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Common name of your organism: Popcorn Flower

Scientific name: Plagiobothrys stipitatus var. micranthus

Brief description of the organism:

1. What does this organism eat or How does it get energy?

1. Is it a producer, consumer or decomposer? consumer

2. Is it a photosynthesizer, herbivore, predator, or scavenger?  predator

2. Where is this organism’s habitat? Vernal Pools

3. What animals prey on this organism?Deer, ground squirrels, and insects, turtles, and ants.

1. What structural and behavioral adaptations does this organism use to catch, find, or eat food and to reproduce? They germinate underwater.

2. What adaptations does this organism use to escape predators? They go underwater.

3. Does this organism interact with people? No

4. Could this organism regularly face harm from the actions of humans?

I don’t think so because there will always be vernal pools.

CONNECTIONS: What are some examples of other creatures in the field guide that have ecological interactions with your creature?  What are those interactions?

Other species of it.
OBSERVATIONS: What was this plant/animal doing when it was observed?  Is there anything else interesting or unusual about this insect?

POPULATIONS AND ADAPTATIONS:  Determine whether your creature is a member of the herbivore, predator, or scavenger population in its environment, then meet with the rest of the students who are writing an entry for a creature in that same population.  You should find that the other organisms within that population have similarities and differences in the structural and behavioral adaptations which allow them to fill their role in the environment.

Herbivore      Predator       Scavenger
Similar adaptations among all members of this population:

Being able to be underwater
Unique adaptations possessed by your organism:

Being able to be underwater.

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Common name of your organism: Spotted salamander

Scientific name: Ambystoma maculatum

Brief description of the organism

1. What does this organism eat or How does it get energy?

1. Is it a producer, consumer or decomposer?consumer

2. Is it a photosynthesizer, herbivore, predator, or scavenger? predator

2. Where is this organism’s habitat? forests and vernal pools

3. What animals prey on this organism?

Skunks, raccoons, turtles, and snakes.

1. What structural and behavioral adaptations does this organism use to catch, find, or eat food and to reproduce?

2. What adaptations does this organism use to escape predators? They go underground

3. Does this organism interact with people?

1. Describe how no

4. Could this organism regularly face harm from the actions of humans?

1. Describe how  if ground gets dug up

5. Unique adaptations possessed by your organism:

They become terrestrial as adults.

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Common name of your organism:  White Meadowfoam

Scientific name:  Limnanthes alba

Brief description of the organism:

1. What does this organism eat or How does it get energy?

1. Is it a producer, consumer, or decomposer?

It is a producer.

1. Is it a photosynthesizer, herbivore, predator, or scavenger?

It’s a photosynthesizer.

1. Where is this organism’s habitat?

Pools, seeds, and wet grasslands.

1. What animals prey on this organism?

No animals particularly prey on the white meadowfoam, however, some insects, rodents, and birds enjoy the white meadowfoam’s seeds.

1. What structural and behavioral adaptations does this organism use to catch, find, or eat food and to reproduce?

Its seeds are oily, so they float in water, which helps them spread quickly and reproduce faster.

1. What adaptations does this organism use to escape predators?

The flower has a long steam and grows in water, so a water animal wouldn’t be able to climb up, without not being able to breathe. And since it grows in water, animals who don’t live in water will have a hard time getting to it.

1. Does this organism interact with people?

1. Describe how

It doesn’t particularly directly react with humans, however, the oil from the seeds of the white meadowfoam can replace whale oil, which is used to lubricate machines.

1. Could this organism regularly face harm from the actions of humans?

1. Describe how

It could, its a relatively small flower, and it could be stepped on easily.

1. Unique adaptations possessed by your organism:

The outer sepals, leaves, and lower stems have smooth hairs on them.

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Common name: California Tiger salamander

Scientific name: Ambystoma Tigrinum

1. What does this organism eat or How does it get energy?                  A. It's a consumer.
B. It's a predator

2. Where is this organism’s habitat?                                        ponds, streams, and large, cloudy vernal pools (over 250 square feet) without fish.

3.What animals prey on this organism?                                     Great Egrets, Great Blue Herons, fish and introduced (non-native) Bullfrogs.

4.What structural and behavioral adaptations does this organism use to catch, find, or eat food and to reproduce?                               They have camouflage to get the jump on there prey. They use what is called the "sit and wait" tactic.

5.What adaptations does this organism use to escape predators?

Camouflage also works here to escape predators but not very well.

6.Does this organism interact with people?  yes                                         A.Describe how                                   They are run over by cars if a road blocks their path to a separate part of the vein pool.

7.Could this organism regularly face harm from the actions of humans?  yes                          A.Describe how.                         Sometimes what's on the other side of the road is very important and must be crossed frequently so there becomes a good chance of being harmed.

8.CONNECTIONS: What are some examples of other creatures in the field guide that have ecological interactions with your creature?  What are those interactions?  Besides predators and prey ( and cars) not much, except if a rodent left a hole behind they will move in for the summer. Mostly summer nights.

9.: What was this plant/animal doing when it was observed?  Is there anything else interesting or unusual about this insect?

Moving around the more shallow part of a vein pool. Their larvae have large fins on their backs and feathery gills.

10.POPULATIONS AND ADAPTATIONS:  Determine whether your creature is a member of the herbivore, predator, or scavenger population in its environment, then meet with the rest of the students who are writing an entry for a creature in that same population.  You should find that the other organisms within that population have similarities and differences in the structural and behavioral adaptations which allow them to fill their role in the environment.

Herbivore  Predator Scavenger?
Predator.

11.Similar adaptations among all members of this population:

darker colors with colorful spots, long sleek bodies, slimy.

12. Unique adaptations possessed by your organism:

Larvae are pale and have no spots.

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Common name of your organism: Fairy Shrimp

Scientific name: Annostraca

Brief description of the organism

1. What does this organism eat or How does it get energy?

1. Is it a producer, consumer, or decomposer?

It is a consumer.

1. Is it a photosynthesizer, herbivore, predator, or scavenger?

It is a link between primary producers and predators.

1. Where is this organism’s habitat?

Temporary pools where fish are not there.

1. What animals prey on this organism?

Many including hemipterans, beetles, and salamanders.

1. What structural and behavioral adaptations does this organism use to catch, find, or eat food and to reproduce?

They reproduce by layings eggs, which can be seen in a pouch on a female.

1. What adaptations does this organism use to escape predators?

They hatch in late winter and early spring.

1. Does this organism interact with people?

1. Describe how

The only instance in which I could see fairy shrimp interacting with humans is if a human stepped on one or just saw one

1. Could this organism regularly face harm from the actions of humans?

1. Describe how

Not regularly, however, they are very small and could be stepped on.

1. CONNECTIONS: What are some examples of other creatures in the field guide that have ecological interactions with your creature?  What are those interactions?

Another creature is microzooplankton, fairy shrimp eat microzooplankton.

1. OBSERVATIONS: What was this plant/animal doing when it was observed?  Is there anything else interesting or unusual about this insect?

Fairy shrimp swim upside down.

1. POPULATIONS AND ADAPTATIONS:  Determine whether your creature is a member of the herbivore, predator, or scavenger population in its environment, then meet with the rest of the students who are writing an entry for a creature in that same population.  You should find that the other organisms within that population have similarities and differences in the structural and behavioral adaptations which allow them to fill their role in the environment.

They are a link between primary producers and predators.

Herbivore      Predator       Scavenger

1.  Similar adaptations among all members of this population:

They can withstand low oxygen levels.

1. Unique adaptations possessed by your organism:

All fairy shrimp have two sets of antennae, however, the second set on a male is bigger and the second set on a female is smaller.

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Common name of your organism: Wally Basket

Scientific name: Triteleia laxa

Brief description of the organism

1. What does this organism eat or How does it get energy?

1. Is it a producer, consumer or decomposer? producer

2. Is it a photosynthesizer, herbivore, predator, or scavenger? photosynthesizer

2. Where is this organism’s habitat? vernal pools

3. What animals prey on this organism? gophers

1. What structural and behavioral adaptations does this organism use to catch, find, or eat food and to reproduce? it is blue to attract pollinators

2. What adaptations does this organism use to escape predators?

4. it puts it’s flowers up high so it doesn’t get eaten

1. Does this organism interact with people? yes

1. Describe how

5. it gets eaten by people

1. Could this organism regularly face harm from the actions of humans?

1. Describe how

6. it gets eaten by people

1. Unique adaptations possessed by your organism: having blue pollen

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Common name of your organism: painted turtle

Scientific name:Chrysemys picta

Brief description of the organism:

1. What does this organism eat or How does it get energy?

1. Is it a producer, consumer or decomposer? consumer

2. Is it a photosynthesizer, herbivore, predator, or scavenger? omnivore

2. Where is this organism’s habitat?  “shallow waters with slow-moving currents, such as creeks, marshes, ponds, and the shores of lakes”

3. What animals prey on this organism?  foxes, snakes, snapping turtles, birds, raccoons

4. What structural and behavioral adaptations does this organism use to catch, find, or eat food and to reproduce? it pokes it’s head into vegetation to scare out organisms, then chases them and captures them in it’s mouth

5. What adaptations does this organism use to escape predators? it has a thick shell and can kick, bite, scratch, or even urinate to escape.

6. Does this organism interact with people? yes

1. Describe how they are sometimes kept as pets in certain states

7. Could this organism regularly face harm from the actions of humans? no

1. Describe how

1. CONNECTIONS: What are some examples of other creatures in the field guide that have ecological interactions with your creature?  What are those interactions?

it interacts with crayfish by eating them

1. OBSERVATIONS: What was this plant/animal doing when it was observed?  Is there anything else interesting or unusual about this insect?

it was sunbathing

1. POPULATIONS AND ADAPTATIONS:  Determine whether your creature is a member of the herbivore, predator, or scavenger population in its environment, then meet with the rest of the students who are writing an entry for a creature in that same population.  You should find that the other organisms within that population have similarities and differences in the structural and behavioral adaptations which allow them to fill their role in the environment.

Herbivore      Predator       Scavenger

1.  Similar adaptations among all members of this population:

thick shells

1. Unique adaptations possessed by your organism:

it has red splotches on its shell

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Common name of your organism: garter snake

Scientific name: thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis

Add a PICTURE in this space

Brief description of the organism

1. What does this organism eat or How does it get energy?

1. Is it a producer, consumer or decomposer?

2. Is it a photosynthesizer, herbivore, predator, or scavenger? photosynthesizer

2. Where is this organism’s habitat? vernal pool grasslands

3. What animals prey on this organism? a variety of mammals, birds, and snakes

1. What structural and behavioral adaptations does this organism use to catch, find, or eat food and to reproduce? they can use their flexible bodies to slither inside rodent holes in the ground

2. What adaptations does this organism use to escape predators?

3. It slithers into rodent holes in the ground

4. Does this organism interact with people?

1. It  hides away in rodent burrows

5. Could this organism regularly face harm from the actions of humans?

1. people kill it because they think it might hurt them

6. Unique adaptations possessed by your organism:

It has a yellow stripe on it’s back

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Common name of your organism: miniature lupine

Scientific name: lupinus bicolor

Add a PICTURE in this space

 
 Brief description of the organism: 
 
What does this organism eat or How does it get energy?  
Is it a producer, consumer or decomposer? producer
Is it a photosynthesizer, herbivore, predator, or scavenger?
photosynthesizer
Where is this organism’s habitat? in damp grasslands
What animals prey on this organism? a caterpillar

What structural and behavioral adaptations does this organism use to catch, find, or eat food and to reproduce? It does photosynthesis to “eat” and uses it’s flower to reproduce
What adaptations does this organism use to escape predators? It has no defenses
Does this organism interact with people? no
Describe how
Could this organism regularly face harm from the actions of humans? yes
Describe how
People might pick it to give to someone or use it as a decoration, or maybe someone could take and eat the peapods without planting new seeds

CONNECTIONS: What are some examples of other creatures in the field guide that have ecological interactions with your creature?  What are those interactions? some of the salamanders could eat it or destroyit by walking over it
 
OBSERVATIONS: What was this plant/animal doing when it was observed?  Is there anything else interesting or unusual about this insect? While observed, this plant continues photosynthesising, and it leaves are shaped like hands (kind of) 

POPULATIONS AND ADAPTATIONS:  Determine whether your creature is a member of the herbivore, predator, or scavenger population in its environment, then meet with the rest of the students who are writing an entry for a creature in that same population.  You should find that the other organisms within that population have similarities and differences in the structural and behavioral adaptations which allow them to fill their role in the environment. 

  Photosynthesizer

 Similar adaptations among all members of this population: 
They all do photosynthesis
Unique adaptations possessed by your organism: 
It’s leaves are shaped like human hands

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Common name: Little quaking grass

Scientific name: Briza Minor

Brief description of the organism:

a part of the grass family, wind pollinated, blooms in April and May.

1. What does this organism eat or How does it get energy?

1. Is it a producer, consumer or decomposer?

2. Is it a photosynthesizer, herbivore, predator, or scavenger?

It's a photosynthesizer.

2. Where is this organism’s habitat?

Grasslands (moist)

3.What animals prey on this organism?

None lives in harmony with neighboring species.

4.What structural and behavioral adaptations does this organism use to catch, find, or eat food and to reproduce?
It has no petals to not block air flow (wind pollinated), Tiny stamen and pistils.

5.What adaptations does this organism use to escape predators?

No predators

6.Does this organism interact with people?

1. Describe how

It does not interact with people

7.Could this organism regularly face harm from the actions of humans?

1. Describe how

It does not interact with people.

8.Unique adaptations possessed by your organism:

Ends of the plant (floret) looks like rattlesnake rattles.

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Common name of your organism: Rice cut grass

Scientific name: Leersia orzoides

Add a PICTURE in this space

Brief description of the organism

1. What does this organism eat or How does it get energy?

1. Is it a producer, consumer or decomposer?

2. Is it a photosynthesizer, herbivore, predator, or scavenger?

2. Where is this organism’s habitat?

Moist saturated soil, an area where there is lots of water.

1. What animals prey on this organism?

it’s seeds and roots are eaten by waterfowl, rails, herons, and muskrats.

1. What structural and behavioral adaptations does this organism use to catch, find, or eat food and to reproduce?

When the plant decomposed the leftover seeds get planted in the ground, and its predators eat the seeds which means when that animal uses the bathroom, the seed can be planted.

1. What adaptations does this organism use to escape predators?

The sharp leaves on the plant can easily rip flesh or tear clothing. That can be used to escape predators.

1. Does this organism interact with people?

1. Describe how no

2. Could this organism regularly face harm from the actions of humans?

1. Describe how

humans can very easily pollute the vernal pools by throwing trash on the ground and harm the climate, which takes away a place for the plants to grow and thrive.

1. Unique adaptations possessed by your organism:

The leaves on the plant are super sharp and can cut skin or clothing, it can also survive fully submerged in water for up to 2-3 days.

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Common name of your organism: Rice cut grass

Scientific name: Leersia orzoides 

Add a PICTURE in this space


 
 
 Brief description of the organism
 
What does this organism eat or How does it get energy?  
Is it a producer, consumer or decomposer?
Is it a photosynthesizer, herbivore, predator, or scavenger?
Where is this organism’s habitat? 
Moist saturated soil, an area where there is lots of water. 
What animals prey on this organism? 
it’s seeds and roots are eaten by waterfowl, rails, herons, and muskrats. 

What structural and behavioral adaptations does this organism use to catch, find, or eat food and to reproduce? 
When the plant decomposed the leftover seeds get planted in the ground, and its predators eat the seeds which means when that animal uses the bathroom, the seed can be planted. 
What adaptations does this organism use to escape predators? 
The sharp leaves on the plant can easily rip flesh or tear clothing. That can be used to escape predators. 
Does this organism interact with people? 
Describe how no
Could this organism regularly face harm from the actions of humans?
Describe how 
 humans can very easily pollute the vernal pools by throwing trash on the ground and harm the climate, which takes away a place for the plants to grow and thrive. 
Unique adaptations possessed by your organism: 
The leaves on the plant are super sharp and can cut skin or clothing, it can also survive fully submerged in water for up to 2-3 days. 

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Luca — northeastern bulrush (Scirpus ancistrochaetus)

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Luca — northeastern bulrush (Scirpus ancistrochaetus)

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Brief description of the organism

1. What does this organism eat or How does it get energy?

1. Is it a producer, consumer or decomposer? producer

2. Is it a photosynthesizer, herbivore, predator, or scavenger? photosynthesizer

2. Where is this organism’s habitat? wetlands with varying water levels

3. What animals prey on this organism? herbivores, such as deer

1. What structural and behavioral adaptations does this organism use to catch, find, or eat food and to reproduce? It has flowers, and we know all about what those do.

2. What adaptations does this organism use to escape predators? it's a grass, so nothing much

3. Does this organism interact with people? no

1. Describe how

4. Could this organism regularly face harm from the actions of humans? yes

1. Describe how It is endangered because of habitat loss and human activity

5. Unique adaptations possessed by your organism: it is very hardy because it has to deal with fluctuating water levels.

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Common name of your organism:

Wood Frog

Scientific name: Rana sylvatica

Brief description of the organism:

1. What does this organism eat or How does it get energy? It eats small insects and just about any animal that can fit in its mouth.

1. Is it a producer, consumer or decomposer? consumer

2. Is it a photosynthesizer, herbivore, predator, or scavenger? they are herbivore

2. Where is this organism’s habitat? woodlands, and they lay eggs in vernal pools.

3. What animals prey on this organism?

snakes, coyotes, raccoons, foxes, birds, snapping turtles

1. What structural and behavioral adaptations does this organism use to catch, find, or eat food and to reproduce? they use their long sticky tongue to catch food

2. What adaptations does this organism use to escape predators?

They have camouflage and can blend in with the area around them. They also have very long tongues which allows them to catch their food from a farther distance.

1. Does this organism interact with people? no

1. Describe how

2. Could this organism regularly face harm from the actions of humans? yes

1. Describe how

Humans can very easily pollute their vernal pools leaving them unable to lay their eggs. They could also get rid of trees and other large plants in the woodlands.

1. CONNECTIONS: What are some examples of other creatures in the field guide that have ecological interactions with your creature?  What are those interactions?

Fairy shrimp also live in the Vernal pool so they interact with each other there.

1. OBSERVATIONS: What was this plant/animal doing when it was observed?  Is there anything else interesting or unusual about this insect?

They just blend in with the area behind them.

1. POPULATIONS AND ADAPTATIONS:  Determine whether your creature is a member of the herbivore, predator, or scavenger population in its environment, then meet with the rest of the students who are writing an entry for a creature in that same population.  You should find that the other organisms within that population have similarities and differences in the structural and behavioral adaptations which allow them to fill their role in the environment.

Herbivore      Predator       Scavenger

1.  Similar adaptations among all members of this population:

Long sticky tongues to get food, can easily blend in

1. Unique adaptations possessed by your organism:

Have long legs so they can jump around and escape from predators.

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Luca — spring peeper (Pseudacris crucifer crucifer)

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Luca — spring peeper (Pseudacris crucifer crucifer)

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Brief description of the organism:

1. What does this organism eat or How does it get energy? It eats small insects

1. Is it a producer, consumer or decomposer? consumer

2. Is it a photosynthesizer, herbivore, predator, or scavenger? CARNIVORE

2. Where is this organism’s habitat? Marshes, and swamps

3. What animals prey on this organism? Large birds, snaks, salamanders, big boy spiders

4. What structural and behavioral adaptations does this organism use to catch, find, or eat food and to reproduce?  It croaks to attract mates

5. What adaptations does this organism use to escape predators?

6. Does this organism interact with people? It doesn’t

1. Describe how

7. Could this organism regularly face harm from the actions of humans? No

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Common name of your organism: popcorn flower

Scientific name: plagiobothrys stipitatus var. micranthus

Brief description of the organism

1. What does this organism eat or How does it get energy?  They photosynthesise

2. Is it a producer, consumer or decomposer? Producer.

3. Is it a photosynthesizer, herbivore, predator, or scavenger?  Photosynthesizer

1. Where is this organism’s habitat? Vernal pools.

2. What animals prey on this organism? Butterflies eat their nectar but it says nothing about animals preying on them.

1. What structural and behavioral adaptations does this organism use to catch, find, or eat food and to reproduce? The stem uncoils when the flower bud opens, bringing it closer to the sun. They have small hooks on the seeds so they stick to fur and can be moved and planted.

2. What adaptations does this organism use to escape predators? Doesn’t say.

3. Does this organism interact with people?

5. The seeds sometimes latch on to socks and use that as a way to be planted.

1. Could this organism regularly face harm from the actions of humans?

6. It could be stepped on or picked.

1. Unique adaptations possessed by your organism:

7. The pedals open from the bottom to the top and the stem has to unspiral.

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Common name of your organism: Garter snake

Scientific name: Thamnophis sirtalis

Brief description of the organism:

1. What does this organism eat or How does it get energy?  Fish, frogs, toads, salamanders, and earthworms.

1. Is it a producer, consumer or decomposer? Consumer.

2. Is it a photosynthesizer, herbivore, predator, or scavenger? Predator.

2. Where is this organism’s habitat? vernal pool grasslands, other places near water.

3. What animals prey on this organism?

Mammals, birds, and other snakes.

1. What structural and behavioral adaptations does this organism use to catch, find, or eat food and to reproduce? They’re able to swim or go into gopher holes to find food.

What adaptations does this organism use to escape predators?  It hides in gopher burrows and gives off a smelly musk.

1. Does this organism interact with people?

It hides in gopher holes and / or slithers away.

1. Could this organism regularly face harm from the actions of humans?

Yes. It’s a snake, so people are naturally terrified of it and try to kill it.

1. CONNECTIONS: What are some examples of other creatures in the field guide that have ecological interactions with your creature?  What are those interactions?

They share old holes with gophers to hide and get out of the sun.

1. OBSERVATIONS: What was this plant/animal/insect doing when it was observed?  Is there anything else interesting or unusual about it? It was slithering.

1. POPULATIONS AND ADAPTATIONS:  Determine whether your creature is a member of the herbivore, predator, or scavenger population in its environment, then meet with the rest of the students who are writing an entry for a creature in that same population.  You should find that the other organisms within that population have similarities and differences in the structural and behavioral adaptations which allow them to fill their role in the environment.

Herbivore      Predator       Scavenger

1.  Similar adaptations among all members of this population:

Ability to hunt.

1. Unique adaptations possessed by your organism:

No limbs.

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Common name of your organism: Elegant Brodiaea/Harvest Brodiaea

Scientific name: Brodiaea elegans

Brief description of the organism

1. What does this organism eat or How does it get energy?

1. Is it a producer, consumer, or decomposer?

2. Is it a photosynthesizer, herbivore, predator, or scavenger?

2. Where is this organism’s habitat?

vernal pools, wet grasslands

wet prairies

oak woodlands

1. What animals prey on this organism?

burrowing rodents eat the bulbs from the flower

1. What structural and behavioral adaptations does this organism use to catch, find, or eat food and to reproduce?

a behavior that helps with reproduction is attracting pollinators with their bright petals

1. What adaptations does this organism use to escape predators?

I don’t believe it has any adaptations to defend itself or escape from predators.

1. Does this organism interact with people?

1. Describe how

the organism does not.

1. Could this organism regularly face harm from the actions of humans?

1. Describe how

I don’t think this organism faces any harm from humans.

1. Unique adaptations possessed by your organism:

They don’t bloom or reproduce in the first 4-5 years

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Common name of your organism: Jefferson Salamander

Scientific name: Ambystoma jeffersonianum

Brief description of the organism:

1. What does this organism eat or How does it get energy?

1. Is it a producer, consumer, or decomposer?

2. Is it a photosynthesizer, herbivore, predator, or scavenger?

eats insects, slugs, worms, other small aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates

1. Where is this organism’s habitat?

upland deciduous (pertaining to trees that lose their leaves in cold and dry climates) and coniferous forests

spend most of the year underground in burrows; rarely encountered except in the spring breeding season

found in eastern Illinois, through Kentucky and Virginia, and up to southwestern New England and Canada.

1. What animals prey on this organism?

a variety of animals, including owls, snakes, racoons, etc.

1. What structural and behavioral adaptations does this organism use to catch, find, or eat food and to reproduce?

couldn’t find anything in this subject

1. What adaptations does this organism use to escape predators?

hides in semi wild areas; hard is spot

defends itself with different types of tail movements and posturing

toxic ooze is creating from its skin glands at the base of their tail

will curl its head under their tail to form a coil

sheds its tail voluntarily to distract the predator and to run away

1. Does this organism interact with people? No

1. Describe how This organism doesn’t interact with people

2. Could this organism regularly face harm from the actions of humans?

1. Describe how

very sensitive to habitat disturbance and urbanization

possible roadkill in spring breeding season due to large numbers of them migrating

1. CONNECTIONS: What are some examples of other creatures in the field guide that have ecological interactions with your creature?  What are those interactions?

Jefferson Salamanders are similar to Blue-spottted salamander and can reproduce with this species as well.

other small insects such as beetles, worms, and other invertebrates are used for food

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Field Guide  Entry #1         Plant   Animal
On time _____/5

Basic information -  ______/12 pts
____ Common Name

____ Scientific Name

____ Picture


Brief description - _______/18
Types of food it eats or how does it nutrients and energy
Trophic level: Producer, Consumer, or decomposer
Photosynthesizer, herbivore, carnivore, or omnivore
Habitat
It’s predators

Adaptations _______ /20

_______ Structural and behavioral adaptations for getting food/eating and reproducing

_______ Structural amd behavioral adaptations for escaping predation

_______ How it interacts with humans

_______ How can it face harm from the actions of humans?

Connections  - ecological interactions with other organisms _____/10


References (links) - _______ /10

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Common name of your organism: Spotted Salamander

Scientific name: Ambystoma maculatum

Brief description of the organism:

1. What does this organism eat or How does it get energy? It eats spiders, snails, worms, and other small animals

2. Is it a producer, consumer, or decomposer?

Consumer

1. Is it a photosynthesizer, herbivore, predator, or scavenger?

Predator

1. Where is this organism’s habitat?

Under rocks, logs, or inside another animal’s burrow in a forest or near floodplains.

1. What animals prey on this organism?

Skunks, raccoons, turtles, snakes

1. What structural and behavioral adaptations does this organism use to catch, find, or eat food and to reproduce?

They use their sticky tongues to catch spiders, earthworms, snails, or other prey. To reproduce, they wake up from hibernation in early spring then migrate to a pond where they will mate for several days. They go to the same pond every year.

1. What adaptations does this organism use to escape predators?

They produce a sticky toxin on their backs to keep other animals from eating them. The toxin isn’t poisonous, but it does taste bad.

1. Does this organism interact with people?

1. Describe how

Some people will keep them as pets.

1. Could this organism regularly face harm from the actions of humans?

1. Describe how

Deforestation can take away their homes.

1. CONNECTIONS: What are some examples of other creatures in the field guide that have ecological interactions with your creature?  What are those interactions?

Sometimes salamanders will live together with other salamanders.

1. OBSERVATIONS: What was this plant/animal doing when it was observed?  Is there anything else interesting or unusual about this insect?

-It’s yellow spots help it to camouflage

1. POPULATIONS AND ADAPTATIONS:  Determine whether your creature is a member of the herbivore, predator, or scavenger population in its environment, then meet with the rest of the students who are writing an entry for a creature in that same population.  You should find that the other organisms within that population have similarities and differences in the structural and behavioral adaptations which allow them to fill their role in the environment.

Herbivore      Predator       Scavenger

1.  Similar adaptations among all members of this population:

They lay their eggs underwater so they will have gills to breathe in an aquatic habitat.

1. Unique adaptations possessed by your organism:

Toxin on their back that tastes so bad predators won’t eat them.

References:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/13y9d3NAu3CQYMtjiVsQZauLTzw5REfoT42RG0GkNoFw/edit

http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dfg/dfw/natural-heritage/vernal-pools/

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Common name of your organism: Frying pan poppy

Scientific name: Eschscholzia lobbii

Brief description of the organism

1. What does this organism eat or How does it get energy?

1. Is it a producer, consumer, or decomposer?

Producer

1. Is it a photosynthesizer, herbivore, predator, or scavenger?

Photosynthesizer

1. Where is this organism’s habitat?

grassland

1. What animals prey on this organism?

rabbits

1. What structural and behavioral adaptations does this organism use to catch, find, or eat food and to reproduce?

2. What adaptations does this organism use to escape predators?

The frying pan poppy uses its adaptation that makes it close while it’s dark or while it’s raining in order to survive.

1. Does this organism interact with people?

1. Describe how

Early Spanish-Californians made a hair oil out of frying pan poppies, thinking it would make their hair grow.

1. Could this organism regularly face harm from the actions of humans?

1. Describe how

Since they can be used for hair, that could force them to become rare.

1. Unique adaptations possessed by your organism:

Frying pan poppies only stay alive for a few days because the upper part of the flower shadows the lower leaves, causing the leaves to die. So after a few days of bloom, they go dormant.

References:

http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dfg/dfw/natural-heritage/vernal-pools/