Author: Cassie Stitzman

Bogs: The Peculiar Land of Sphagnum Moss

/ Cassie Stitzman / 1 Comment

As part of our invasive plant monitoring this summer, the stewardship crew visited the bog of Fox Nature Preserve. To reach the center of the bog we traversed a challenging, muddy route through towering nonnative cattails. As I followed my fellow crew members into the bog of beauty, I suddenly found myself in a pickle as my muck boots sank into the fragile ground in the outer shallow “moat” of the bog. In my miserable attempt to escape its mucky grasp, I heard a loud swoosh as my boots began to fill with water!

The bog at Fox Nature Preserve. Leatherleaf shrubs line the foreground, with tamarack and black spruce trees.

I managed to climb my way out to more “stable” ground, stepping on nonnative cattails. Unfortunately, my boots weren’t so lucky. But Stewardship Specialist Grant Vander Laan came to my aid, freeing my muck boots from the ground’s intense grip! Thanks to his help, and after crawling under blueberry bushes, I was able to step foot in a bog for the very first time. The privilege of experiencing a bog ignited enthusiasm in my soul!

Please enjoy don’t walk out into the Fox Nature Preserve bog. We are near the range limit of bogs in southern Michigan, and many of the unique plants are already struggling to hang on. The sphagnum moss blanket is very fragile, and it can be dangerous walking.

What are Bogs?

Bogs are unique freshwater wetlands that are acidic, nutrient-poor peatlands. Sphagnum moss and “ericaceous” shrubs, like the leatherleaf in the photo above, are important plants in bogs. Bogs are mainly found in northern, cool climates, since that is were precipitation is often greater than evaporation. Bogs mostly obtain their water from precipitation. Due to the harsh, acidic conditions, a limited, set of extraordinary plants and animals live in bogs.

Standing in Fox Nature Preserve’s bog, with the tentative support of sphagnum moss!

The Blanket of Peat Moss

As I regained my footing after loosing my boots and crawling through blueberries, I was blown away by the bog’s peculiar appearance. The ground was a blanket of sphagnum moss, spongy but durable. I could feel the water beneath me, swaying by the command of my foot’s movement. Unique plants were found nestled in the moss blanket; tamarack and black spruce trees dotted the bog.

As mentioned previously, bogs are covered in sphagnum moss, a plant that makes the bog ecosystem possible. According to Milne Library, sphagnum moss heavily influences an ecosystem as it makes areas acidic, nutrient-poor and filled with water. Sphagnum moss and carnivorous plants such as sundews and pitcher plants thrive in these conditions because competitors find these conditions unfavorable.

A close up of the sphagnum moss at Fox Nature Preserve

Pitcher plants (Sarracenia purpurea) are a symbol of survival in low-nutrient conditions. These plants eat insects to compensate for the lack of nutrients from bogs. According to the Irish Peatland Conservation Council, the insects on the pitcher plants’ menu include spiders, flies, midges, and beetles. Pitcher plants lure them to the pitchers with their meat-like patterns and their nectar’s aroma. Once in the pitcher the insect is trapped by the sticky nectar and unique hairs that keep them from crawling out. Digestive enzymes allow the pitcher plant to break down the insect as a satisfactory meal.

Pitcher plant flower found at Fox Nature Preserve. The pitchers are below the flower stalk, nestled in the moss

Trees can also be found in bogs! The bog at Fox Nature Preserve includes tamarack trees, black spruce, and white pine. Tamarack trees are a common tree found in bogs since they can tolerate the acidic soils. Tamaracks are a unique member of the conifer family because they are deciduous, meaning they are one of the few to lose their needles in the fall! Look for the beautiful golden hues of tamarack in wetlands this fall.

Fall bog, with golden tamarack and rich green black spruce

Bogs can appear to be an uneventful ecosystem, but they are important habitat for many animals. According to National Geographic, amphibians thrive in insect-rich bogs. And according to Michigan Natural Features Inventory, swamp sparrows and song sparrows can be found in bogs. These sparrows typically nest throughout Michigan, then most move a bit south during the winter to find food and better habitat during the cold months.

The Life Lesson from Bogs

Life can be full of seemingly unfavorable conditions, just like a bog. Your car might break down, you might be tired studying for classes, you and a friend might be fighting, or you might feel unfulfilled in life. In some cases, enduring unfavorable conditions can lead to great reward. Like a patient pitcher plant patiently bubbling up a fly stew to get scarce nutrients, your sleepless nights of studying can reward you with an excellent exam score. However, some unfavorable conditions make it necessary to change something in life. Maybe there comes a point where you need to uproot your life and relocate, like a swamp sparrow traveling for food. Sometimes in life we must be a pitcher plant, and sometimes we have to be a swamp sparrow. There is nothing wrong with being either to navigate the unfavorable conditions life may send our way. Life can be like a bog sometimes, and considering how amazing bogs are, sometimes that’s not so bad.

The Fungus From Another Land

/ Cassie Stitzman / 1 Comment

On a cool, cloudy afternoon earlier this summer, we stewards hunted for garlic mustard in the marshy woods of Charles Ilsley Park. The air was crisp, and I could feel the wind brushing my back as I walked. I kept my eyes peeled for the biennial invasive, doing my best to contribute to ecological wellness. That was when something unusual caught my eye. I stumbled upon a wet, decaying log with fungal clusters along its back. After asking some identification questions, I found that this fungus was none other than the Golden Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus citrinopileatus).

How interesting! Each individual mushroom had a slightly different cap and shape despite being in the same cluster. The subjects in each cluster proudly displayed their bright yellow caps, earning this oyster mushroom its name.

Golden oyster mushrooms feasting on a log found at Charles Ilsley Park

Mushrooms Escaped from Cultivation

The golden oyster, or yellow oyster, mushroom originated in the woodlands of Russia, Japan, and Northern China, where it enjoys cool, shady woodland areas. The golden oyster thrives on decaying wood, especially elm, but is capable of growing on several substrates. Thanks to the variety of culinary and medicinal uses, the fungi has long been cultivated across Asia, and is now widely grown in the United States.

The joys of farming golden oyster fungi had consequences, though. According to Andi Bruce, a professional mycologist, the golden oyster mushroom escaped cultivation and made its way into natural habitats, the first known cultivated fungus to do so. As far as we know, their pale, pink spores are easily spread by the longhorn beetle, Callipogon relictus.

The golden-oyster mushroom’s bright caps at Charles Ilsley Park

Learning About Golden Oyster Mushrooms

The golden oyster mushroom made its first appearance in 2012, and has now been found in several states, including Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Iowa. What will be impacted by this nonnative fungus? Or will anything be impacted at all? Only time will tell. On a positive note, while further research is needed, the golden oyster might have use absorbing toxins in the environment such as oil spills and wastewater. Maybe some good can come out of these chewy, fragile mushrooms.

Do the unknowns of the golden oyster mushroom shake you? Do you want to unravel golden information on this record-breaking fungi? Citizen scientists can help by taking photographs of specimens they’ve come across and posting them to iNaturalist! The Osmundson Lab from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is continuing to accept samples for future research. If you want to take a step further in future research contributions, consider submitting a live sample. Instructions can be found here.

A cool, shady woodland area in Bear Creek Nature Park. The perfect habitat for golden oyster fungi

What a mystery this fungus is! It will be exciting to learn more about the golden oyster mushroom as we learn more about its spread and ecology in North America. Who knows what else will unfold? The world is such a wonderful place full of secrets waiting to be discovered, a world beyond internet and textbooks!

When taking a stroll in one of our beautiful parks, ask yourself, “What can I learn on this path today?” Perhaps on a morning walk through Bear Creek Nature Park, you might notice how beautiful bee balm splashes the fields in purple swaths. As you take in the view, a refreshing smell may hit your nose. With further exploration you may find out it was none other than bee balm itself, giving you a refreshing aroma as a “thank you” for enjoying nature’s beauty. Maybe you’ll walk on Paint Creek Trail and hear a faint rustling in the tall grasses. In the brief moment of asking yourself, “What was that sound?”, an innocent fawn may race across the wet prairie, with its spots disappearing as quickly as its sound.

Nature is so beautiful and mysterious, with so much to admire and understand. Don’t just walk in the parks. Take time to admire blue birds in the sky, or milkweed waving to monarch butterflies. Take a moment to appreciate sensitive ferns and lupines, flourishing in the soils they stand in. When exploring our parks, your observance may lead to discoveries!

Vernal Pools: A Wetland Wonderland

/ Cassie Stitzman / 2 Comments

Marquette’s Migration and the Blue-Spotted Salamander Surveys

My friends and I carefully tip-toed on the closed, wet road of Peter White Drive in Presque Isle Park in Marquette, Michigan on a rainy spring night. The air was crisp, filled with bellows of cheerful people of the Marquette community. The trees of Presque Isle Park surrounded the paved road, allowing the small creatures who travel over the pavement a sense of safety and peace when they make it to the other side.  

A blue-spotted salamander from Presque Isle Park in Marquette, MI

Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to conduct blue-spotted salamander surveys in Marquette. These adorable, tiny amphibians are painted with what looks like flecks of blue sky scattered along their dark bodies. Blue-spotted salamanders are shy creatures that awake to the rising moon. They inhabit forested areas and are most commonly found at vernal pools in spring. Unlike other salamanders, the blue-spotted salamanders do not lay eggs in clumps, but rather with individual eggs flickered amongst leaves and sticks on the bottom of a vernal pool.

Two blue-spotted salamanders being observed under a lamp

The road closure in Presque Isle Park begins at the end of March and continues until the end of April each year, allowing amphibians to safely cross the street. Rainy weather, and 35-45 degree temperatures provide further inspiration for several salamanders, toads, and frogs to continue their travels to the vernal pools. One perfect, rainy night, my good friends and I counted 112 blue-spotted salamanders and two wood frogs!

A wood frog found with the blue-spotted salamanders, together on their vernal pool expedition!

This migration makes local news and is a huge opportunity to participate in citizen science! Thanks to an evening, annual road closure in Presque Isle Park, the blue-spotted salamanders can safely travel from their burrows to vernal pools, where they lay their eggs in the same pool they were born in. If you’re looking for an evening adventure, I highly recommend joining Marquette’s blue-spotted salamander surveys. Just watch your step!

Salamanders and Vernal Pools Throughout Michigan

Marquette is a long drive from southeast Michigan. Fortunately, Oakland Township has plenty of vernal pools bursting with life. You can travel just 10 minutes from home to witness these wondrous habitats found in our parks.

A vernal pool found at Charles Ilsley Park

Vernal pools are temporary ponds that are formed by the melting of winter snow or early spring rains. They are a true sign of spring! Vernal pools- or vernal ponds (“vernal” meaning spring) – typically dry out by the end of the summer, but flow with biodiversity while they are present! These pools are temporary nurseries for amphibious offspring, made possible by the lack of predatory fish. While vernal pools thrive in the early spring, they can still be found throughout the parks in June. If you come across one, it is likely in its beginning stages of drying out. The vernal pools at this time of year, depending on their size, may have significantly less water in them compared to spring.

The larval stage of the salamander with gills and tail fins. In June the salamander eggs have hatched and look like this larva.

Vernal pools can be found throughout Oakland Township’s parks. Various species from frogs, fairy shrimp, and salamanders inhabit these ephemeral ponds! On a lovely hike through Bear Creek Nature Park, Charles Ilsley Park, or Cranberry Lake Park, you just might hear the bullfrog sing or see a peaceful wood duck floating on a vernal pool.

Eastern redback salamander at Blue Heron Environmental Area. Photo by Camryn.
Gray tree frog at Watershed Ridge Park.

Why are Vernal Pools Important?

Vernal pools are important for forest ecosystem health. Not only are they a nursery for amphibians, they are a temporary source of food and water for numerous species such as raccoons, ducks, and egrets. They are often called the “Coral Reefs of Northeastern Forests” for their bursts of biodiversity, several species can be found here if you look a little closer into the water.

If you would like to get up close and personal with vernal pools, grab your bug spray and muck boots for Michigan’s Vernal Pool Patrol! This program allows community members to participate in community science to collect information on identifying, mapping, and monitoring vernal pools statewide. The Michigan Vernal Pool Database, where this information is submitted, can be used to guide management decisions on vernal pool conservation. After attending some training (held in early spring each year), you will be ready to contribute to the Michigan Vernal Pool Database! If this is something that interests you, follow this link to the Michigan Vernal Pool Patrol website.

Alyssa Radzwion from Oakland Township Parks and Ian Ableson of Six Rivers Conservancy observing tiny life in a vernal pool at Bear Creek Nature Park in 2019.

If you ever see a vernal pool, consider taking a moment to enjoy its beauty and small wetland critters. Vernal pools can teach us to enjoy the little things in life, and appreciate them while they are still here with us. Yes, life gets busy, we live in a world that requires us to always be on the move. But by living this way, we just might forget about the little things. Tell your friends and family you love them, take your dog out for a walk, buy that stranger in the coffee shop their latte. All it takes are the little things to make someone’s day.

Meet Cassie: The Girl Who Never Gives Up

/ Cassie Stitzman / 2 Comments

We’re excited to welcome our 2022 seasonal stewardship crew! Camryn Brent, Cassie Stitzman, and Emma Campbell joined us in the last few weeks and will be out in the parks doing much-needed ecological restoration work until the end of the summer. This week Cassie Stitzman shares her introduction. Her enthusiasm and excitement are contagious! Drop a comment to help us welcome her to Oakland Township.
-Ben

Hello! My name is Cassie Stitzman and I am an Oakland Township Land Stewardship Technician for the summer. This is my very first field season! I’m excited to be part of the Oakland Township Parks and Recreation team and I am grateful for the opportunity. I am thrilled to work with people that are passionate about preserving ecosystems and meeting people in the community.

Me in a small field of Golden Ragwort at Paint Creek Heritage Area – Wet Prairie

Growing up, I loved animals and was fascinated with their abilities to survive in the wilderness. I loved watching Meerkat Manor, reading wildlife books, and taking hikes in nearby natural areas. As I got older, I realized that there are a variety of careers in wildlife conservation. I graduated from Schoolcraft Community College with an Associate’s in Science in May 2020. During my time there I tried, again and again, to gain experience to no avail. Despite my discouragement, I didn’t give up and continued my search for conservation opportunities. My search led me to work at a dog daycare for two years and volunteering at a wildlife sanctuary.

Me holding a painted turtle at Bear Creek Nature Park

To continue my quest, I am currently pursuing my Bachelor’s in Fisheries and Wildlife Management at Northern Michigan University (NMU). At NMU, I was excited to gain new experiences and meet people with my same passion for wildlife. I joined the NMU Fisheries and Wildlife Association, a student club filled with other enthusiastic people. This club means so much to me and has given me many opportunities to gain experience. I’ve met new people, done camera trapping, and attended the 82nd Midwest Fisheries and Wildlife Conference.

During my first NMU semester, I tried to become an officer for Winter 2022, but was not elected. I reran to be an officer for Fall 2022, and I’m pleased to say that I’ve been voted as secretary for Fall 2022. I am so excited to give back to the club with new experiences, projects, and additional opportunities. I’m also assisting a grad student with research by sorting through a large data set of red fox images from iNaturalist. This data will be used to determine how red fox distribution may be influenced by environmental factors. I’m grateful for the experiences I’ve made, and I look forward to more!

Jack-in-the-pulpit found at Bear Creek, my favorite plant so far!

These endless opportunities fuel me with excitement and indecisiveness! Every position I encounter appeals to my interest and passion for conservation, and every time I learn about a new area of study I become instantly fascinated by it. Career areas that are exceptionally interesting to me are invasive species management, endangered species protection, and human-wildlife conflict. I don’t know what exactly I want to be, I just know that I want to contribute to conservation.

So far at Oakland Township Parks, I have enjoyed every second of my time here. From getting rained down on while hunting for garlic mustard, from spreading seed in the heat, and from seeing the beautiful wildlife on habitat restoration adventures. I love being outside, no matter what the conditions are. I love the challenge of being in difficult weather and I love the peace a cool, partly cloudy day can bring. I love coming into work everyday knowing that I am contributing to the wellbeing of the parks!

So far on my journey, I’ve learned that failure should only be motivation to strive farther and work harder. Never give up on your dreams, they just might come true!