Birds. Making good progress #parkslife #iamanaturalist #birdart

[artbypeleegirl]

Busy putting the #triviachallenge for #OFO2017. Time to start brushing up on your #Birding #trivia #birds #nature #birdnerds #iamanaturalist

[artbypeleegirl]

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From my office this afternoon. #iamanaturalist #ants #insects #nature #parkslife #PointPeleeNP

[naturenaught]

Milkweeds have some of the most complex floral structures in the plant kingdom, which is accompanied by a unique pollination ecology. Instead of granular pollen, milkeeds posses aggregated pollen sacs called pollinia. These sacs mechanically adhere to insects visiting the flowers using a viscous mucous. When the insect visits another flower the pollinia packet is inserted into the stigmatic groove, successfully transfering the pollen. "You're really milking this pun thing."[swamp milkweed; Asclepias incarnata]#Plantae #Apocynaceae #Asclepias #plant #milkweed #botany #botanica #ecology #ecologia #nature #iamanaturalist #Michigan (at Bond Falls)

[naturenaught]

The scientific name for the the order of insects commonly know as mayflies comes from their short adult life. Because the adult has no mouthparts, they only fly around for a few days. They spend years, around 99%, of their life as nymphs underwater. [Ephemera simulans; brown drake] #Ephemeroptera #Ephemeridae #Ephemera #mayfly #insect #entomology #entomologia #ecologia #ecology #nature #iamanaturalist #Wisconsin (at Mercer, Wisconsin)

[artbypeleegirl]

Even in the rain there is beauty abounding in the park #nature #trees #iamanaturalist #PointPeleeNP @parks.canada

[artbypeleegirl]

I enable my friends to study Purple Martin colonies on my day off by bringing them ladders. What do you do on your #dayoff ? #birds #birding #iamanaturalist

[naturenaught]

Gymnosperms contain resin, a highly viscous fluid containing terpenes, as a defense against insects and pathogens. Resin is produced in specialized cells and is exuded as part of the tree's injury response. When resin is fossilized it forms amber. [radiata pine; Pinus radiata] #Plantae #Pinaceae #Pinus #pine #plant #botany #botanica #ecology #ecologia #nature #iamanaturalist #newzealand

[paleochick]

Work friends! #iamanaturalist

[paleochick]

Legitimately in love with being a Naturalist @clevemetroparks. #iamanaturalist

[artbypeleegirl]

On today of all days I thought I should make a detour on the way home to see the property in my Dad's honour. It's full of #birds and #butterflies just like it should be! #family #nature #iamanaturalist

[artbypeleegirl]

Butterflyweed always makes me smile. #nature #wildflowers #iamanaturalist (at Point Pelee National Park)

[naturenaught]

Filmy ferns are an early diverging group of leptosporangiates with diverse morphologies and ecologies. They are characterized by their extremely thin fronds, which are one cell thick, and terminal sori. "Thin to win!" [filmy fern; Hymenophyllum dilatatum] #Hymenophyllaceae #fern #filmyfern #botanical #botanica #ecology #ecologia #nature #iamanaturalist #newzealand