When you look out onto a frozen landscape in winter, it is easy to think there’s not much going on there. Animals are hibernating, frogs and turtles have dug down into their winter homes beneath a pond, trees are dormant. And that’s all true, but there is also a lot happening behind the scenes that you might not know about.
Evergreen plants such as pines, spruces and hollies, are able to use winter sun to produce food through photosynthesis, though at a slower rate than at other times of year. Even deciduous trees that lose their leaves in the fall can get an early start on spring. Bark and buds contain the chlorophyll needed for photosynthesis, which can begin in late winter. Also in late winter, as early as the end of January, sap begins to rise in trees, making it the perfect time to tap trees for sap to make syrup.
You know that many birds are active throughout the winter. Cardinals, juncos and woodpeckers are frequently seen at backyard feeders. But did you know that snow fleas are also out and about in winter months? Not technically fleas, or even insects, snow fleas are springtails, which are arthropods like spiders and scorpions. They can survive in even subzero temperatures by producing a protein that acts as an antifreeze. The name “springtail” comes from their unique method of locomotion. These wingless animals fling themselves into the air with a structure that looks like a tail and acts like a spring. On warm days, they can been seen gathering around the roots of trees in search of food.
Several kinds of fungi including oyster mushrooms, velvet shank and wood ears, will pop up on warmer days throughout the winter. Both oyster mushrooms and wood ears were seen on a trail at Governor Bebb MetroPark this year in the first week of February. Although they cannot grow when temperatures are below freezing, they have adapted to be active at colder temperatures. The part that you can see above ground is the “fruiting body” of the fungus – the part that produces spores. The vast majority of the fungus consists of thin threads running through the soil beneath the surface, and the threads can grow to great lengths. Possibly one of the largest living organisms on earth is a honey mushroom that covers 3.5 square miles!
The next time you are out walking in the forest on a quiet winter day, remember that much is happening beneath that layer of snow in preparation for the rebirth of spring.
About the Author:
With a freshly minted degree in zoology from Miami University, Carole Barnhart’s career goal was to be a naturalist. After a summer working for Indiana State Parks, life took her in other directions, which included research at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, a Master’s degree in microbial ecology at UC, research on the north slope of Alaska and in a northern Ohio industrial setting, raising three human beings to adulthood, and work as a writer and photographer. In her current role as Outdoor Educator for MetroParks, Carole is returning to her first love. A member of Cincinnati Friends Meeting (Quaker), Carole enjoys spending time with her children, their partners and her grandchildren, as well as camping, hiking, birding and reading.
One response to “Unveiling Winter’s Wildlife Wonders: Pt. 2”
Congratulations on the new degree and the informative BLOG.