Photos / Sounds
What
Artist's Bracket (Ganoderma applanatum)Observer
vincaa20Description
(Ganoderma applanatum)
April 2nd, 2020
Lettuce Lake Park
This fungi we are covering is alled Artist's bracket or also known as Ganoderma applanatum. This fungi is apart of the division of basidiomycota and is a fungi. This fungi is identified by the dark red-brown color, the way the fungi is attached to the tree, and typically on almost dead or already dead trees. The habitat for this fungi is a woodland or forest due to the fact that it grows on trees. This fungi/mushroom likes to be in moist and cooler areas to grow the fastest. The mushroom was found in roughly 75 degree weather. "This fungi is used as a favor enhancer in food dishes". This fungi is also known for have medicinal quality's. Remember for this mushroom you can just look at that underside and be able to tell what it is.
Reference
https://www.mushroomexpert.com/ganoderma_applanatum.html
Photos / Sounds
What
Florida Carpenter Ant (Camponotus floridanus)Observer
vincaa20Description
(Camponotus floridanus)
April 2nd, 2020
Lettuce Lake Park
This organism is a Florida Carpenter Ant or also known as Camponotus floridanus. The Florida Carpenter Ant is apart of Phylum Arthropoda and therefore makes it an Protostome. The Florida Carpenter Ant is distinguishable by the body being divided into 3 parts, There red color, and the pair of antennae. "The Florida Carpenter Ant varies from 2 to 6 mm in size". Florida Carpenter Ant habitat typically are warmer in most likely happen to be in forest or anywhere that has basically worn. Florida Carpenter Ant tend to die if they live in colder climates. It's are very aggressive and 10 to take over other Organisms homes.
References
http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/urban/ants/fl_carpenter_ants.htm
Photos / Sounds
What
Mabel Orchard Orbweaver (Leucauge argyrobapta)Observer
vincaa20Description
(Leucauge argyrobapta)
April 2nd,2020
Spirit Soccer Fields
This organism is known as a Mabel Orchard Orbweave or also known Leucauge argyrobapta. The Mabel Orchard Orbweave is part of Phylum Arthropoda and is therefore a protostome. The Mabel Orchard Orbweave is distigushable by "few red spots on the body, the dorsal surface of the abodoment bears about six chevron-like marks with centres pointing forward, and the legs are green to yellow". The habitat for the Mabel Orchard Orbweave to thrive in tends to be woody shrubs and they like to be about 10 feet off the ground. The pictures I have taken are hard to come by because the Mabel Orchard Orbweave tends to stay higher in the trees. The common size for the Mabel Orchard Orbweave tends to be roughly 1mm-10mm in size. The Mabel Orchard Orbweave tends to like the warmer weather in Florida but can handle colder weather in other regions.
References
http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/MISC/SPIDERS/Leucauge-argyrobapta.html
Photos / Sounds
What
Gag Grouper (Mycteroperca microlepis)Observer
vincaa20Description
(Mycteroperca Microlepis)
December 21st, 2019
March 27th, 2020
Middle Grounds (90 Miles west from Clearwater,FL)
This fish is a Gag Grouper or known as a Mycteroperca microlepis. This fish is part of Phylum Chordata and is therefore a Deuterostome. This fish is distinguished by the bottom of the cheek has a sharp serrated spur, also you can tell by the brownish-gray worm like marking on the side, and the dark line radiate from the eyes. This fishes habitat is on rocky bottoms, reefs, or ledges found in the ocean. "The common size for these fish is roughly 25 pounds and can reach 50 pounds". The Gag grouper like the warmer water and tend to move inshore and offshore according to the weather.
References
https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/saltwater/grouper/gag-grouper/
Photos / Sounds
What
Florida Strangler Fig (Ficus aurea)Observer
vincaa20Description
Focus Aurea
Seedless-Vascular
Based off of my observations in the forest this is a Florida Strangler Fig or also known as a Ficus aurea. I concluded that this was a Ficus aurea by taking a look at the tree's branches and leaves. I found leaves around the tree that had fell and made the distinction. The leaves of a Focus aurea are oblong and wedge shaped. According to Britannica, “strangler digs can survive tropical cyclones and their relation ships are muralist is.” These strangler figs are located along Florida forests and the family of the strangler figs can exist all around the world. The Ficus aurea covers habibs from dry forests to rain forests. The Florida strangler fig is apart of the taxonomical group known as Ficus(moracease). This group is considered to be one of the largest angiosperm species.
-References
https://www.britannica.com/plant/strangler-fig-tree
Photos / Sounds
What
Slash Pine (Pinus elliottii)Observer
vincaa20Description
Pinus Elliotti (Slash Pine)
Seeded vascular
The Pinus Elliotti is a very fast growing pine and can reach heights of up to 100ft, This pine that I came across was roughly 40ft high. The pine I have taken pictures of is young and will continue to grow. The Slash pine is typically found in Florida and Georgia. The Pinus Elliotti is found in wet flat woods. "According to FEIS, the pinus elliotti have two geographic varaitys, The tow are Densa and Elliotti."
Notable features that make the Pinus elliotti different from other types of trees are the leaves on the tree that are thin and long with a pointy tip. Another notable feature is the bark is lighter in color and flakes off the tree.
-Reference
https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/tree/pinell/all.html
Photos / Sounds
What
Spanish Moss (Tillandsia usneoides)Observer
vincaa20Description
Tillandsia usneoides
Seed-Less Non-Vascular
This was taken at the lettuce lake park. Spanish moss is also called long moss, Vegetable Horsehair, and Black moss. I made the observation by noticing the silvery-glay color and the plant growing the a bushel. The plant survives by absorbing water from air. According to Britannica, "the spanish moss rarely grows yellow flowers on it, and will have three pedals". Spanish moss is found all over the Southeast of america.
-References
https://www.britannica.com/plant/Spanish-moss
Photos / Sounds
What
Wild Boar (Sus scrofa)Observer
vincaa20Description
Sus Scrofa
I captured this organism on my trail camera. The identifying factors of this organism were the curly tail, Snout, and the muddy black fur. When I came across this organism it was in a wetland near a creek. The organism was roughly 150lbs and stood 3 foot in height. According to Jillian Pastick the wild board or Sus scrofa is typically larger in size and tend to have a snout with the curly tail as I observed (Pastick). Wild boar are found through out the world and are known to cause great havoc on agriculture and also are an invasive species in Florida. In the photos I have attached you can see that when the wild boar eat they tend to uproot the ground and cause permanent damage to the land.
Reference - https://www.lakeforest.edu/live/news/1650-the-biology-of-native-and-invasive-wild-boar-sus
***** The time and date are incorrect in the photos****
