05-09-09 Jackson Field

The Future Scientists also visited Jackson Field today, checking out newly placed coverboards as part of a Metroparks study for snakes. The Future Scientists did not discover any snakes under the boards this day, but they did discover a particular type of caterpillar that really seemed to like the boards. Interestingly, only one caterpillar was found under each wooden board.
This peculiar caterpillar is still unidentified! Please comment below if you have a suggestion. ID will be posted when a good guess is made.

While the above caterpillar remains a mystery lepidopteran, the Future Scientists were able to get a good shot of another one whose identity is less mysterious. This is a question mark butterfly? Or, maybe, it is, a comma, if you can tell the difference, please enlighten us! The punctuation mark underneath the wing was not observed.
While no snakes were found underneath the coverboards, the Future Scientists did find two garter snakes and one water snake along the trails. This garter snake has just eaten, and you can even see limbs popping out the sides.
Glamorous.

05-09-09 Wood Frog Research

Case Western Reserve University professor and evolutionary biologist Dr. Mike Benard led the Future Scientists through some of his wood frog research at Squire Valleeview Farm. The Future Scientists helped Dr. Benard collect dragonfly larvae for some of his research where he compares how tadpoles of high and low genetic diversity respond to stresses. The Future Scientists helped collect dragonfly larvae that prey on the tadpoles as one of the stressors. If the tadpoles all do well with the challenge, perhaps the Future Scientists can help up the ante next time by having the tadpoles do their own taxes. You can read more about Dr. Benard and his research here.
This innocent-looking dragonfly larva is a tadpole killer.
Dr. Benard shows the Future Scientists his tadpole research tanks.

Good times. (especially if you're not a tadpole)

Tis the season for love (4/25/09)

Ahhh spring. When a young man's fancy turns to love. Throughout the pond, the Future Scientists heard the sweet trilling serenade of bachelor toads. Upon further examination, it seemed the toads' instincts were getting the best of them...
We knew the situation had definitely gotten out of hand when we saw a ribbon snake dragging away a toad (pictured below - the toad facing to the left is in the snake's grip). Immediately after being captured, several other toads hopped on the captive toad attempting to get it on, while the poor snake was attempting to drag away its already bulky meal. You can see one toad below (facing right), which has hopped on top of the captive toad...not to mention the snake's head!
Vocabulary word of the day: Amplexus: the clasping posture frogs and toads use in attempt to fertilize eggs.

During this week, toads could be heard all throughout the area. Amazingly, the following week the ponds were silent, and in many cases, the only traces of toads were the long strings of eggs left over in the water.