Izzy's UEA Ecology blog

Beech   Fagus sylvatica Moving to a new place for university has been an exciting experience, but of course there will always be things I miss from home. One of those things is my local woodland, a mosaic of ancient semi-natural woodland and plantation, in which grow many tree species. On the northern side of the woodland is an area my family call 'cathedral wood' - here, beech is the dominant species, their trunks creating towering columns holding up the high canopy. Naturally, this was the first place I went once I was home for Christmas, as beech trees are not only beautiful, but fascinating, and are important resources for other wildlife.  A predominantly beech woodland  Native to much of mainland Europe and southern England and Wales, beech is now widespread Great Britain. The leaves are oval shaped, with a pointed tip and undulating edges. They emerge in spring a pale green with hairs on their margins and lower surface. As they mature, the leaves become a darke...

The UK's largest water bird, the mute swan ( Cygus olor ) is a common sight on waterways and in parks across the country. Their long, s-shaped neck allows them to reach submerged food, including aquatic plants, insects and molluscs. The large wingspan of the mute swan (between 208 and 238cm) allows them to get airborne despite weighing 10-12kg. Other identifying features include an orange bill with a black base and knob. Both sexes have this black basal knob, but the male's swells in the breeding season, perhaps as an indicator of sexual maturity or good health. Outside of the breeding season, the sexes are difficult to distinguish, although males are often slightly larger.  A pair of mute swans showing off their bright orange bills. The brownish colour of their heads may be due to staining from slightly acidic waters. Mute swans are often seen as a romantic symbol because of the way their long necks form a heart shape during their mating rituals, and fittingly, they often mate...

Operophtera brumata Often overlooked as drab, nocturnal butterflies, I think moths are much more interesting than they're given credit for; from micro moths to macro-moths, the variety in these group is astounding. In the British Isles, over 2500 moth species have been recorded, which although impressive, pales in comparison to the estimated 160,000 species globally.  One moth that can be seen flying at this time of year is the Winter moth ( Operophtera brumata ), which I spotted this week in the woodland on the UEA campus. This moth is able to cope with freezing temperatures and flies from late autumn to late January/early February. In this period mating occurs; the females (which have extremely reduced wings) rest on trees and release pheromones to attract the flying males. Once fertilised, eggs are laid on twigs and bark to overwinter. The eggs then hatch in spring into pale green caterpillars to feed on foliage. One notable feature of the caterpillars is the ability to use a si...

This week, I decided to look into a tree that is ubiquitous across the British countryside, and occurs in the woodland around the UEA lake: Common hawthorn. Growing up to around 15m tall, the Hawthorn tree ( Crataegus monogyna), also commonly known as the May tree or Mayblossom, is a deciduous tree native to the UK. The leaves of the Hawthorn tree are simple with serrated lobes, and around 6cm long, turning yellow in the autumn before dropping off. Hawthorn bark is a dull brown-grey. Its white (occasionally pink) flowers grow in clusters and are approximately 1cm across, with 5 petals. The flowers are hermaphroditic, meaning they have both male a female parts. After pollination, the flowers develop into red fruits known as haws. These appear berry-like but are structurally pomes - simple fleshy fruits with most the flesh from a receptacle around the ovary.  Hawthorn blossom This species is widespread across the UK, and is classified as 'least concern' by the IUCN. It grows well...

Fungi is certainly one area of ecology I have extremely limited knowledge on, so it has been interesting to take a guide out of the library and learn more about species and identification. One species I found growing on a tree stump behind the university hospital is Auricularia auricular-judae , or the Wood Ear fungus.  I found this example of Wood Ear fungus in a small strip of mixed woodland, with nearby tree species including sweet chestnut, hazel and silver birch. Elder was also present, which is what this tree stump is likely to be, as this fungus is found primarily on elder, feeding by saprotrophic nutrition. Wood Ear is found across the world, in temperate deciduous forests. This example is growing gregariously (in groups), although it is often solitary. In the UK, Wood Ear fungus is very common, but less frequently found in the North. The taxonomy of the Wood Ear The family Auriculariaceae contains mostly jelly fungi with gelatinous fruiting bodies in ear or brack...

Conservation grazing is a management technique that can be used in a variety of habitats, from heathland and grassland to woodland. Different species of grazers are appropriate for different sites, depending on the existing habitat and conservation aims. The desired outcome of conservation grazing is typically to increase plant diversity and shift the plant community from grasses to herbs and wildflowers. Grazing species and breeds should be chosen considering their feeding preferences, physiology and behaviour. Typically, the grazers chosen are native breeds, as they are usually hardy and can tolerate a varied diet which is sometimes low in nutrients. Multiple species are often used together as their selective eating creates a varied habitat structure. The effect of conservation grazing on the environment mimics the grazing of ancient animals including bison, tarpan (Eurasian wild horse) and auroch (wild cattle). Wild extant species such as beavers and red and roe deer can also be use...

As the temperature drops, the leaves are browning, the birds are leaving and.. the ladybirds are invading? Autumn is very definitely here; I've been noticing and appreciating all the usual signs, but last week I saw something I hadn't in previous years. Sat at my desk in my uni room, I was distracted from my online lecture by the many ladybirds on the walls and window. After looking into ladybird identification, I found that most were likely to be harlequin ladybirds Harmonia axyridis , an invasive species in the UK. Native to eastern Asia, this species has spread around the world, and is now also present in North and South America, Africa and Europe. Harmonia axyridis was introduced to the US in the 1980s as a method of biological control for aphids, and was recorded in the UK in 2004, after being probably accidentally introduced. In 2015, it was declared the fastest spreading invasive species in the UK after spreading from Essex as far as Cornwall and the Shetland Islands in...