Plants and Fungi
Lake Iroquois is a very diverse ecosystem inhabited by many different animals. After exploring, taking pictures and researching the area for one week the Iroquois group learned much about the geology and the area. The lake itself is filled with beautiful plants such as the white and yellow water lily.
The lake is also surrounded by (and surrounds) land that is very important. Below is a picture of a vernal pool walking distance from Lake Iroquiois filled with algae and large woody debris which provides homes for many animals. This vernal pool's location is and can be found on the Map.
Vernal pools are very interesting. They come and go seasonally and act as a type of sanctuary to many vertebrates and invertebrates. There are very few predators and virtually no fish in these pools for, there are no outlets and, the only sources are rain and snow runoff. Many animals can leave eggs behind in spring that can survive until the next spring, however fish don't have this ability. Vernal pools vary, some are brief lasting for the first few weeks after the snow melts. Depending on annual precipitation and snow runoff pools can last up to four years before they dry up. For more information, click here.
Many plants depend on the swampy conditions and anaerobic atmosphere of the pools.
The territory hidden behind the landing above
proved to be farmland, but is has been growing into a forest for the last
twenty years. There are many saplings growing up there which told us that
it was once cleared. We decided to dig a ditch two feet by two feet to see
the different soil layers of formerly plowed land. It was a lot of fun and
we learned that the layer of rich soil of the top is called the Ap layer
and is filled with organic matter. The Ap layer that we saw was very large,
one foot deep, because the area had been plowed just circa thirty years
earlier. We learned that the first layer of soil is called the A layer,
and because it was plowed, it is followed by a lower case p. We then found
a layer of clay like soil that was a much lighter color and refered to as
the "B"layer. Plants are very important at this sight. There were
many large trees seperating the lake and the old farm land which, when cored,
proved to be over 100 years old. The new sapplings of beach, elm, and birch
support the fact that the land was cleared, along with the barb wire fence
along the border, the large Ap layer, and the foreign tree that was found
by itself as if a human planted it. 
We are going out to the fields today to learn more about this tree. Here's Ashley digging at skull landing.
Here's another picture of the group digging at skull landing.
One sappling found at skull landing was struck by dutch elm disease.
Another place we visited that taught us about many plants and fungi is The Beaver Dam (See Map). This is a picture of our best fungi researcher, Jessie, on the top of the abandoned beaver ladge. We know it is abandoned because there is grass growing on it and the branches are dried out!The mushroom that Jessie is holding in her hand looks like this:
Also found at the beaver lodge was a very interesting backbone;
One of the most important sites that a few of us visited was the main source of the lake which can been seen on the map page. Here many plants are found including, iris, golden rods, tall grasses, ferns, algae, birch and beech trees. A good picture of the main source shows much vegetation and two of us trying to catch some minows. (See Map)
Some other plants lining the side of the road around Iroquois Lake and growing next to the source of the lake are:
Buttercups and red clovers,
Daisies and ferns,
Christmas Fern : This fern is also green with fronds that taper. The fronds start large at the bottom of the plant and slowly get smaller as the plant gets taller. Ferns have spores, like pollen, that is made and blown away etc in order for the plant to reproduce. If this fern is in the process of reproduction the leaves on this fern will be covered with loose brownish-organish spores.
Ostrich Fern: This fern is knowon for the basic fact that it looks like a large ostrich feather with its large leafy fronds. This fern is also quite large.
Sensistive fern ( moclea sensibilis): A fern with connected fronds. The plant is a light green. It is a species native to wetlands. This fern can also be found in the field and meadows surrounding the Lake.
Cowvetch (Vicia cracca): This violet-blueflower is quite droopy. The lend of the leaves curl into tendrils and look like vines.
fleabane,
Rough Bedstraw (Galium asprellum): This flower is quite small and looks similar to Queen Ann's Lace. The flowers are crème or white. The grow in small clusters. They tend to live in damp woods.
We also visited a place named by us, Guano island. It is a very safe place for birds because of the lack of preditors. An analogy would be, vernal pools:bugs=guano island:birds.
There are few plants on this island, mostly weeds and grasses because of the lack of soil. Surprisingly, a small crevice in the rock was filled with dirt making it possible for three white birch trees to grow. They were cut down by beaver, but had grown for many years before their death.
