What is it?
This was the first time students from Rice came to visit us and we hope you come again. We really enjoyed your curiosity and interest in class. On our day hike in the park students were already applying what they learned in class to explore nature.
We all took time out of our hike to get to know trees better; we identified a few species than saw how the mountain pine beetle can harm them. The beetle tunnels into the bark of trees that are weak from drought, old age, or overcrowding. Trees like the large Ponderosa Pine shown here that have plentiful resin are able to push the intruding beetles back out.
Dead Beetle
We saw a few beetles stuck in globs resin that couldn’t survive the trees defenses.
When we got up to Cub Lake we saw some trees that were not so lucky. There were may brown Lodgepole pines surrounding the lake. Lodgepoles are smaller and grow close together so they have a tougher time with the pine beetle.
What is it?
At cub lake we used what we learned in water ecology and searched for some different macro-invertebrates. We found lots of snails and a really amazing caddisfly larvae in the water.
Caddisfly Larvae
The caddisfly we found was using a hollow plant stem as a home, sometimes they build protective cases out of small pebbles and silk. Next time your near some water look for some of those bugs that are intolerant to pollution.
Enjoy the rest of fall, and throw some leaves up in the air!
Fun in the Aspen Grove
ali said,
October 8, 2008 @ 11:03 pm
I came I was at Rice and you did a good job
Rachel Heiden said,
October 8, 2008 @ 11:12 pm
I had so much fun if I could i would come there a lot, but unfortunately I can’t so thanks a bunch I had a blast. Josiah you were hilarious, paul you were awesome, brian, i had fun on the night hike, dan, you are funny thanks for showing us the skekton, ali, you are very nice, erin, that erosion game was cool, and thanks to all COVENANT HEIGHTS!!!!!!!!!!