[FIELD NOTE] Rough-Skinned Newt

The days seem to be flying by over here and I find myself getting behind on this journal and my written version. I try to get us out for an adventure daily (weather permitting) and it seems that every outing results in some kind of cool find.

This week, me and my girl decided to visit a favourite trail that we haven't been to for awhile. It's not a long nor busy walk, but is an excellent example of our lush rainforests. Headwaters Trail never disappoints - in the fall, it's filled with the most amazing mushroom specimens, spring has huge skunk cabbage and frog eggs, and in the summer, you can find beautiful Sundews if you know where to look.

[ABOVE] SKUNK CABBAGE [BELOW] YUP...IT SMELLS LIKE SKUNK!

On this rainy morning, Chloe and I decided to bring with us a critter container and a large bag to collect fungus for the fairy houses we've been making. Chloe was determined to catch a salamander and after overturning every log and searching under the dead leaves in areas that we felt a salamander may want to hide, she finally found the cutest little Rough-Skinned Newt. She was so happy!

We have brought him/her home to be our class pet for awhile and have been having lots of fun watching it swim through the water and hide in a little cave we created or climb up onto the soft moss. Chloe decided she wanted to learn everything there is to know about these cool (and very poisonous) amphibians before we let it go back to where we found it. 

Here's some cool facts about the Rough-Skinned Newt.

Description

Rough-skinned Newts are heavy-bodied and have granular skin that is relatively dry compared to other salamanders. They are brown to olive green on top with a bright yellow or orange belly. This species lacks the costal grooves that are present on most other Canadian salamanders and the tail is laterally compressed near the end with a prominent ridge. The rear legs of breeding males are enlarged. Aquatic larvae have feathery gills behind the head, legs (both front and back) and a tail fin and are tan to brown with two rows of yellow spots along the sides. Rough-skinned Newts can grow up to 22 cm in total length, though most individuals are much smaller than this.

Similar Species
Rough-skinned Newts are the only salamanders in B.C. that lack costal groves and have dry, granular skin and a bright yellow belly.

Distribution

In Canada, Rough-skinned Newts occur throughout the West Coast of British Columbia. Its range extends along the West Coast from southern Alaska to central California.

Habitat

Rough-skinned Newts breed in wetlands, ponds, pools, sloughs, slow streams and other shallow aquatic habitats, and the larvae live in these aquatic habitats. Adults and juveniles primarily inhabit forested areas within close proximity to these breeding sites, although adults spend extended periods of time in aquatic habitat during the spring and some individuals spend their entire life in the water. Logs, rocks and other cover objects provide important microhabitats for terrestrial adults and juveniles. In large bodies of water that are permanent, newts often spend the winter in the water and may remain active through much of the winter. Individuals that inhabit shallow or seasonal wetlands hibernate in terrestrial habitats in underground cavities or under cover such as rotting logs.

Biology

Rough-skinned Newts migrate to their breeding sites on warm, rainy nights in the spring. Females lay eggs singly throughout the breeding habitat, which they attach to aquatic vegetation or submerged leaves. The eggs hatch in three to four weeks and the larvae undergo metamorphosis into terrestrial juveniles in the late summer or the summer of the following year. Individuals reach sexual maturity after four to five years and the can live for over 12 years. Adult and juvenile newts prey on a variety of aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates, such as insects, slugs, small crustaceans and worms, as well as amphibian eggs and larvae. Larvae forage for protozoans, larval insects and small crustaceans, while terrestrial newts forage for invertebrates on the forest floor. Rough-skinned newts are the most poisonous amphibian in B.C. They produce a powerful neurotoxin, which is a very effective defence against bird and mammalian predators. When threatened, individuals will raise the head and the tail, showing off the bright yellow bellow as a warning of their toxicity.

Threats

The destruction of forest and wetland habitats is the primary threat to this species in Canada, especially in area where human population densities are high. However, this species is widespread and remains abundant throughout most of its range. Pollution, such as herbicides, agricultural effluent and road salt can be detrimental to newts since toxins are easily absorbed though their skin. Climate change and introduced pathogens pose potentially serious future threats to Canadian salamanders.

Source: Canadian Herpetological Society

[FIELDNOTE] Sea Gooseberry

There is never a shortage of science lessons here on our island. It's sometimes overwhelming, just how much there is to learn about our island. It's a speckle on the globe but massive in the hearts of those that are lucky enough to call Bowen Island home.

Speaking of speckles - look at this tiny little creature we found at Tunstall Bay earlier this week. I remember finding these little guys as a kid and thinking they were baby jellyfish (a pretty good guess, considering they're round, gelatinous and have tentacles). But I was wrong - turns out these little guys are actually a ctenophore, not a jellyfish.

I found this little one at the edge of the water - it looked like a bubble or a marble when the light hit it - very easy to miss but luckily my beach combing eyesight is pretty strong (lots of practice).

Identification

The cat's eye comb jelly is actually a ctenophore, not a jellyfish. It has a small, transparent, round or egg-shaped body, and reaches only 2 cm in diameter. When in water its "combs" or rows of cilia flash a variety of colours. Its two long, retractable tentacles trail behind its body, can be 15 cm long, and may be coloured pink, yellow, white, or brownish. When washed up dead on shore, this creature tends to resemble a transparent marble.

The rainbow of colours created when the rows of cilia beat are sometimes visible in photos, but are better experienced live. 

Habitat & Range 

This species usually appears in swarms, near the surface of nearshore waters. It is found on the west coast of North America from southern Alaska to northern Mexico. 

Intriguing Info 

This species preys on copepods, larval fish, eggs, and other creatures that are small enough for it to ingest. It waits for its prey to come to it, with its tentacles and their small side branches (tentillae) extended. When prey comes in contact with the sticky tentacles, they are retracted as the comb jelly swims forward. It manoeuvres its body around to bring the prey close to its mouth. 

Source: Central Coast Biodiversity

How incredibly cool is that?? I wish I had had a bucket that day to watch it swim. Lesson learned...never visit the beach without a container as you never know what little miracles you're going to find xox

[DOCUMENT] My Journal

Last year, I started keeping a journal - I don't write in it everyday, just when I feel the need to get my thoughts on paper, or to help keep track of a trip to later record in our family albums. I rely heavily on imagery to help tell my story, so I purchased a Kodak Mini Printer to document my pages. This journal has quickly become one of my most prized possessions. I not only use it as a 'diary' but also as a place to record our findings in nature, to document the history of a place we've visited or to record a favourite recipe. It's a little snippet into my day to day.

My journal has been a source of comfort during these strange days of isolation. Living on an island can seem isolating at the best of times let alone during a global pandemic. Being honest with my feelings whether good or bad, and recording them, has helped me navigate the day to day a little better. It also has shown me, that in-between the waves of panic I frequently feel, there is goodness that is also happening within me and my family.

FULL SPREAD TITLE PAGE FOR THE COVID-19 PORTION OF MY JOURNAL

We are living during a time that will be forever remembered in our history books. Taking a few minutes to write down what is happening in your little corner of the globe, is important for many reasons. Just think about how fascinating it is to read a diary from someone who lived through the war, or small pox or a natural catastrophe. How did they cope? What resources did they have at their disposal? What rules were put in place by their government. All of the above applies to us right now.

LEARNING ABOUT OUR OCEAN + SWEET GIFTS FROM MY GIRL

DOCUMENTING PLANT SPECIES ON OUR WALK (ORCAS ISLAND 2019)

Below I've included a list of supplies that I use. I love the Lemome line of journals - they are beautifully constructed, inexpensive and have lovely heavy paper stock that is available in plain, lined and graph (I like the graph). The Kodak Mini 2 Printer is great to have on the go as it's wireless and holds a charge for quite a few prints. The quality is pretty good for this type of convenience and the sticky back paper holds well. And just for fun, I like to use a date stamp with red ink to record the days...just gives it a fun touch.

LETTER STAMPS FROM MICHAELS $1 BINS (SAN JUAN ISLAND 2019)

[FIELDNOTE] Gunnel Fish

With all this beautiful weather we've been having on our little island, the kiddos and I have been making a point of getting out every day to explore our forests and coastline. We have found a few 'new' beaches to us and trails. 

This past long weekend, we were tipped off to some cool 'baby eels' that were hiding out under the rocks in Crippen Park. Chloe and I grabbed a bucket and headed out to see for ourself.

After turning over about three rocks with no success, we hit the jackpot! Post rock flip, the murky water started to swish and swash with little tails flipping around in a crazy dance - it totally took us by surprise! We quickly started scooping up the slippery little creatures that were causing all the fuss and discovered that they were beautiful Gunnel Fish.

Pretty much every other rock we turned over were swarming with these little guys. We found tiny ones and some pretty large ones in all different colours. They have beautiful markings down their backs and the cutest little faces. We even found a large, red toned Gunnel!

Once back home, we started googling the different species of Gunnel and learning more about these fascinating 'baby eels'.

The gunnel is a fish that looks a great deal like an eel, with a long thin body, and a dorsal fin that is about two times as long as his anal fin.

The Gunnel is about three to ten inches long, but can grow to be as much as 18 inches long. Gunnels are grey to green in color, but may have other markings or colors on their bodies./

The thin gunnel is very abundant in the cooler waters of the Pacific. They will hide in rocks or crevices between rocks, or even underneath them to stay clear of predators.

Gunnels are relatives of the Wolf fish, but they are much smaller and lack some of the characteristics of the wolf fish.

The gunnel can come in a variety of colors, depending on their type. THe Rock Gunnel is a warm brown while the saddleback gunnel is a darker color but has markings much like a saddle on its back and takes its shelter in among kelp plants for cover.

Gunnels have a very long and well spined dorsal fin that runs the entire length of the body and if they have pelvic fins they are very small. About eight types of gunnels are found in the northern most aspects of the Atlantic and Pacific ocean.The Gunnel is also called the Rock eel,referring to its looking much like an eel, or the butterfish, which refers to the slipperiness of the fish when you attempt to catch it.

Gunnels are egg layers, meaning that they do not bear live young. Their eggs are deposited and left, and the young are not cared for by the mother.

[FIELDNOTE] Shore Crab

We are incredibly fortunate on this little island to have nature right at our doorstep (quite literally). It's very easy for us to find an empty beach or wander the woods with never bumping into another soul. With all the schools being shut down right now, and the expectation to continue our children's education at home, I can't think of a more perfect time to take advantage of all the wonders nature has to offer. The spring is a great time of year to explore our forests, ponds, tide pools - endless learning opportunities for both the kids and me!

To start this first week of homeschooling off, Chloe loaded up her 'adventure pack' with various critter containers, hand sanitizer, sketchbook, pencils and ziplock bags (she is so my daughter), and together we explored a hidden trail that took us to a beautiful tiny beach. 

We had so much fun watching the little barnacles have lunch, and finding tiny starfish under the rocks. While beach combing, we came across an odd gelatinous creature on the bottom of a rock (very curious) and uncovered some beautiful mama crabs whose undersides were filled with eggs!

We decided to learn more about our common shore crab and thought I'd share with you a few fun facts:

Shore crabs (Carcinus maenas) are a common crustacean that are often found around the sea shore. They come in a variety of colours such as green or brown. They have eight legs and two large pincers. The width across the shell is up to 5 centimetres (2.0 in). The usual width is about 2 to 3 centimetres (0.79 to 1.18 in).

Shore crabs are a nocturnal predator which means it hunts at night. They eat small crustaceans, molluscs, worms and some fish.

A female shore crab can lay up to nearly 200 thousand eggs at once. They carry the eggs with them until they hatch. Like most crabs, when a shore crab gets too big for its shell, it sheds it and has a new soft shell that eventually hardens. 

WOW!! Two hundred thousand eggs at once!! This is the time of year that we see these little mamas scuttling around our seashores - just remember to gently role back any rocks you overturned after exploring. Homeschooling at it's best!!