Nature Journal (2455 words)

Nature Journal
Introduction
Wildlife is always deemed to be of great significance economically,
ecologically, environmentally as well as culturally. It includes a wide
range of species from amphibians, insects, birds to mammals. Thus, there
is no doubt that there are some organisms that are native while others were
introduced or re-introduced to their current habitant (Day, Klingler &
Bloomberg 283). The essay is an in-depth examination of five wild animals
that exist in the United States of America. These animals are Red Fox
(Vulpes vulpes), Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus), Black and Yellow Garden
Spider (Argiope aurantia), Northern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix
mokasen) and American Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana).

To be able to cover these species adequately, the following will be
established:
– Are the species, being studied, native or introduced in that
environment?
– Describe their physical characteristics in terms of color as well as
specific differences between the sexes.

Additionally, the issues regarding the species’ habitats are
adequately tackled. This is attained by establishing their local habitat as
well as their habitat range, their ecological role, the types of food they
eat and other relevant relationships such as parasitism, mutualism are
brought to light. The species’ category under IUCN is also brought to
light. At the same time, discover life cycle of these species and life span
as well as how they coexist with people.

Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes)
According to Rue (72), Red fox is the largest of animals that is
considered as true foxes. This species is in the family of Canidae which is
comprised of wolves, dogs and coyotes. These animals are characterized by
an orange or red fur. Red foxes have white fur on their chest as well as
beneath their neck. The tail is usually fluffy and white at the tip. The
ears are black and pointed. Their legs are colored black. The animal is
about three feet long and weighs 10 pounds.

As suggested by Clapham (122), Red fox inhabits a greater part of the
United States as well as Canada, but there is no record to show that they
ever existed in Alaska and Texas. According to IUCN, it is categorized as
Least Concern for extinction and named as world’s worst alien invasive
species. They have a wide range covering approximately 70 million square
kms including wood lands, farmland as well as prairies.

Historically, red foxes were being preyed by lynx, wolves, and
bobcats but due to the reduced number of these predators, people became the
major predator hunting these animals for various reasons, such as sport
hunting, as well as for their fur or by farmers in protecting their crops
and livestock (Rue 121). It is thus no doubt that red fox has a long
association with mankind. This can be depicted in human folklore as well as
in myths. Red foxes are opportunistic feeders whose feeding pattern varies
with season as they eat everything available during some period. Generally
speaking, this species is omnivorous eating fruits, grasses and berries.

They also feed on birds, insects, small mammals. They can investigate over
five miles looking for food despite the fact that they are not hungry.

Surplus food stuffs are hidden to be consumed later (Clapham 54).

With regards to reproduction, red foxes reproduce only once a year
during spring. Female estrus lasts for 21 days during which the male mates
with her for a number of days in burrows during which there is at least an
hour of copulation tie. The gestation period is approximately two months.

Prior to littering, the female/vixen will get two den ready. The litter
size ranges between 4 and 8. As the female is nursing the litter, males
look for food. Within a period of about 2 weeks, the kits open their eyes,
and 4 days after, lower teeth start emerging. The juvenile takes a period
of six to seven months, and then, the adulthood comes. It has been
established that in their natural habitat, the red foxes attain a maximum
of five years and fourteen while under captivity (Rue 65).

These mammals are nocturnal and can hear voices in lower frequencies.

They stalk their prey just like the cat does, then pounce and chase. Dens
are utilized for reproduction reasons. Red foxes sleep in open environment
using their tail to save warmth (Clapham 23).

Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus)
Also known as marsh hawk, the bird is between 17 and 24 inches with a
wing span ranging from 3.5 to 4.5 feet weighing between 12 and 18 ounces.

Males are typically smaller than females. This bird inhabits North America
apart of Asia as well as Europe. They are commonly found in open areas,
wetlands, cultivated regions, meadows, grasslands and tundra. New Jersey’s
costal marshes provide northern harrier with the desire habitat. They are
typically found in New Jersey, Texas, and Alaska and known to wander over
100 miles in a day in search of food (Ferguson-Lees & Christie 97). The
species has facial characteristic that resembles an owl. Males are grey and
white above and below respectively and have a wingtip that is black as well
as the trailing edge towards the wings. Male’s white breast has a rusty
spotting. Females are brown and buff colored above and below in that order.

Contrary to their males counter parts, females’ under-wings are dark and
the black wingtip is obscured. The juvenile looks like the females.

They feed on a variety of food including insects as well as small
mammals. It is worth mentioning that the bird itself is a prey to skunks
and raccoons, which steal its eggs, as well as some birds of prey, feral
cats, and red foxes. The acute eye sight makes them a perfect hunter that
can ambush and grab their victim suddenly. Due to their sharp eye, they are
able to spot their prey. As they circle the area once satisfied with their
ambush, they swoop downwards and grab their prey using their sharp claws.

Circus cyaneus has coexisted with mankind for a long time. For instance, in
Europe, it was believed that when northern harrier perched on once house, 3
people will lose their lives (Ehrlich, Paul Dobkin & Wheye 162). Some
Native Americans considered this bird to be a good luck. When it appears
during marriage day, it is a sign of a long and happy marriage
relationship. Majority of farmers like these birds because they help
control pests, for instance, eating eggs of quail, and insects that could
have destroyed their crops.

According to Ehrlich, Dobkin & Wheye (231), the birds are migratory
and native to the region. Due to decline in population as a result of
predation and habitat destruction, the species has been categorized as
being endangered. They attain reproduction maturation at the age of 1
year. Females lay 3 to 6 eggs depending on the availability and abundance
of small rodents. Incubation takes approximately one month. While females
sit on the eggs, it is the responsibility of males to hunt for food and
take some to the females. The species can live up to approximately twelve
years.

Black and Yellow Garden Spider (Argiope aurantia)
According to Gertsch (147,) other common names associated with the
species, Black and Yellow Garden Spider, include writing spider or corn
spider. Black and yellow garden spiders are mostly found in forty eight
states of the United States of America. Additionally, they can be found in
regions such as Mexico, Canada and Hawaii. The species is uncommon in the
Rocky Mountains as well as the Great Basin but can be found in Costa Rico.

The abdomen and the caphalothorax of the insect are colored black and
yellow, respectively. It is worth noting that females are larger in size
than males ranging from 19 to 28 mm and 5 to 9 mm, respectively.

Through its association with mankind, it has been established that
Argiope aurantia is harmless to human beings, and for that reason, it
coexists with people in peace. The spider also helps man in predating on
disturbing insects. The representatives of this species are typically
carnivores and employ a strategy of waiting for their prey in the web which
is zigzag shaped. Once the prey appears in the web, it is deemed to be
captured by the spider and injected a venom in which makes the prey
immobile. Then the spider wraps it and store somewhere to be eaten later.

The prey can be flies, moths, beetles, wasps and mosquitoes (Gertsch 203).

The species is native in most part of the country, but the most widely
introduced in California. These spiders inhabit gardens as well as old
fields. Their success in California is attributed to their ability of
avoiding predators. They are eaten by birds, species of wasp such as mud
daubers, lizards and shrews.

With regards to reproduction, they breed only once per year. For
reproduction purposes, males are the ones searching for females. As a sign
of interest to reproduce, the male idividuals go plucking strands on the
web constructed by a female. It is worth noting that after mating, the male
dies often not consumed by the female. Eggs are laid at night on silky
material and covered. The sacs produced range between 1 and 4 each having
close to 1,000 eggs. The female protects the sac until the spring because
it is during the spring that the juveniles come out. During the period of
growth and development, they shade the exoskeleton. At time, they may lose
their legs but are able of regenerating them. Moreover, concerning the
status of the species, Herbert, Levi & Strekalovsky reveal that the
representatives of this species are listed as endangered/threatened (72).

Northern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen)
The venomous snake called Northern Copperhead is found statewide apart
from barrier islands living in wetlands, edge areas, and forests.

Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen is found in regions such as Illinois,
Alabama, Georgia as well as Massachusetts. For that reason, its habitat is
wide. The species can be also found in open areas made up of rocks which
they use for cover. According to Herrmann (par. 1), the snake has not yet
been categorized by the federal government, nonetheless, in the state of
Massachusetts, the snake has been listed as endangered.

The snake grows to approximately 76 cm in length, the head is
characterized by unmarked copper color head and reddish-brown body. They
are thick in body having keeled scales. An organ which is sensitive to
temperature is located on sides of its head. The juveniles are 7-10 inches
being greyer that the adults which fade when they reach the age of 3-4
years. They are sexually dimorphic, males being smaller than females.

Sexual maturation is attained at age of 4 years (“Northern copperhead
(Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen).”). They have breeding seasons that last
from August to October and from February to May. Using the tongue, males
seek for sexually active females. Once this is done, he starts to rub his
head on the ground after courting. When sufficiently stimulated, the female
avails the cloaca. They mate for a period of between 31/2 and 81/2 hours.

During mating, the male releases a special pheromone which makes the female
unattractive to other males. It takes between three and nine months for
young ones to pass the larval stages. The life span of this reptile is
about 18 years (Herrmann par. 4).

It is worth noting that adult Copperhead feeds on a range of small
mammals, for instance, mice, rodents. Occasionally, they eat lizards, small
birds, insects as well as amphibians. They have coexisted with man due to
their ability to escape predation by remaining motionless. The snake is
native to America (Herrmann par. 3).

American Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana)
According to Stebbins (32), Bullfrog is the largest true frog being 9
to 20.3 cm in length. Its color ranges from yellow to green with some dark
grey mottles. The frog has a large external eardrum having the hind legs
webbed apart from the last joint made up of loner toe. The amphibian has no
dorsolateral ridges. The belly’s color ranges from cream to white, and
sometimes, it has grey mottles. The species is not native to all the parts
of the USA with the exception of central and eastern parts of the country.

The range of its habitat is typically eastern and central U.S, New
Brunswick as well as Nova Scotia. They inhabit aquatic environment which
includes ponds, low moving streams and lakes.

In terms of diet, it is interesting that they are capable of eating
any food that they will be able to swallow. Their diet is made up of fish,
mammals, frogs, insects as well as birds. Their hatchlings eat algae,
invertebrates as well as plants. The introduced species is responsible for
the decline of a number of native fauna (Day, Klingler ; Bloomberg 83). The
individuals of this species have gained a competitive advantage over the
natives because the first grow and develop in an environment where
competition is fierce, thus their prey is deemed to be captured.

Reproduction takes place between May and August and March and October.

Fertilization is external. Bull frogs attain sexual maturation between one
and three years of age. After tagging a territory, a male makes a call at
night to attract a female. The choice is made when a female enters the
territory. Eggs, about 20,000, are laid initially floating the sink under
aquatic vegetation (Stebbins 34). The tadpoles are between 10 and 17 cm in
length taking 2 years to transform. It has been established that when in
their natural habitats, these amphibia can live a maximum age, from eight
to ten years. However, when in captivity, they live longer usually reaching
sixteen years (Alexander, Zim ; Arnold 163).

Works Cited
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