Diario de hannahbanana05

Hares were used mainly for their fur, such as line shoes and robes in Alaska. They were also used as a food source but mainly used if food was scarce. Hare skulls and feet were seen as good luck charms; their value depended on their culture and the abundance of them in the area. Some believed that hare fur if burned, would cause rain.

My experiences with hares are minimal as I only see them from afar because they usually run away at any movement. I could only get these photos of hares because they were eating, and I stayed far away from them. My camera was on maximum zoom when I took the close-up shot. Anyway, most hares I see are in the town of Wasilla; they usually are in the ditch on the side of the road. They typically stay in the dich, eating or heading back in the woods. I once petted a hare at the fair. That was the closest I've ever got to one.

The biology of hares is fascinating as they are herbivores, meaning they eat plants for their nutrients. That also means there are prey, so they get eaten by other animals called carnivores. They are also known for their ability to reproduce; this caused overpopulation in some areas, lacking a proper predator to thin their numbers. They are small, have short hair, and have long front teeth. They don't burrow, but they use natural shelters to rest. They also use their powerful back legs for running and jumping. The ability of the hares to survive such harsh conditions is truly unique.

I don't know what the hares were doing there or where they came from, but one thing is for sure: they didn't seem domesticated. They were eye-balling me the whole time I took their photos and were ready to take off immediately. Maybe they escaped and have been living off the land ever since.

References:
https://www.britannica.com/animal/hare-mammal
http://www.alaskannature.com/rabbits.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaskan_hare

Mushrooms have been used as a food source in Alaska; other times, they're used for dyeing wool or other natural fibers. They can also be used in medicine and some cause hallucinogenics. They are also rich in nutrients, meaning that their uses to the people varied depending on the spices.

I believe the species on the tree are the Bracket fungi, a distinctive group of hard, woody fungi that grow on trees, stumps, and fallen logs. They also lack a stem and have semi-circular caps on tree trunks that look like shelves. They like to grow in damp forests, mainly on birch trees, but can also grow on others. The Alaska natives used them as medicine and would be used to start fires or carry embers. They also used it to enhance the effects of tobacco. It was also an ingredient used to make chewing tobacco. Some people even used them as canvases for paintings.

My experiences with mushrooms, in general, are very limited; the only ones I see are the ones growing in my backyard. Those ones are usually bright red and orange or brown mushrooms. The only ones I've seen on trees are the wavy ones, and I only see them when camping. I found these mushrooms when surveying the yard; they were back behind my house on the edge of the woods. I saw the old tree, and when I approached, it was completely covered in mushrooms. I think I remember this tree when I was a kid, five or six years back, but there were maybe one or two mushrooms on it back then. I'm amazed at how far they've come and wonder how much more will grow.

Bracket fungi are a vital part of wood decay, meaning fungi generally absorb organic matter. Some are considered parasitic to plants as they can cause diseases like mildew or rust. They range from single-celled to multi-celled and can be found almost everywhere on the planet. Fungi are a very vital part of the ecosystem and help maintain order, so it is important to learn more about them.

Sources:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5414170.pdf
https://alutiiqmuseum.org/collection/index.php/Detail/word/676
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polypore
https://microbiologysociety.org/why-microbiology-matters/what-is-microbiology/fungi.html

I observed this tree, which has three different organisms growing on it. At a distance, I saw this tree with something growing on it, but upon further investigation, I found it was growing multiple species. From looking at photos, I think the main species is a Foliose Lichen; the hanging one, I believe, is a type of Old Man's Beard, and the last one is the standard type of moss found everywhere in Alaska.

Foliose Lichen was used as food and medicine and was helpful in the creation of dyed cloth or fabric. Old Man's Beard was used historically for bedding and anti-fungal medication, as well as canoe sealant. Old Man's Beard is very versatile and has been used for many purposes throughout history. Moss has been used for various purposes, from toilet paper, stuffing dolls, and mattresses to being placed on a wound to stop bleeding. The possibilities are endless when it comes to moss and its versatility.

Both Foliose Lichen and Old Man's Beard are in the Lichen family, which is a symbiotic relationship with fungi and an alga. There are also around 3,600 variations of Lichen, and they can be found all over the world. The alga gives the fungi nutrients, and in exchange, the fungus helps the alga to spread.

There are 12,000 variations of spore-baring plants and can be found anywhere but in salt water. Moss likes more moist and shaded locations to grow at. They are located on forest floors and can grow on trees. Moss mainly absorbs moisture and controls erosion rates.

My experience with moss is mostly seeing it on the sides of trees and on the ground in the woods. I always found moss otherworldly and enchanting because it didn't really grow like grass. Whenever I stepped on the moss, it sank into the ground, and I always thought one of these days it's going to swallow me hole. I don't think that way anymore, but the bright green of the moss still seems magical to me. As for Lichen, I always thought it was a lighter version of moss, so it was a surprising sock to learn its more of a fungus than a moss.

Work Cited:

Admin. “How Our Ancestors Used Moss.” WabiMoss, admin https://www.wabimoss.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/wide-logo4.jpg, 15 Feb. 2017, www.wabimoss.com/nature-immersion/practical-uses-moss/. Accessed 11 Sept. 2023.

Jones, Randy, and Randy JonesHaving discovered a fondness for insects while pursuing her degree in Biology. “Foliose Lichen.” Learn About Nature, 23 May 2022, www.learnaboutnature.com/plants/lichens/foliose-lichen/#Uses. Accessed 11 Sept. 2023.

Joubert, Roxanne. “Old Man’s Beard an Indigenous Medicinal Botanical.” Lady of the Herbs, 17 Feb. 2022, ladyoftheherbs.co.za/2022/02/17/old-mans-beard/. Accessed 11 Sept. 2023.

“Moss.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., 10 Aug. 2023, www.britannica.com/plant/moss-plant. Accessed 11 Sept. 2023.

“U.S. Forest Service.” Forest Service Shield, www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/beauty/lichens/about.shtml. Accessed 11 Sept. 2023.

“U.S. Forest Service.” Forest Service Shield, www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/usnea_longissima.shtml. Accessed 11 Sept. 2023.

The species I observed was the Crackling Goose, which was historically hunted for food. They were also hunted for their feathers and bones; some cultures' places relied heavily on Geese' for food (Geese para 1). It is the main meal at Quebec weddings and is often used for celebrations (Geese para 1). Hunting Geese used to be done with a bow and arrow, but now firearms are the primary hunting tool (Geese para 5).

My experience with Cackling Geese is from camping; they are relatively fearless creatures, as I could get pretty close to them while taking pictures on the lake. They would side-eye me and go underwater to get food. My father also told me Geese are very territorial and are extremely mean if you get close to them. He used to raise geese on his father's farm, and he was always told to deal with the geese because no one else wanted to, so he got the short end of the stick when it came to chores. I found the geese I've seen to be unintimidating, but I also don't know that much about them, and I never get that close to them.

The Cracking Goose breeds in Alaska and Canada in subarctic and arctic habitats (Cackling para 1). "Pairs usually select a small island within a pond for nesting" (Cackling para 1). When they migrate and during winter, they gather in a flock in treeless habitats (Cackling para 3). "They forage in freshwater marshes, saltmarshes, mudflats, meadows, and agricultural fields" (Cackling para 3). They also on lakes they like to rest, relax, and bathe in lakes (Cackling para 3). The way they are distributed during winter is determined by agricultural practices (Cackling para 3).

The Cracking Goose was interesting to learn about, and I wonder what my following observation will be.

Works Cited

"Cackling Goose Life History." All About Birds, Cornell University,
www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Cackling_Goose/lifehistory. Accessed 18 Sept. 2023.

"Geese." Traditional Animal Foods of Indigenous Peoples of Northern North America, McGill,
traditionalanimalfoods.org/birds/waterfowl/page.aspx?id=6457. Accessed 18 Sept. 2023.

For my species, I found the Siberian Peashrub. There are a few of them scattered randomly around my house, and one of them is so tall I can't even get a picture of the peas, so I took a picture of the shortest one. I don't know how long they have been here, but it's well over 50 years. My father told me they were called snow peas, but after looking at pictures, Siberian Peashrub seems more accurate. My experience with Siberian Peashrubs is that they produce peas, and the peas are tasty. You also have to keep an eye on them so that you can harvest them when they've had plenty of time to mature. That's the extent of my knowledge when it comes to peas.

Siberian Peashrub is actually an invasive species native to Siberia and parts of China and neighboring Mongolia and Kazakhstan (Caragana para 1). It was used as a food source by Eurasian immigrants who were traveling west, and that's how it was brought to the United States (Caragana para 1). This makes me wonder if the original homeowner planted one of these Siberian Peashrub 50 some years ago, and they are spreading throughout my yard. Siberian Peashrub was also planted on "Canadian prairies in the 1880's the hardy caragana provided shelter-belts, wildlife habitat, nitrogen fixation, and wind-breaks to prevent soil erosion and snow drifting" (Caragana para 1).

Siberian Peashrub comes from the Fabaceae family and the Caragana genus (Caragana). It is a shrub or small tree that grows 2–6 meters tall, and its growth rate can range from moderate to fast (Caragana para 2). The yellow flowers bloom around May or July and are fragrant (Caragana para 2). The fruit ripens in July, and as they dry out, they slit open popping the seeds everywhere for more plants to grow (Caragana para 2). I didn't know that peas were considered a fruit; I thought that they were vegetables this whole time. This goes to show how taking a closer look at something can reveal something new and exciting.

Source:

“Caragana Arborescens.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 12 July 2022, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caragana_arborescens. Accessed 25 Sept, 2023