Listen & Learn
Using this sense is the best strategy for identifying a plant that we don't yet know if it is poisonous.
What is the sense of sight? (or observation)
One quality of a prairie grass that allows it to survive fire.
What is deep roots or dense below ground?
When I am collecting information in a phenology, I want to consider one of these three primary factors of information.
What is Temperature, Precipitation, or Sunlight?
This animal is found in many Wisconsin wetlands, is predominantly blue-gray except for its legs and beak, and makes a croaking sound when disturbed.
What is the Great Blue Heron?
This family/category of ducks feeds by tipping down to reach aquatic plants & invertebrates below the surface. They take off by springing into the air.
What are Dabbling Ducks?
Sound #1 (Common or Latin Name)
What is a Red Fox or Vulpes vulpes
True/False Our forests in Wisconsin are fragmented and relatively young (~100 years is the maximum growth we see).
What is true?
In this course, we have, generally, been categorizing our information at these 2 levels within the Linnaeus system.
What are Genus and Species?
This tree's pinnately compound leaves can easily be confused with poison ivy. In the maple family, it's also known for the bugs associated with it that tend to reveal themselves each fall on warm days.
What is the Boxelder?
This family of ducks takes its name from how they feed. They also need a running start to take off from the water.
What are Diving Ducks?
Sound #2 (Common name only)
What is a Mallard?
This kind of pond is temporary and typically only seen in the spring.
What is an ephemeral pond?
This is one shape description I might use to describe a deciduous leaf.
What is oblong, obivate, lanceolate, round, etc...?
Often seen crossing roads and sidewalks at this time year, this fuzzy critter has a form of antifreeze in its body that allows it to in winter, then thaw and transform into a winged insect and mate in spring/summer.
What is the Wooly Bear Caterpillar or Isabella Tiger Moth?
True/False Swans and Geese are the smallest members of the duck family and feed only in the water.
What is false?
Sound #3 (Latin Name only)
What is Aix sponsa?
This unique ecological community is best described as low, wet areas comprised predominantly of peat soils with high levels of calcium and magnesium carbonates in the water. These are quite rare in Wisconsin.
What is a Calcareous Fen? (What is a Fen would be acceptable too)
This category of plants emit a substance which discourages other plants from growing near them.
What are allelopathic plants?
This fungus has a tough texture making it all but inedible; however, it has been used for teas/tinctures due to the immune boosting compounds it contains.
What is Turkey Tail?
One characteristic that makes an invasive species so successful.
What is has a high reproductive rate, has few predators, has few competitors, is a pioneer species, is long lived, or is a generalist?
Sound #4 (both common & Latin name)
What is Canada Goose or Branta canadensis?
This is one of the four types of Dry Prairies discussed in our Wisconsin Natural Communities readings.
What is Dry Limestone (or Goat) Prairie, Sandstone Bluff Prairie, Dry Sand Prairie, or Gravelly Glacial Till Prairie?
From broad to narrow, these are the 8 levels in the Linnaeus system of classification.
What are Domain, Kingdom, Phyllum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species?
The petiole on this tree's leaves are flat & perpendicular to the leaf making them appear to flutter in the slightest breeze
What is an Eastern Cottonwood?
5 physical characteristics that would be helpful in identifying a particular bird species.
What are beak, talon, chest color, primary color, wing shape...etc...?