Who lives in these woodlots?
So, you've been introduced to the woodlots and natural areas of the University of Guelph campus - but who lives there? Many animals make the campus natural areas their home. Below in some videos and photos - you'll be introduced to some of the animals and plants in the University community.
Following these introductions, you'll find three quiz questions that are designed to help you practice your identification skills using photos, videos, GigaPans and your "Woodlot Biodiversity" book.
So, you've been introduced to the woodlots and natural areas of the University of Guelph campus - but who lives there? Many animals make the campus natural areas their home. Below in some videos and photos - you'll be introduced to some of the animals and plants in the University community.
Following these introductions, you'll find three quiz questions that are designed to help you practice your identification skills using photos, videos, GigaPans and your "Woodlot Biodiversity" book.
The video above was taken in the North Campus Ravine. You are watching a snail (Cepea nemoralis) on a buckthorn leaf (Rhamnus cathartica). Both species were introduced to North America from Europe. The bird you can hear calling in the background is the Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus) - a native breeding bird species.
In the video above you are in the Dairy Bush watching a colony of ants, (Lasius claviger), who are responding to me uncovering a stone that covered the colony by moving the larvae of the colony away from the potential predator (me!)
The video above was taken in the Arboretum and shows an unknown species of millipede (Diplopoda - Parajulidae). This family is endemic to North America.
Finally, the video above was recorded in Brown's woods. Here, you will start by following a species of beetle (Carabus nemoralis) - another European introduction. Next, you'll follow a species of ant (Lasius sp.) carrying an aphid from a colony I disturbed. You learned about the generalised plant/aphid/ant relationship in the Part 4 - this is another species of each ant and aphid where the relationship is occurring underground (the aphid feeds on the plant roots!).
Woodlot Identification 1
Before we look at some woody plants (trees and shrubs) your first identification question for the woodlot biota is a herbaceous, perennial plant. You can visit it flowering in the GigaPan.
Before we look at some woody plants (trees and shrubs) your first identification question for the woodlot biota is a herbaceous, perennial plant. You can visit it flowering in the GigaPan.
Woodlot Identification 2
Here’s the second tree we saw in class. See if you can follow the steps in the key in your field guide and identify it on your own.
Here’s the second tree we saw in class. See if you can follow the steps in the key in your field guide and identify it on your own.
Woodlot Identification 3
The third identification challenge is not a tree, but a shrub. Visit one of these shrubs in Brown's Woods.
The third identification challenge is not a tree, but a shrub. Visit one of these shrubs in Brown's Woods.