https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/203311654
I found this specimen in my actual back yard and decided to submit it for this weeks' post! Growing up in Southeast Alaska and spending ample time in the outdoors, I have always been drawn to moss and lichens for some odd reason. Maybe because of the vast species available or their role in the eco-system absorbing carbon, but who really knows? At first glance, their visual appearance is nothing special. Often times, it just looks like a green fuzzy blob on the forest floor. In an article depicting different types of moss found across the State of Alaska, which was written by the United States Department of Agriculture, I learned that mosses and liverworts (all known as bryophytes) all lack a stalk and root systems. In addition, the article taught me that many of the different species that fall into the bryophyte class fall into a "male" or "female" classification for reproduction purposes. This was new information to me, and I thought that I might share it with the class; a "fun fact" if you will.
For the self-reflection portion of this post, I wanted to touch on how this species has played a role in my sense of place as it relates to my home in Southeast Alaska. This will be a common theme in the remaining iNaturalist posts, but I can vividly remember being a child, playing in the forest with my friends, and using this species to make forts, pillows, potions, and everything in between. Reflecting on this species brought back such good memories and I hope that future posts/species that I write about will as well!
Works Cited
“Mosses and Liverworts of the National Forests in Alaska.” United States Department of Agriculture , Forest Service Alaska Region, Sept. 2008, www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fsbdev3_069239.pdf. Accessed 20 Mar. 2024.
Comentarios
There are a lot of them, that is for sure, and in every climate they find a way to make do. I too find it interesting that these creatures, for lack of a better word to describe them collectively across all lichens, mosses, and fungi, help the ecosystem in enormous ways beyond what you would initially think by looking at one. As often is the case, the larger the organism the easier it is to see and if you can see it, you can see its impact. Of course, we have microscopes and can see bacteria as well, but their size is still beyond normal eyesight. Simply put, something small can still have an enormous impact on the environment and its immediate surroundings.
Nice work, Elizabeth! Your MLA format both within your write up and in your Works Cited is looking excellent -- well done! I appreciate some of the facts you shared about this abundant group of neighbors most of us in Southeast Alaska encounter every day.
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