A day in the field with kayaks and alligators!
As you can see from the picture of this leaf, caterpillars are extremely hungry. A caterpillar's job is to fatten itself up so that it can make it to the pupae stage. Below is a picture of a pupae "shell" that an adult moth emerged from.
Today we went out early and set up another 10x10 meter plot. Mark helped us make our way through the wooded area using a machete and we found a spot to do our research. I was in charge of looking for caterpillars and counting the leaves using estimation for the Southern Arrowwood. Below is a picture of the data I collected.
Day #5/Question #20
What do you think the data in the picture represents? Look at the numbers and decide what you think each set of three numbers represents.
Day #5/Question #21
What mathematical method do you think we used to account for all the leaf matter of each species in the plot? Do you think we counted each individual leaf?
All week the other teachers and I have been trying to spot an alligator. Today, while driving back from the plot site, guess who spotted an alligator in the Cypress Swamp alongside the road? Yes, it was me! It was very exciting. Below is a photograph and a video of the Ol' Guy.
Day #5/Question #22
About how long, in feet, do you think this alligator is? (Hint: Mark says this guy could probably take your hand off!)
Later in the day we took kayaks out into the flooded land area around the bunkhouse. We kayaked through the swamp, pulled up to the land, and assessed a plot in the swamp area. Although we did not find any caterpillars, we had a great time traveling to our location. Below are a few pictures of the area and a video of us kayaking through the swampy area.
Day #5/Question #23
What impact do you think flood waters have on the environment? Think about the benefits AND the drawbacks to having a flooded area.
This last picture is a Spiny Oak Slug. Mark found it on a tree covered with moss. He is amazing at spotting things in the woods!Day #5/Question #24
Why do you think this Spiny Oak Slug would be so difficult to find?
Day #5/Question #25
The name of the research scientist in charge of the study of Caterpillars and Climate Change is Dr. Lee Dyer. He has a website through Tulane University, here in New Orleans, that is dedicated to the caterpillars of Louisiana. I would like you to visit the link below to investigate some of the caterpillars found in this area.
Please list your top 2 favorite caterpillars.
Use the caterpillars Latin names to identify each one.
Give one fact about each caterpillar. (If there are any, not all of the identification process is complete yet)
Explain why each caterpillar is your favorite.
http://www.tulane.edu/~ggentry/LAleps05/LALindex04.htm
TODAY WILL BE YOUR FINAL "BLOG ACTIVITY TIME" IN THE LIBRARY AT CENTER SCHOOL. I WILL CONTINUE TO POST BLOGS THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY AND POSSIBLY SUNDAY BEFORE I RETURN TO NEW HAMPSHIRE. PLEASE VISIT THE BLOG SITE WHILE YOU ARE HOME THE REST OF THIS WEEK AS WELL AS THIS WEEKEND. REMEMBER THAT EVERY COMMENT THAT I POST TO THE BLOG EARNS A SUPER STAMP! :) HAPPY BLOGGING, WISH YOU WERE HERE!
posted by Mrs. Moore @ 12:23 AM
11 Comments:
We thought the Spiny Oak Slug looked like a pine cone!! It must be tough to find these types of caterpillars, in New Orleans!! Have you done any experiments yet? If so, what types of experiments?:D can't wait to hear from you when you return to New Hampshire!! Enjoy your last few days!!:D
We think the alligator is about five to six feet long because we compared the alligator to the tree in the water. Have you seen any more alligators? Have you found anymore Grape Leaf Skeletonizers? Have you seen a caterpillar in a chrysalis yet?
When you taped the alligator I couldn't see it but then I saw something moving I couldn't see because the alligator was camouflaging.Did you see any caterpillars in the water.How deep is the water that you were kayaking in.
We hope you enjoyed your time at New Orleans studying caterpillars and climate change. Can't wait to see you in person. Mrs. Bail was a great substitute, she handled us well while you were away!!:o
We think it is hard to find a Spiny Oak Slug because it has points and a lot of trees look rough like that so it blends in with trees.We also think it can blend in with the ground.It is brown, rough, and dull that is how the ground usually looks.I t can also look like a pine cone.That is how the caterpillar is hard to find.
We think that the Spiny Oak Slug is very hard to find because it kind of looks like a pine cone. Also uses his camouflage to blend in with the wild. So far we think that flooded land really could kill alot of animals. It also could drown some plants. Our guess is that the alligator was 6 feet long in your picture. The data for question 20 is that it represents finding in an area.
I think that that alligator is 7 to ten ft long because we think the average is 7 to 10.Also that log looks like his size. If you zoom in on his head it looks about the size of your arm. Please tell us if we are right?
On #24 I think it would be hard to find it because it would camouflage with a tree.
We think that the Spiny Oak Slug is so hard to find because it is rough like a tree. It also would be pretty hard to find because it blends in like dry moss covering the tree.Have you seen a Spiny Oak Slug with parasitoids on it?How is your trip so far? Do you want to see more in your time?Do you think you'll go on another trip like this one?Happy caterpillar hunting!
We think that the an alligator is about 5 to 9 feel long. We also think that the Spiny Oak Slug would be hard to find because it would camouflage and it is so small. We liked the Saddleback Caterpillar is the coolest caterpillar there!!! = D I think it is so cool that you found an alligator!!! Once I went on an air boat tour in the everglades and was two feet away from a baby alligator! Are a lot of places flooded in Louisiana? Thanks please write back soon! =)
In question #24,I think the spiny oak slug would be hard to find because it looks like it camouflages in with the tree!
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