Moss

                             Marvellous moss

Moss is an extremely underrated plant, belonging to the phylum Bryophyta; a small group of non-vascular plants. Bryophytes were the first group of plants to successfully make it to land around 480 MYA. This was one of the most important events that have taken place in the history of the Earth, as this was the means for an oxygenated planet. 

There are around 12,000 species of moss worldwide (over 1,000 in the UK) and they are extremely overlooked. Moss is usually found in moist, damp areas, and this is down to a few reasons; the first being to aid in reproduction. Moss has both male and female reproductive organs, which are represented as different stalks of the moss; the archegonia produce the egg, and the antheridia produce the sperm. The plant lacking in any flowers or pollen, therefore needs to be wet enough to allow the sperm to reach the egg. Moss also lacks the vascular system of other plants, so they take water in through osmosis; being close to the ground and in clusters is very beneficial for this as it is easier for the moss to retain the water collected. With all this in mind, it is quite extraordinary to think that there are species of moss that have adapted to living in extreme conditions such as deserts. 

  

Moss has an impressive purpose and history, from being micro-homes to an array of small organisms to assisting in World War 1. Peat moss was used to stuff the wounds of soldiers as cotton for bandages was quickly being exhausted. The moss proved to be a great success and was found to be much more absorbent than bandages, provided antiseptic properties, and was a renewable source that was easy to attain. Moss also removes an extensive amount of CO2 from our atmosphere making it a great ally in climate change.

The bank vole (Myodes glareolus)

 ... and how to humanely trap, and release, small mammals for fieldwork

The bank vole is a small chestnut-brown coloured rodent, with a tail around half the length of its body and a cream-grey underbelly. They have small eyes, a rounded snout, and a full body, with prominent ears that are less visible due to fur coverage. Tail length will be a good indicator of if you have a vole or a mouse, as mice tails are longer; usually the length of the mouse body. 

The bank vole is the smallest species of vole in Britain and is found in woodlands, hedgerows, or grassland areas. Their diet consists of vegetation, fruits, nuts, fungi, roots, and occasionally small insects. The bank vole is native to Great Britain, but can also be found in other parts of Europe, Iberia, Italy, and Western Siberia. Bank voles have a stable population, but with an increase in fragmentation of woodland areas, destruction to hedgerows and such, they will surely be affected. Maintenance of natural areas is important to our abundance and stability of biodiversity. Voles are also important prey for small avian predators, predatory mammalians, and snakes.

                                    

                                                                        (Yrammy, 2020).

 

Trapping small mammals, in the best way possible, for ecological surveying!

The favourite ecological surveying small mammal trap has been the 'Longworth Small Mammal Trap' for many years. The design allows for as little discomfort as possible, with a warm and safe place to be until their release.

The trap consists of two parts, the first part is an entry tunnel that harbours a door-tripping mechanism in order to close the tunnel door. This then leads to a spacious house/nesting box, and they both connect with a metal clasp. The box is spacious and allows plenty of room for nesting materials and food. The door-tripping leaver is adjustable in terms of sensitivity, and the trap will have to be set in order for the function to work.

To begin, have bedding material (such as hay) to fill a section of the nesting box for warmth; hay is a good option for voles too as they are mainly herbivores and will eat some of the hay. For food some good recommendations are:

• Carrots - food, and will also provide hydration.
• Seeds - ideal for granivores such as mice .
• Casters - fly pupae which will accommodate for insectivores such as shrews.
• Apple - food, and will also provide hydration.
• Peanut butter - an attractant for all species.

Example of how the nest box should look (like a 5 star hotel!)

The minimum number of samples when looking at population data is 30, and during this independent study we used 60 traps. This was repeated twice, once during day time and once over night.

Depending on where the traps are placed, you will be more likely to be in the territory of a certain rodent; for example woodland area will be likely for wood mice, and hedgerow/open area will be ideal for voles. In the conservation area at UEA, there is a good mix of area types so traps were set out in different areas and numbered wooden steaks were used to track where they were placed on collection. Making a note of the numbered steaks according to the area placed will allow for releasing in the same area. Setting the traps overnight gives a much higher chance of collecting the small mammals, as they are most active during the evening/early morning.

When collection begins, a clear idea of which trap has been successful will be evident by a closed door. Traps can be collected and placed in order alongside their numbered steaks; having a system such as closed door traps facing one direction, and open door traps facing another might be useful. 

When opening the traps, opening them into a clear sample bag gives the opportunity to inspect the small mammal and identify successfully. The latch will need to be unhinged and then the tube can be removed in order for emptying the contents carefully into the bag for inspection. Checking the tube for any detritus will also give you a good idea of what to expect in terms of inhabitants. 

Ensure to carefully release the small mammals where they were found, according to the numbered steaks used.

Identifying the rodents

When there is a small mammal in the bag successfully, carefully moving the mammal into the corner of the clear bag and removing any material from the nesting box will aid in identification. Gently turning the rodent on their back and having a quick look at genitalia will give a clear idea on sex; looking for mammary glands for females and testes for males. 

Size of mammal is a good indicator of age, juvenile rodents feet will generally look large for their bodies. 

References:

Yrammy. (2020). Bank Vole. [online] Available at: https://www.ispotnature.org/communities/uk-and-ireland/view/observation/796430/bank-vole [Accessed 29 Mar. 2023].

The red fox (Vulpes vulpes)

                               The red fox

Red foxes are categorised in the family Canidae just like dogs, wolves, jackals and coyotes... they are the UK's only wild member of the dog family. There are many species of fox, but the most abundant is the Vulpes vulpes (the red fox). Unlike many other canines, they are not 'pack' animals. They do often stay in close proximity to family members but hunt alone. Red foxes are the largest of the true foxes in size and are the most international of all the wild canines; they can be found in Europe, Asia, Africa, North America and Oceania. 

My regular visitor, called Gel. ❤️

These canines are omnivores and will eat pretty much anything, but feed mostly on small rodents. Their diet is made up of around 95% meat and the rest will usually consist of things such as insects or berries. Sadly, due to habitat degradation, the red fox has become very urbanised in many areas, and will often be forced to use the art of scavenging (AKA rummaging through our leftovers). These guys have developed extremely strong stomachs and immune systems so they are rarely affected by rotting thrown-out food. I like to leave the occasional egg outside for them.

Contrary to their name (red), they can come in various colourations ranging from white, yellow, orange, grey, and black. The characteristic that sticks with all is the white tip of the tail, white chin, and white underside.

Foxes will dig out their dens, which are called 'earths', and can have multiple around one area. The extra earths/dens can be used for quick hideaways, or for raising their young (kits) if their main earth becomes disturbed. The mating season will arrive every January-February and will not go unnoticed due to their well-known 'screams' to attract their mates. 

The females will make these sounds to attract a mate:

https://youtu.be/FTx8RxK3hqQ  -  sound clip by 'STEM Learning By Doing'.

Vixens will birth around 5 kits during spring, and they will be milk-fed for around 12 weeks; to which they then will be weaned and introduced to the big wide world. Wild red foxes live around 9 years, but due to traffic accidents and such, the average lifespan for these beautiful animals is 1-3 years. The population therefore will remain fairly dormant as kits end up replacing lost adults.

Fox hunting, or causing unnecessary harm, is thankfully banned in the UK. Massive appreciation for groups such as the 'Severn Vale Hunt Saboteurs' for making it their mission to prevent such barbaric events from taking place illegally.

References:

STEM Learning By Doing. (2018). Vixen Screech - What Fox Screams (Mating Calls) Sound Like, [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTx8RxK3hqQ [Accessed: 16 April 2023].

Fly agaric (Amanita muscaria)

                  The most famous mushroom?

Fly agaric is one of the most beautiful and photogenic mushrooms, an iconic addition to the Super Mario Brothers games, with its iconic red cap and white spots. The cap of the Amanita muscaria starts hemispherical and then opens flat, growing up to 30 cm in height. Another key characteristic to look at is the gills of the fly agaric, which are white to cream and not joined to the stem. When hemispherical, the cap can appear more orangey-red in colour, but when flat it will be a classic bright red. The fly agaric is native to the UK and visible, between August-November, in woodlands, parks, or heaths. This fungus will often be growing next to birch, pine, or spruce trees.

Fly agaric was used as an insecticide in medieval times. It was a common trick to have a bowl of milk sitting out with fly agaric chunks floating within; flies would land in the milk and ingest the toxins... leading to intoxication and death. 

The mushroom is a toxic mushroom but reports of death from consumption are rare (but of course there is still a chance!). It is highly recommended to appreciate these fungi from a distance, but when consumed the reported side effects often include a state of confusion, dizziness, tiredness, visual and auditory delusions, space distortion and time confusion. They have a solid place in history and have been used in various cultures for thousands of years. Shamans in Siberia are said to have consumed the fly agaric to enter a trance state, where they would be transported to the world of their gods and fight battles against demons in order to attain visions.

In Victorian and Edwardian times the fly agaric was featured on many Christmas cards. They were said to be a symbol of good luck and could have even inspired Santa's suit!

Vintage Christmas card (U.S. Forest Service, n.d).

Reference:

United States Department of Agriculture. (N.D). Fly agaric. [online] Available at:

https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/ethnobotany/Mind_and_Spirit/flyagaric.shtml.

Wood/Jelly ear (Auricularia auricula-judae)

The Ear of the Woods

This ear shapes fungi is known by a few names; Jelly ear, Wood ear, or Judas's ear. This is an edible fungus, and seen all year round with no poisonous lookalikes! But the most likely time to spot the wood ear is spring and winter. This fungus is found on decaying hardwoods, often decaying Elder trees; if you find them on an elder, you can be certain that you have wood/jelly ear fungi. They are widespread, being found in much of Europe, Asia, North America, and Australia.

                     

The wood ear is described as having a mild earthy flavour, and an interesting dense texture (not sure how I feel about trying these personally). They can be eaten fresh or dried, and raw or cooked. They do not need long to cook as they have a high water content; it is recommended to sauté for a few minutes. The woody flavour is said to be a great addition to stir-fries and soups.    

                             

Auricularia auricula-judae has been used in medicine for centuries. Some recent studies show they could have properties that lower cholesterol levels and could have anti-coagulant properties. The fungi are especially rich in antioxidants, and research suggests they could aid in the prevention of degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Dementia. In China, these mushrooms are known as "Hei mu-er" and are used in dishes for sore-throat relief, cold and flu treatment, and to improve circulation and overall well-being.

The western jackdaw (Coloeus monedula)

                                  Jackdaws

The jackdaw is the smallest of crows, collectively known as corvids, but they make up for the smaller size with the fact they are highly sociable and stay in groups. It is easy to tell them apart from crows by their bright white iris', silver sheen to their nape, and black cap. There is an estimate of around 3.2 million of them across the UK. Once listed as vermin with crows and rooks by Henry VIII in a Tudor vermin act of 1532, they are now an admired species for many reasons.

The best things sometimes really do come in smaller packages; as these birds are potentially one of the most intelligent animals on the planet. They have many talents that involve problem-solving, recognising people, mimicking human voices and sounds, and using objects as tools to aid in their meal prep. These birds have an extremely varied diet including nuts, berries, invertebrates, and other birds' eggs and chicks. This means you can find them in most locations.                                   As mentioned before, their intelligence is off the charts; they are said to recognise faces and can read expressions from people's faces. They have even been trained by individuals to retrieve cash and bring it back to them...some individuals that include Italian thieves. The thieves trained the jackdaw to steal money from cash machines as people were using them! Their intelligence also gives other species such as deer an upper hand; jackdaws are fond of an invertebrate dinner, so they have formed a symbiotic relationship with the deer as they eat ticks from their bodies. 

These birds are said to have empathy towards us humans, this might explain why they often stay in areas with people around. They are certainly less timid than lots of other bird species. This empathy is shown within their own kind too; once they find a mate, they pair for life. They also roost together as a group, they really do show that they are all about closeness. Once mated they tend to lay eggs from April-June, they will be blue and speckled as shown below. 

                                                              Jackdaw eggs (Males, ND).

References: 

Discover Wildlife. (n.d.). 7 amazing jackdaw facts. [online] Available at: https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/birds/facts-about-jackdaws/

Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis)

                                Snowdrops

A small bulbed flowering plant that ranges in height from around 3-6 inches, and is a sign that winter is coming to a close. They are easily identified, with their unique white bell-shaped tepals that dangle over from the stem. There are 3 pure white tepals on the outer flower, and three smaller tepals with green markings on the inside. A tepal is slightly different to a petal, as it consists of the petal and sepal being fused as one component.

(Supriya, 2022)

                                              

These beautiful winter bloomers have an edge when it comes to reproduction; they can go about it two ways, sexually or asexually. Due to the flowers being out during winter, there are fewer pollinators flying around. Asexual reproduction is possible for the plant due to the bulb via bulb division,  this is where the bulb splits to create another replica plant.

This is another plant with a brilliant history in ancient traditional medicine. Both the bulb and leaves of the snowdrop contain galantamine, an alkaloid substance that is approved in many countries for the treatment of Alzheimer's and dementia. The substance works by restoring neurotransmitters, and improving memory, focus and even cognitive abilities. In many countries including Britain, it is illegal to uproot any plant without landowners' permission, therefore it is recommended to buy bulbs from authorised persons.

Folklore

Due to the flowers being one of the first signs of winter coming to a close, they have a symbolic meaning as a sign of new beginnings, hope and rebirth. On the other hand, it has long been said that if one snowdrop is spotted alone that it is a sign of impending death and doom; and it is also said to be unlucky to pick one and bring it into your home. The snowdrop also has a place within Christianity, mentioned as one of the flowers in the Garden of Eden.

References:

Supriya, N. (2022). 'Difference Between Sepals and Petals (with Comparison Chart)',  Biology Reader. Available at: https://biologyreader.com/difference-between-sepals-and-petals.html.