Description:
A massive shortleaf fig spotted in Florida City before a trek into the Everglades. I m fairly certain this is F. citrifolia and not F. aurea due to the smaller leaf veins. Though there is an interesting thing called genetic mosaics where a fig tree will fuse with others of a different species and join together as one super organism. F. citrifoila starts its life as an epiphite binding to and strangling species like oak, cypress, and palm trees. It also can have wide horizontal growth due to their ability to drop horizontal roots that fuse with the parent tree as it ages. Fig trees fruit year round due to be the host of Agaonid wasp larvae, who in turn pollinate the flowers of the tree as adults. In fact this relationship is so unique that different species of fig wasp pair to a species of fig tree, and the fig wasp who pollinates F. citrifolia is Pegoscapus assuetus. They also host other wasps, their parasites, and predators and are considered a keystone species. Their
Description:
Large groupings of spatterdock, or yellow water lily among many other names on an airboat ride through the Everglades. This plant has a fascinating history as it is endemic to both sides of the Atlantic, and was used as a food source and medicine even in Pre-historic times with new research being developed to this day. Seriously, look into it this species is amazing. Medicinal uses include anti-inflammatory, antifungal, and antibacterial actions, including “alkaloids, anthraquinone glycosides, terpenoids, saponins, flavonoids, tannins and phenolic compounds, proteins, amino acids, carbohydrates, starch and vitamin C. There s even been talk that they could be used to battle cancer and Alzheimer s and autoimmune disorders. The famed Jimmy Wu of Dartmouth has synthesized alkaloids from this plants capable of apoptosis, which is just fascinating.
Description:
A female (males are mostly black) boat-tailed grackle in the Everglades, found in a cluster of spatterdock. A very large passerine species, it is larger than the common (where it s range overlaps) and great-tailed grackles, which I also have spottings of. Even though they make their homes in shallow coastal saltwater strands, it had adapted well to an urban environment in Gulf Coast cities, to no surprise as they are grackles. Boat-tailled grackles are omnivorous, feeding on fruits and seeds as wall as insects, amphibians, and even other smaller birds.
Habitat:
Native to coastal saltwater strands and ponds on the Gulf of Mexico, Florida, and the Eastern US. In Florida they extend their range to inland bodies of water and can be found throughout the state.
Project Noah is a tool that nature lovers can use to explore and document local wildlife and a common technology platform that research groups can use to harness the power of citizen scientists everywhere.
Project Noah is a tool that nature lovers can use to explore and document local wildlife and a common technology platform that research groups can use to harness the power of citizen scientists everywhere.