Boren Park: Mushroom and Lichen Hunt - Journal Entry 4

I had so much fun working on this week's journal assignment.  After documenting the phenology of my site (see post below), I went on a fungus and lichen hunt in order to see what was growing in Boren Park.  I arrived just after a light rain shower and I knew the conditions would be right for spotting at least one of my quarry, mushrooms. Boy, was I right I found them everywhere!  As for the lichens I was pretty sure I would only be able to find a few and I was correct.   Presently, I have absolutely no mushroom ID skills so I am unable to provide any names to the fungus specimens.  As for the lichen I have done my best to identify them using the course plant field guide.  Please enjoy the fungus and lichen of Boren Park.     









The lichen that is pictured to the left and just below this caption is called Antlered Perfume (Evernia prunastri).  It has dull greenish-white antler shaped leaf structures, hence the reference to antlers in the name.  These "antlers" stand semi-erect or hang off of whatever it grows on.  As epiphytic organism, it is found growing mainly in open lowland areas on deciduous and coniferous trees and shrubs. (Pojar & Mackinnon 1994) I found this specimen growing on a fallen tree branch at the beginning of Boren Park trail.    

The mushrooms pictured to the right and just below this caption are unknown to me at this time.  I found these specimens growing in a hollow formed by an uprooted tree.  They have a light to dark brown cap that gets progressively lighter in color almost becoming a light tan color at the cap edges.  There was a strange odor emanating from the hollow were tiny gnats flying around inside.     

The unknown mushroom pictured above and to the right  of this caption was found growing out of the side of a log.  It seems to have an ear shape with a cap that is light tan and is covered with white crackling marks. This specimen was probably no more than two and half centimeters in diameter.   

The tiny unknown mushrooms pictured above were growing out of a very decomposed log.  They have a shiny brownish-translucent one centimeter cap that stands precariously atop a tall stalk.  They almost look  like they are made of gelatin. 

I found this little guy growing up through the leaf litter at the bottom on a tree near an exposed root.  It has a slightly ruffled edge on a light brown cap.  It has lines that radiate out from the center of the cap to the edges. Not sure what kind of mushroom it is but it was well camouflaged. I am still not sure  how I managed to notice it in the first place.I moved some leaf litter in order to photograph the specimen. 

The lichen pictured above and to the left of this caption is called Dust Lichen (Lepraria species).  Up close it is made up of whitish powdery granules and typically grows on sheltered bark (Pojar & Mackinnon 1994).  This colony has found the north side of this tree to be a well sheltered spot. 

The unknown mushrooms pictured above and to the left of this caption were the smallest of  all of the fungi I photographed in the park.  I would estimate that the bright white caps were no more than half a centimeter.  Interestingly enough the caps are supported by an unbelievably tall and delicate stalk.  Although very tiny, they were very easy to spot. 

The meaty mushrooms to the left and below this caption were all over this one particular spot  along the trail.  They are relatively large, about the size of a baseball and are a brownish-orange color.  They have a wavy upturned cap with the gills exposed.  Something I found interesting was that seemed to be growing right next to pieces of cut wood but not on the wood.  This area is very wet and I presume the wood is retaining moisture for these mushrooms to thrive.   

The lichen pictured to the  right and below this caption is called Cladonia Scales (Cladonia species).  It has a greenish-greyish scale which makes it very recognizable.  I found this specimen growing near the base of a large bigleaf maple tree. 

The lichen to the left of this caption is called Ragbag (Paltismatia glauca).  This specimen was growing on one of the many felled trees that block the Boren Park trail.  I had to be careful not to disturb the colony as I climbed over the fallen tree.  This lichen produces a pale blueish-green lobed leaf structure that clings to the side of the trees. (Pojar & MacKinnon 1994) I am not sure what the reddish discoloration is but according to the field guide ragbag is a "bewilderingly variable species" (Pojar & MacKinnon 1994) so I presume this is a slightly different variety than the one pictured in the field guide.  Or maybe it changes color  in the fall as well.     

The last mushrooms I will share for this journal entry are the ones pictured to the right of this caption.  These unknown little puffballs  made me laugh.  Initially I thought I found a large puffball type mushroom buried deep in a small  tree hollow.  Turns out that large puffball was a really a Titleist brand golf ball.  Unfortunately, I did not take a photograph of the golf ball but while getting up from the tree hollow I spotted these two oddly shaped puffball mushrooms right  next to me.  I laughed because it was just too  coincidental that I would find the very mushroom I just mistook for a golf ball at my feet.   

Observations of Boren Park: A Sensory Experience - Journal Entry 4

It’s October 28^th, 2015 at about 3pm and it has been two weeks since I last documented Boren Park.  I arrive back in the park just after a light rain storm.   The soothing sounds of white noise permeates the forest as falling water droplets crash onto the leaf strewn grown.  As I begin my light trek to my observation spot I notice a moderately sized branch lay out across the trail.  This fallen branch was not there last time, but it reminded me that I should investigate why the trail is closed.  I have two ideas as to why the trail might be out of service.  The first idea that immediately came to mind is landslides.  The steep northeast slopes of Capitol Hill are known to fail periodically.  The second idea that I could come up with was fallen trees.  We will see which one is correct.    Today the temperature seems a bit warmer than usual.  I check my thermometer and notice that it’s about 60 degrees at my site.  While the sun does not shine in the forest today, it seems more alive than any time I have visited before. 

My observation spot has not changed all that much.  The forest canopy continues to open as more and more leaves drop to the ground.  In this part of the park the majority of the all trees are big leaf maple with western red cedar punctuating the spaces in between.  Although  the  park seems wetter than before  the  giant horsetails I saw growing during my last two visits  have started to fall  over from  their  enormous  heights.  Today there are more bird songs than ever before.  I stood still for about ten minutes trying to at least identify how many distinct calls I could hear.  I think this time I hear at least five different calls.  Some may have been from the same birds but I am not certain at this time.  In addition to the numerous birds singing in the forest, I notice that the squirrels were hard at work foraging and hiding their winter sustenance.  As I wrap up my observations I decide to further explore the park.  I want to know why the trail is closed and now I want to know where exactly the trail ends.  I leave my spot and trek up the trail moving up in elevation as I go. 

 

As I continued up the trail I came across two trees that have fallen on top of the trail.  By the appearance of the tree throw, these trees fell no more than a few months ago.  I climb over the obstacle and continue around the bend in the trail.  Here I find a rather curious set of objects.  I came across a very large and heavy iron doughnut shaped weight along with a deep rounded concrete bowl.  It is difficult to tell how long these items have been in the woods since they seem rather clean; however the iron doughnut is very rusty. If I were to guess I would say this is some kind of vessel mooring weight.  It is very odd as to why it is here in the middle of the Seattle’s urban woods.  Continuing onward, I move along the walls of the ravine, while climbing ever higher in elevation.  I come across another fallen tree.  Then I came across another.  After encountering five fallen trees along the trail I come to the conclusion that the trail is closed due to tree fall.  However, given how waterlogged the park already is it would not be hard to imagine a slide happening in the near future. 

 

Mt. Rainer, Mima Mounds & Nisqually River Delta Weekend Field Trip - Journal Entry 3

Mt. Rainier (Tahoma): Shrouded in it's own micro-climate.

·         It’s Saturday October, 17^th 2015 at about ten-thirty.  We have already started our weekend long field trip and are at our first stop of the day.  Tim begins his roadside lecture at a lookout point on the road leading up the mountain.  He explains that vegetation zones around the mountain are determined by snow pack.  I interpret this information to mean that temperature which is directly influenced by altitude and the  type (snow, rain or fog) and amount of precipitation  are the key factors in determining the distribution of plant and animal species.  At the view point he informs us that we are currently standing in the mountain hemlock zone.  I also take note  that no deciduous trees are present at this  altitude.   Up here trees have adapted to have a more spire-like shape in order to prevent snow from accumulating on their branches. Above is a shot of Mount Rainier, our next stop.  Suddenly, a feeling excited anticipation sweeps over me, for today is the day I finally get to the meet the mountain.  Today is the day I get to see Mount Rainier up close.    

 

Mt. Rainier (Tahoma): Stairs leading to trails at Paradise with John Muir quote. 

·         It’s about twelve-thirty and we are finally up at Paradise.  There is a bit of a sprinkle at this attitude as the clouds loom close to the mountain.  We begin our short hike to the lateral moraine of Nisqually glacier, the target of our journey.  However, before we begin we are greeted by a powerful John Muir quote engraved into the granite stairs by the parks service. “…the most luxuriant and the most extravagantly beautiful of all the alpine gardens I ever beheld in all of my mountain-top wanderings. -John Muir 1889"  I cannot wait to behold the glory of this mountain for  I am sure I will  not be disappointed.    

Mt. Rainier (Tahoma): Top of the mountain is visible for only a moment.

We are standing on a lateral moraine looking up at Nisqually glacier at about 5,500 ft above sea-level.  Up there at about 6000 - 7000 above seal-level  is the alpine zone where trees are not able to grow.  At first glance  the glacier  seems to stop in the middle of the photo.  What I had not realize initially was that the glacier actually extends further down that it appears.  The bottom part of the glacier is covered by debris and looks like a rubble pile. Successive glaciations over tens of thousands of years have carved out the glacial valley that is the source of the Nisqually river. 

Mt. Rainier (Tahoma): Terminus of Nisqually glacier.

If you look more closely you can observe the water channels coming out of the rubble pile revealing white snow underneath.  This is the melting snout of the glacier scouring through the debris piled on top of it.  According to Tim and Shane there has been significant collapse  of the ice cave seen in the middle  of the photo since last year.  A clear indication of  glacial retreat.    

Mt. Rainier (Tahoma): View of trail we took get to Nisqually glacier lateral moraine.

At this altitude abiotic factors such as climate, slope and  soil type primarily dictate what species of plants and animals can survive here.  Organism must be well suited to the ever-changing and harsh conditions of the mountain side.  The mountain side in this view is dominated  by sub  alpine fir and some mountain hemlock.

Mt. Rainier (Tahoma): Common Beard Moss (Schistidium apocarpum) growing on the side of a rock.

In this photo a clump of common beard moss clings to the top of a large cobble that is sticking out  of the moraine.

Mount Rainier (Tahoma): Sketch looking down from lateral moraine.

Mt. Rainier (Tahoma): Nurse log over 100 feet long in old growth forest.

After visiting the Nisqually glacier we descended from Paradise and took a moment to explore a small  section of old  growth forest.  Down here in the western hemlock zone the area is  dominated by huge western hemlock but also many giant Douglas fir and very large western red cedars abound.  In this photo  the class examines a nurse log that is over 100 feet tall.  Nurse logs provide new habitat for plants and animals on the forest floor as well as make  room for  trees in the under story to grow.  The four characteristics of an old growth forest are B.U.N.S. which means big trees, under story, nurse logs and snags.  This stop on the trip was the best example of B.U.N.S.  we  saw  the entire weekend.  

Mima Mounds: Class takes in view from observation deck.

On the second day of our trip we visited the mysterious Mima  Mounds.  Many theories have been postulated on the mounds  formation but no one is certain which one or ones are responsible.  Such theories include; earthquakes, floods, erosion and  melting glacial  ice.   

Mima Mounds: Tim stands in front of mound  cross-section for scale.

Evidence has shown that the mounds are composed of layers that include glacial out-wash sediments underneath the mounds.  I personally think the mounds are man made and could have  been manufactured  to create a more  productive hunting ground.  However, like all of the other  theories I just do not have enough evidence to support  it. The Mima Mounds area is a prairie that was maintained by Native American tribes through frequent burning.  The practice of burning helped maintain prairie lands by releasing nutrients back into the soil, eliminating/reducing invasive or aggressive species as wells as  preventing large trees from growing. Soils  in this area are sandy and contain  small rocky particles that drain very well. 

Mima Mounds: Close-up of Kinnikinnick (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) and it's berries  growing on the side of a mound.

After spending some time by myself  on a secluded mound I notice a bright red set of berries on the next to me.  This berry bearing shrub is called  Kinnikinnick which local tribes use as medicine for kidney diseases and infections of the urinary passage.

Mima Mounds: Sketch of Oxeye Daisy.

Mima Mouds: Unknown Mushroom.

Nisqually Delta: Wooded  wetlands.

The last stop on our weekend long field  trip was the Nisqually Delta.  This beautiful low land area is where the Nisqually river meets the Puget Sound.  Down here were are  still  in the western hemlock vegetative zone but we know have lots of other tree  species including deciduous  trees.  Here biotic forces are overwhelming as all manner  of organism compete for the bountiful  resources  of the delta. The  area is  host to a rich variety of plants  and  animals but  most  notably the area attracts an enormous amount  of birds.  

Nisqually Delta: Dead trees killed by salt water intrusion.

The delta is full of  fine sediments brought down to it  from Mount Rainier via the Nisqually River.  These fine sediments for  mud and clays  that do not drain very well.   In the shot above the tide has  receded and  exposed the mucky surface of the delta.  This area was walled off  by large dike system, drained and converted into fertile farm land.  However, recently the delta was restored to its former glory when the dikes were removed and nature resumed its course.  

Throughout this entire weekend  long journey I have been awestruck  and amazed at every turn.  I  think it was perfect how each  stop  along the way highlighted how geology and climate dictate the distribution of plant  and animal species.  This trip has opened my eyes to the language of nature and I look forward to becoming fluent in it.