Old Woman Creek

Day 1 (10/3/13): Plankton tow from Old Woman Creek Estuary; plankton tow from Lake Erie

            On October 4^th, we went to Old Woman Creek, which is located in Huron. Old Woman Creek is an estuary (area where the river meets the lake) that is used for research and education purposes. This location is known for trying to find solutions to various common water abnormalities. Old Woman Creek is an interesting location because it contains various types of habitats: marshes, swamps, upland forests, open water and tributary streams. Old Woman Creek is ideal for research and education because it has different types of habitats and it also has a very diverse range of plants and animals that are native to freshwater estuaries.

Daphnia pulex 
(Image from Wikipedia)

Plankton tows collected from the estuary and Lake Erie were observed on the first night. We were not able to examine concentrated water samples, however, because we forgot to pack pipets (whoops…)

The plankton tow collected from the estuary yielded thousands of Daphnia and Bosmina but few algae. Because phytoplankton are food for zooplankton, we were not surprised to find only a few taxa in our sample. Merismopedia, a genus of cyanobacteria that forms characteristic sheets of coccoid cells, was seen in this sample, as cyanobacteria are not preferred food for zooplankton. Large chains of Fragilaria (Bacillariophyta) were also seen among the zooplankton.

Fragilaria crotonensis
(Image from craticula.ncl.ac.uk)

The plankton tow from Lake Erie was more diverse; in addition to Fragilaria and Merismopedia, we found multiple Pediastrum (Chlorophyta) species and two Dinophyte genera, Ceratium and Pediastrum.

Day 2 (10/4/13): Plankton tows and periphyton samples, macroinvertebrate samples, and fish seine samples collected from Old Woman Creek Estuary

            During our Saturday morning canoe trip down the estuary, we collected several plankton tows, periphyton grab samples, and picked out some macroinvertebrates to identify in the OWC lab.  Following our canoe excursion (and the few hours of nice weather) we learned how to collect fish using a seine net, similar to our method of collecting macroinvertebrates from North Chagrin River. Only one taxa of fish were collected from multiple seining attempts; Emerald Shiners (Notropis antherinoides) were abundant. These fish feed on zooplankton and phytoplankton and are excellent food sources for larger sport fish.

OWC estuary, with invasive Phragmites
covering most of the shoreline

            In addition to fish seining, we used dip nets around the bank of the estuary to collect macroinvertebrates. Water boatmen (Corixidae) were the most abundant macroinvertebrate. Water scuds (Amphipoda) were also identified in the field burrowing in filamentous green algae.

In the lab, we recorded many genera of algae and families of macroinvertebrates.

            We found at least 27 genera of diatoms (Bacillariophyta), but could have easily found more if time allowed. Diatom genera included Achnanthidium, Amphora, Aulocoseira, Bacillaria (check out the sweet video of a Bacillaria colony moving), Cocconeis, Cyclotella, Cymbella, Diadesmis, Encyonema and Gomphonema (forming stalks connected by mucilage and free-swimming frustules), Eunotia (a typical indicator of acidic waters), Frustulia, Gyrosigma (often found in soils or wetlands with high dissolved oxygen), Hippodonta, long chains of Melosira varians, Navicula (named for and identified by it’s boat-shaped frustule), Nitzschia, Pinnularia, Placoneis, Planothidium, long chains of Pseudostaurosira, Sellaphora, Stauroneis, Stephanodiscus, Surirella, Synedra, Tryblionella, and Ulnaria.

Tetrastrum sp.

cf. Centritractus sp.

            Green algae were more difficult to identify; the diverse genera found in these samples are not often seen in the Johansen lab, so identifications were based on Prescott’s Algae of the Great Lakes reference book. Genera of both Chlorophyta and Charophyta included Ankistrodesmus, Characium, a bloom-forming nuisance alga called Cladophora, crescent-shaped Closterium, Cosmarium, Desmodesmus, an interesting and rarely seen alga which we called Echinosphaerella, colonies of horseshoe-shaped cells of Kirchneriella, Monoraphidium, Oedogonium, several species of Pediastrum, Scenedesmus, and a clover-shaped colony of what we believe to be Tetrastrum. Cyanobacteria were not as abundant as diatoms or green algae, but six genera were recorded: Anabaena, Cylindrospermum, Geitlerinema, Leibleinia, more Merismopedia, and Pseudanabaena. Higher resolution identification of cyanobacteria is nearly impossible without the aid of molecular methods. Additional divisions of algae were recorded, including the popular zooplankton food item Dinobryon (Chryosphyta), Synura (Synurophyta), another rare taxa which most closely resembled the Trybophyte Centritractus, the Dinophyte Gymnodinium, and several Euglenophyta (Euglena, Lepocinclis, Phacus, and Trachelomonas), all of which are typically considered to be indicators of eutrophication.

            Many families of macroinvertebrates (Class Insecta) were recorded using dissecting microscopes. These included Gerridae (Water Strider), Haliplidae (Crawling Water Beetle), a gnarly-looking Stratiomyidae (Soldier fly), Corixidae (Water boatman), Coenagrionidae (Narrow-winged damselfly), Baetidae (Small Minnow Mayfly), Belostomatidae (Giant Water Bug), and Libellulidae (Dragonfly).

            In addition to algae, macroinvertebrates, fish, and zooplankton, we identified other types of organisms. These included testate amoebae (Cercozoa), ciliates including Vorticella, Paramecia and Stentor, as well as Gastrotrichs (Gastrotricha) and the sulfur bacterium Beggiatoa.

Day 3 (10/5/13): Field excursions to Sheldon Marsh and Magee Marsh

Sheldon Marsh, full of Phragmites

            On October 6th, we visited two wetlands near Old Woman Creek. We first visited Sheldon Marsh. Sheldon Marsh is owned by the state right on the shoreline of the Sandusky Bay Region. Sheldon Marsh is of great important because it currently home to many plants and animals that have been starting to get limited. Sheldon Marsh has done a great job of preserving various habitats like old-field, hardwood forest, woodland swamp, cattail marsh and barrier sand beach. All these habitats used to be common along Lake Erie’s western basin, but it has definitely become less common over the years. Sheldon Marsh is also known for housing 300 different variants of birds as well as being home to variety of wildflowers. Some of the birds that are seen at Sheldon marsh are great blue herons, red-tail hawks, wood ducks and many more.

            The second site we visited was Magee Marsh. Magee Marsh is located in Port Clinton, Ohio. This marsh first became famous for hunting. In the 1900s, wealthy sportsmen would come to Magee Marsh to hunt for various types of game. Some of the wildlife that is seen at Magee Marsh is waterfowl, waterbirds, shorebirds, and songbirds. In addition to attracting people for hunting, Magee Marsh does an excellent job of keeping the wetland habitat in good condition for the different types of wildlife that it houses.

During both field trips, we identified a few vascular plants and various waterfowl. The most striking observation was the abundance of the invasive plant Phragmites at Sheldon Marsh, which has taken over a large portion of wetlands, removing water that waterfowl prefer, and has outcompeted native cattail species. Other plant species included goldenrod, swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata), Pokeweed (Phytolacca Americana), and Cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium), which we found stuck to our clothing throughout the entire weekend. Magee Marsh had limited trail access because children were playing with guns in the woods. However, we had a lovely hike around the 1-mile of open trail, played with a baby snake, saw a crazy Asian praying mantis, and ate apples off of a tree.

A Weekend at Old Woman Creek

On Friday afternoon, the Aquatic Resources class from John Carroll left for the Old Woman Creek Research Reserve in Huron, Ohio. The goal for the weekend was to sample the water for algae, to sample the macroinvertebrate communities, and to learn about the greater wetland community in the area.  We also had the opportunity to seine for fish and to visit nearby wetlands. 

Areas outlined in red belong to the Old Woman Creek National Estuarine Research Reserve

    The Old Woman Creek Research Reserve is a member of the National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NOAA). It is unique because it is one of the only freshwater estuaries in the system. Usually people think of estuaries as places where saltwater and freshwater mix, but in this case, Old Woman Creek mixes with Lake Erie.  Even though theses are both freshwater systems, they have different water chemistry and where they mix provides another type of habitat. The Old Woman Creek estuary is an important area to preserve and study because it is still a naturally functioning estuary. Many other estuaries on Lake Erie have manmade features, such as breakwalls, docks, and channels, which have been added for recreation or industry. These structures change how the estuary functions. It was a great opportunity to be able to visit a natural estuary and see how the system works first-hand.

View of estuary and Lake Erie

   On Friday night, the weather was nice with temperatures in the mid-60s and sunny skies. Right after we arrived, we sampled for plankton in Lake Erie, as well as in Old Woman Creek.  The sampling method used was a plankton tow. A plankton tow is a procedure that involves throwing a funnel- shaped, fine-meshed net into a body of water in order to collect samples of phytoplankton and zooplankton. These microorganisms are used as indicators of pollution, acidification, and concentration of nutrients in the body of water. This collection method was performed in Lake Erie and near Old Woman Creek Estuary. The samples collected were observed using microscopy. 

Plankton Tow

Samples from plankton tow

         The samples obtained were diatoms such as Melosira varians and Gyrosigma. Also, Dinophytes (Gymnodinium and Ceratium), Euglenoids (Euglena) were observed as well as some Green Algae such as Closterium and Pediastrium. The presence of these species indicates that the water quality is tolerable, however the presence of Euglena could indicate an increase in water nutrient concentration.  A large number of zooplankton were seen in these samples, which may have impacted the amount of algae seen under the microscope. Plankton tows are a great way of collecting quick samples of organisms to evaluate the water quality by the presence certain species of phytoplankton and zooplankton and knowing their tolerance to pollution.

View of Old Woman Creek

         On Saturday morning, we met with a staff member of the research station to go canoeing on Old Woman Creek. This area provides an important habitat for native fisheries as well as being an important birding area. While canoeing we got to see a Bald Eagle nest, an Osprey and Cormorants. One of the missions of the research reserve is to preserve these habitats. The removal of invasive Phragmites australis along the riverbank has been a challenge. This weed grows quickly and can overcrowd native aquatic plants. Currently, they are spraying Phragmites australis with a wetland-approved herbicide to make it die back, so that they can move in with restoration efforts. Once the Phragmites australis is removed native species are planted in those locations, in biodegradable plugs or pots. This allows the plants to get a steady root system in place.

In this area, native plants have been restored.

 Algae scrapes were performed on Old Woman Creek Estuary while canoeing. Samples were taken from different locations such as floating logs, near shoreline vegetation, under floating lotus leaves as well as near a concrete bridge stand. Other samples were collected using a plankton tow net while canoeing. This would let us examine the plankton and algae from various sections of Old Woman Creek. 

Fish seining in action

After canoeing, we ventured into the pouring rain to trying fish seining. Fish seining is a technique used to catch or collect various vertebrates (fish) using a dragnet. A dragnet is setup across a river stretch and fish are scared into the net by other people upstream walking towards the dragnet. The reason for fish seining is because fish are essential organisms in monitoring water quality. They are extremely vulnerable to changes in water quality, nutrient and oxygen availability as well as temperature and acidification. Scientists use fish as one of the means of monitoring water quality by understanding the preferable environment of a particular species of fish. During fish seining, the only fish collected were emerald shiners (Notropis atherinoides). 

Emerald Shiners

 

Collecting Shiners to send back to the research station

          Dip nets were also used to collect sample of invertebrates along the shoreline of the estuary. Invertebrates are essential bio-indicators. The greater the number of particular invertebrate in a body of water the better the water quality. If the body of water contains a lot of leeches and snails then the water quality is poor; however, if the water contains invertebrates such as Stoneflies (Plecoptera), Mayflies (Ephemeroptera) as well as Odonata species (Dragonflies and Damselflies) then it is safe to assume that the water quality is good. During the sampling process many species were collected such as Water Striders (Gerridae), Narrow- winged damselfly (Coenagrionidae), Dragonfly (Libellulidae) as well as Small Minnow Mayfly (Baetidae) and many more. These are definitely indicator of fair/good water quality. 

After all of the samples were collected they were taken to the research facility to be analyzed. The samples collected were by means of microscopy. Microsopy is an easy way to identifying species of organism by the means of their physical characteristics and then grouping them according to family. The samples collected included examples of organisms from: Sulfur Bacteria, Cyanobacteria, Chrysophyta, Synurophyta, Bacillariophyta, Tribophyta, Green Algae, Euglenophyta, Dinophyta, Cercozoa, Ciliphora, Gastrotricha. A complete list of all identifications is included below.  All of these organisms show the great diversity that is present in Old Woman Creek Estuary as well as indicate the pollution level of a body of water.

Examples of collected species

   

After identifying samples, we went on a tour of the visitor center and research facilities. The visitor center houses lots of exhibits to educate the public about issues of invasive species, native species preservation, and the history of the area.  The research facilities include a microscopy lab, an analytical chemistry lab for testing water chemistry, a radioisotope lab, along with general laboratory space. During the tour, we viewed a demo showing some of the tests used for water sample testing, such as pH and dissolved oxygen. There are some very exciting experiments taking place at the facility. An example of a past study is a paper that looked at the impact of pharmaceutical chemicals in the water. (http://www.csc.noaa.gov/magazine/2010/01/article2.html) 

On Sunday, we went to visit some wetlands (marshes) in the area. A marsh is a type of wetland that is primarily composed of herbaceous plants. They act as transition zones between aquatic and terrestrial habitats and are essential in creating mini environments for many different species. The first location was Sheldon Marsh. Sheldon Marsh is located next to a golf course, and the impacts of the fertilizer runoff is evident in the marsh. In some areas, the water is overgrown with algae and small aquatic plants, which is commonly a sign of eutrophication (excess nutrients in a system). This is a common problem in wetland systems, since they are usually surrounded by developed urban and suburban areas.  Invasive species were prevalent in Sheldon Marsh. Phragmites australis and Typha angustifolia (narrow-leaved cattails) were seen crowding out native cattails and other aquatic plants. These tall invasive species change the marsh habitat, leaving very little refugia and land for the migrating birds. 

Sheldon Marsh

Signs of eutrophication

The second location visited was Magee Marsh, located in Oak Harbor, Ohio. It serves as a home for many different species of plants and animals. During the trip to Magee Marsh we stumbled upon a small baby snake and a mantis. However, the marsh is home to many reptiles (snakes and turtles) and different types of birds (eagles, Canadian geese, waterfowl ,etc.). It also serves as a hunting ground for many people, attracting tourism. During the visit to Magee Marsh, no collection techniques were performed. The marsh serves as a habitat for a diverse array of wildlife, and faces many of the same challenges that were seen at Sheldon Marsh. Because these wetland systems are at risk from human impacts, it is critical that conservation efforts and education about the importance of wetlands continues. 

Magee Marsh

A complete list of species identified over the weekend:

Adventures at Old Woman Creek, Sheldon Marsh, and Magee Marsh (4-6 October 2013)

An aerial view of Old Woman Creek (Photo credit)

Old Woman Creek

Old Woman Creek (OWC) is a naturally functioning estuary, which is an environment where sources of water with different chemical properties combine. Backflow from Lake Erie into OWC creates a unique habitat for a diverse floral and faunal community. Located in Huron, OWC is a state nature preserve and the only national estuarine sanctuary in Ohio. 

Ben gathers a plankton tow sample from Lake Erie

On the first night of our trip, we went to the beach to get algae samples with plankton tows from Lake Erie and OWC. Plankton towing is an algal sampling method in which a funnel shaped mesh fabric attached to a collection jar is tossed into the water and then dragged across the surface to collect specimens. 

The tow obtained from the estuary had a large quantity of zooplankton (Daphnia). According to Dr. Johansen, depending on the density, the zooplankton can sometimes consume most of the algae from a tow before you take it back to the lab and get a chance to look at it under a microscope! In the samples we found cyanobacteria (Merismopedia and Afanizomenon), a cryptomonad (Cryptomonas), diatoms (Fragilaria crotonensis and Aulocosira gramulata), green algae (Pediastrum), and dinoflagellates (Peridinium and Ceratium). 

 

Alex and Ben are stoked to begin the canoe trip! (Photo credit: Kim Daut)

The next morning, we set off in canoes to explore the diversity of OWC. As we traveled along the creek, we collected algal samples by scraping partially submerged logs and by attaching a plankton tow net to the canoe. Our guide informed us that the plankton tow sample we collected for the OWC research center was only qualitative. For a quantitative measure of phytoplankton, a GPS device is necessary to standardize tow length.

Curran's Lotus Lillies, 1888 (left, Photo credit) The floating-leaf macrophyte, Nelumbo (right, Photo credit: Kim Daut)

One of the first organisms identified by our tour guide belonged to a genus of water lotus called Nelumbo. These plants occupied the open water area of the estuary and were the featured in well-known paintings of the OWC estuary, created by Charles Courtney Curran in the late 1800's. The white water lily (Nymphaea odorata) was another floating macrophyte that we encountered. On the bottom of these leaves, Dr. Johansen pointed out lophotrochozoan worms.

We were able to see the nest of a bald eagle (left) in an open spot near the top of the treeline (Photo credit). The high-pitched rattle of the belted kingfisher (center) was unmistakeable (Photo credit). The great egret (right) uses it's sharp bill to catch unsuspecting prey, such as fish and amphibians, with quick jabs (Photo credit: Kim Daut).

There was a great diversity of avian species present at OWC, which serves as an important nesting ground. Our guide informed us of the incredibly successful bald eagle conservation effort at OWC. Spanning 30 years, the reestablishment project, which involved field work such as climbing trees to get blood samples from eaglets, increased the eagle population from 4 to 250 nests per year. Since the bald eagle population is now thriving, the nest monitoring has ceased and avian research is currently focused on the migration of the sandhill crane. Other exciting bird species that were seen while canoeing through the estuary include, ospreys (Pandion haliaetus), great blue herons (Ardea herodias), belted kingfishers (Megaceryle alcyon), and great egrets (Ardea alba). The distinctive "meow-like" call of the gray catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) was also heard at various locations throughout the creek. 

In the photo on the left, Phragmites dominates the edge of the estuary. In the photo on the right, our guide explains how coconut logs containing plant "plugs" of native species are being used to combat Phragmites invasion. (Photo credit: Kim Daut)

As we progressed through the estuary, our knowledgeable guide frequently identified Phragmites, a European invasive reed species that was introduced by ballast water from ships. Phragmites has recently been the focus of a great deal of management and restoration research at OWC. Phragmites will disrupt the community by displacing native plants and drying out the wetlands. This alteration results in negative environmental impacts including the acceleration of eutrophication, reduction of open water, and loss of habitat and food sources for many species. This resilient reed is not consumed by other species and does not die off on its own. The success of Phragmites is aided by a high reproduction rate and rhizomes that can reestablish organisms despite damage to other parts of the plant body. Management strategies include burning, mowing with a Marsh Master (a machine similar to a bulldozer), spraying herbicides from a helicopter, and flooding. Of those methods, only flooding with four feet of water was greatly effective, but unfortunately flooding to that degree is not feasible in most situations. After removing Phragmites from an area, restoration is achieved by using coconut logs to replant native macrophyte “plugs” before invasive species have a chance to reestablish their populations. The coconut logs slowly decay and the native species repopulate and restore the community.

Cameron startles nekton into our nets by splashing around with his hands and feet. (Photo credit: Kim Daut)

Following the canoe trip, we strapped on our waders and headed back into the estuary to sample the fish population. The method we used to capture fish specimens involved the use of a large seine net held against the sediment. Two people held poles at the ends of the seine net and walked in unison with the net in a "U-shape" behind them toward another group of people. The other group walked toward the net, disturbing the area and causing fish to swim into the net. Once the pair and group met, the poles attached to the net were brought together and the bottom of the net was gathered so none of the trapped fish could escape. The net was carried back to shore so that the specimens could be identified and placed in a bucket of water for later use. 

As we searched through the seine net (left, Photo credit: Kim Daut), we found emerald shiners (center, Photo credit) and placed them in a bucket (right, Photo credit: Kim Daut), so that the living specimens could be used by the OWC-ERR staff.

The only species of fish we caught in our net was the emerald shiner (Notropis atherinoides). The emerald shiner belongs to the family Cyprinidae, which is composed of carp and minnow species. The emerald green coloration on its lateral sides distinguishes this species of fish. 

These collected macroinvertebrates (specimens include members of family Belostomatidae, family Corixidae, order Odonata, and a pouch snail) are in a petri dish with 70% ethanol and ready to be examined under a dissecting microscope.

Macroinvertebrate sampling was accomplished with the use of dipnets. Triangle dipnets were bumped along the bottom of the estuary, stirring up the sediment, and then quickly lifted to the surface to trap organisms. Edges of the estuary with macrophytes in shallow water were excellent areas for macroinvertebrate collection. 

 

Examples of organisms belonging to Bacillaria (Photo credit), Euglena (Photo credit), and Synura (Photo credit).

After fish and macroinvertebrate sampling, we visited the laboratory at the Ohio Division of Wildlife’s National Estuarine Research Reserve (OWC-ERR) to examine our specimens. Using dichotomous keys provided by the research center, algae identification books, our familiar macroinvertebrate guide, and the assistance of resident algae expert Dr. Johansen, we were able to achieve finer taxonomic identification for our samples. One of the highlights of our algal identifications included Bacillaria, the "accordion-like" diatom (Bacillariophyta). A colony of these pennate diatoms will slide back and forth with an appearance similar to an accordion. Among our samples were the familiar genera of Euglena (Euglenophyta), which possess a red "eyespot" and Synura (Syurophyta), which have distinctive siliceous scales. 

 

Examples of species from Gerridae (left, Photo credit), Corixidae (center, Photo credit), and Coenagrionidae (right, Photo credit)

A hemipteran (true bugs) commonly called a toe-biter was found in a dipnet catch. Toe-biters, or the giant water bugs, are members of family Belostomatidae and in addition to feeding, can use their piercing mouthpart to inflict a painful bite to humans. Some of the other macroinvertebrate families collected included members of Gerridae (water striders), Corixidae (water boatmen), and Coenagrionidae (narrow-winged damselflies).

 

Water quality testing equipment

During our time at the research center, we were able to take a behind the scenes tour of the facility and find out a little more about the research currently taking place at OWC. Throughout our canoe trip we were cautioned not to bump into the expensive water monitoring equiment throughout the estuary. Our guide explained that those instruments measure water conditions and transmit information to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). We were also shown laboratories where chemical properties of water, such as dissolved oxygen (DO) and pH are measured. Our guide stressed the importance of biomonitoring and how phytoplankton is an indicator of community health, as primary producers impact on all levels of the food web above them. The water samples collected from that morning produced a DO value of 8.1 for the lake and 6.3 for the estuary. The amount of DO can vary with sunlight due to photosynthetic activity, so the cloudy conditions of the morning most likely affected the DO value of our sample. As expected, both Lake Erie and the estuary had a pH around 7.

Sheldon Marsh

 

Sheldon Marsh

Sheldon Marsh State Nature Reserve is located in Erie County. As we learned in lecture, marshes are a type of wetland that represents a transitional zone between aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Marshes are characterized by the presence of herbaceous plants. 

 An interesting feature of the marsh was the barrier beach. A piece of land perpendicular to the shoreline protects the lagoon from the harsh wave action of the lake that can be produced during storms. Plants, such as purple sand grass (Triplasis purpurea), which is unique to the barrier beach, are able to survive in this environment because of the protection provided by the barrier. 

Zebra mussel shells were easy to identify due to their characteristic striped pattern.

Invasive zebra mussel shells were also found on the shore of the beach. As we learned in lecture, zebra mussels are contributing to the toxic blooms of Microcystis by selectively consuming diatoms, which compete with Microcystis, from the phytoplankton, while rejecting the cyanobacteria. With reduced competition from diatoms and available phosphorus, Microcystis can form blooms.  

 

A common carp (Photo credit)

While exploring the marsh, we came across a wildlife viewing enclosure that shielded organisms from seeing us so that we could observe their behavior. Turbulence in the water drew our attention, and someone proposed that the disturbance could be due to sparring snapping turtles. Unfortunately, after closer examination, we discovered that the activity at the surface was just an invasive carp splashing around. Like the emerald shiner that we caught in our seine net at OWC, the common carp belongs to the Cyprinidae family.

 

Sheldon Marsh

Immediately adjacent to Sheldon Marsh is the Sawmill Creek Resort Golf Course. We discussed the detrimental environmental effects of the chemicals that are used to maintain golf courses and how the run-off from fertilizers can enter the wetlands. As we learned in lecture, wetlands are fortunately able to function as buffers from this type of nutrient input and prevent its spread through the watershed.

Magee Marsh

 

Magee Marsh

Magee Marsh is located in Oak Harbor, OH. The marsh is a popular spot for birders because of the large amount of migratory birds that use the area as a pit stop. Although the boardwalk was closed for controlled waterfowl hunting, we did get to check out the nature center and take a lap around one of the loop trails. The nature center was very informative and had detailed descriptions of many of the bird species that can be found at Magee Marsh throughout the year. There was also an impressive taxidermy collection of most of the species that can be encountered at the marsh, as well as a few live specimens, such as the blanding's turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) and the common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentia). 

The brown snake specimen was determined to be male because female snakes typically have a greater taper after their cloaca.

  As we walked around the trail, we noticed native (Typha latifolia) and non-native (Typha angustifolia) cattail species. Native cattails have wider leaves, measuring 1/2-1 in., and adjacent female and male parts. Invasive cattails have more narrow leaves, measuring 1/4-3/4 in., and female and male parts separated by a 1-4 in. gap.  Since it was rainy and a little chilly, we were surprised when we found two brown snakes (Storeria dekayi) on our hike. We ended our trip with an encounter with a non-native praying mantis (order Mantodea) that we found on a path. The praying mantis was most likely a female due to its large size.

Our trip to Old Woman Creek rocked!

Species List

D: Bacteria	D: Eukarya (Algae)	D: Eukarya (Algae)
Beggiatoa (Sulfur Bacteria)	P: Bacillariophyta (Diatoms)	P: Euglenophyta (Euglenoids)
	Achnanthidium	Euglena
P: Cyanobacteria	Amphora	Lepocinclis
Anabaena	Aulocoseira	Phacus
Cylindrospermum	Bacillaria	Trachelomonas
Geitlerinema	Cocconeis
Leibleinia	Cyclotella	P: Synurophyta (Scaled flagellates)
Merismopedia	Cymbella	Synura
Pseudanabaena	Encyonema
	Eunotia	P: Tribophyta (Yellow-green algae)
D: Eukarya (K: Viridiplantae)	Frustulia	Centritractus
Asclepias incarnata (Swamp milkweed)	Gomphonema
Phragmites australis (Phragmites)	Gyrosigma	D: Eukarya
Phytolacca americana (Pokeweed)	Hippodonta	(Various microscopic organisms)
Triplasis purpurea (Purple Sand Grass)	Melosira varians	P: Cercozoa
Typha angustifolia (Invasive cattail)	Navicula	Testate Amoebae
Typha latifolia (Native cattail)	Nitzschia
Xanthium strumarium (Cocklebur)	Pinnularia	P: Ciliophora
	Placoneis	Paramecia
D: Eukarya (K: Virdiplantae)	Planothidium	Stentor
Green Algae	Pseudostaurosira	Vorticella
Ankistrodesmus	Sellaphora
Characium	Stephanodiscus	P: Gastrotricha
Cladophora	Surirella	Gastrotrich
Closterium	Synedra
Cosmarium	Tryblionella	D: Eukarya (K: Animalia)
Desmodesmus	Ulnaria	C: Insecta
Echinosphaerella		F: Baetidae (Small Minnow Mayfly)
Kirchneriella	P: Chrysophyta (Golden brown algae)	F: Belostomatidae (Giant Water Bug)
Monoraphidium	Dinobryon	F: Coenagrionidae (Narrow-winged damselfly)
Oedogonium		F: Corixidae (Water boatman)
Pediastrum	P: Dinophyta (Dinoflagellates)	F: Gerridae (Water Strider)
Scenedesmus	Gymnodinium	F: Haliplidae (Crawling Water Beetle)
Tetrastrum		F: Libellulidae (Dragonfly)
		F: Stratiomyidae (Soldier fly)
		P: Crustacea
		O: Amphipoda (Water scud)
		Bosmina
		Daphnia