Marietta Natural History Society. Caterpillars in the Classroom. Public Is Invited

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1 Public Is Invited Marietta Natural History Society Caterpillars in the Classroom Thursday, October 8, 7:00 PM, Selby 150, Marietta College Presenter: Olivia Kittle How do you get 5th graders excited about science and nature? Bring caterpillars and moths into the classroom and let the students be scientists! Olivia Kittle, 5th grade teacher from Nelsonville, will show how she uses her own enthusiasm for moths to enchant, excite and educate her students. Thursday, November 12, 7:00 PM Selby 150, Marietta College Presenter: Dr. Greg Pond Big rivers come from tiny tributaries, and those tributaries are important to the health of the ecosystem and to humans who drink from, fish in or otherwise use our waterways from small to large. Dr. Greg Pond of the US EPA will share what they have learned about headwater streams and what we can do to protect them. Thursday, December 10, 7:00 PM Selby 150, Marietta College Presenter: Steven Saines Steven Saines of the Ohio EPA Source Water Protection Program will help us understand where our drinking water comes from and some of the threats to it, from algal blooms to waste disposal.

2 Page 2 Marietta Natural History Society Fall 2015 Bird Feeder watch forms now being mailed (and available online) Beginning this Fall s Annual Bird Feeder Watch, we are including the bird feeder watch form with the newsletter to members. The form is also available on the MNHS web site on the Local Phenology page ( If you use the online version, you will need to write in the observation dates in the left-hand column (the dates are in the calenders included in the Fall and Winter newsletters), and tape the two pages together into one continuous form. On page 7 you will find some of the results of Marietta s Bird Feeder watches for the last few years. ` Dinner with the speakers We will meet at 5:30 at the Levee House Restaurant Check first with Dave ( ) or Elsa ( ). to be sure speaker will be there. Members should make their own reservations. Suggestions, Comments or Contributions for the MNHS Newsletter? Send them to the Editor: spilatrs@marietta.edu Upcoming Events at the Anderson-Hancock Planetarium Each of these shows will begin with a star talk pointing out the highlights of our current evening skies, including visible planets and other notable sky features. Undiscovered Worlds Sunday, October 25 at 2pm This program will focus on the discovery of other Solar Systems. Space Aliens Sunday, November 8 at 2pm This program explores the possibility of life on other planets. Season of Light Thursday, December 10, 2015 at 7:00pm Sunday, December 13, 2015 at 2:00pm and 3:30pm Thursday, December 17, 2015 at 7:00pm Please join us for our annual presentation of the holiday program "Season of Light", which traces the history and development of holiday traditions, including the Yule Log, mistletoe, and the Christmas tree. The program concludes by exploring possible astronomical explanations for the Christmas star. Please (planetarium@marietta.edu) or call ( ) for reservations after November 8! The AH Planetarium is located in the Rickey Science Center, Marietta College

3 Page 3 Marietta Natural History Society Fall 2015 It s Bird Feeder Watch Time It s almost time again for the Winter Bird Feeder Watch. Participants record species and number of birds at their bird feeders every other weekend from November to mid March. You don t have to watch every weekend; all data collected can be used. If you want to participate, forms can e printed from the MNHS web site or obtained from Bird Watcher s Digest ( ). Our Data Coordinator is Brad Bond, and you can give your completed forms to Brad at a MNHS meeting or mail them to him at 101 Hillside Way, Marietta, OH. Close Encounters of the Martian Kind On October 19th the Comet Siding Spring will slip past Mars, coming within 80,000 miles of the surface, about a third of the distance between the Earth and the Moon.Its arrival is fortuitous considering that there is small fleet of Mars-observing spacecraft ready to train their cameras on the intruder. Yet the encounter is not without risk. Little is known about the comet, believed to be on its first trip from the solar system's outer 'Oort' cloud, and Mars spacecraft will be repositioned so not to be pelleted with the highspeed dust and gas emanating from Siding Spring. Once the comet has past all eyes will be focused on it, since this will be the first Oort Cloud object to be observed up close.

4 Page 4 Marietta Natural History Society Fall 2015 Mussel Bound by Jason White Conservation and Restoration of Native Freshwater Mussels in the Ohio River The Ohio River Basin is known historically as having one of the Earth s richest assemblages of freshwater mussels (Unionidae). The freshwater streams, rivers and lakes of the United stated were once home to nearly 300 species of mussels. A century ago, 127 of these species could be found within the Ohio River and its tributaries. Freshwater mussels are bivalve mollusks similar in appearance to their salt water cousins, the oysters and clams. The shell surfaces (periostracum) are formed from dissolved minerals taken in from the environment and secreted in successive layers. Shells range in size, some rarely reach an inch in length while others can grow to over six inches and weigh five pounds or more. Mussels can vary in color from yellow and green to brown and black and also exhibit a variety textures. Many are smooth while others contain distinctive ridges, rays, and bumps. The unique characteristics of each species allow for identification and often result in some colorful naming. The elephant ear, rabbitsfoot, purple wartyback, shiny pigtoe, and monkeyface are among many local residents named for their appearance. Mussels spend the majority of their adult lives submerged beneath the sand, mud, or gravel with only their siphon, or a portion of the shell exposed. They feed on detritus, diatoms, phytoplankton and zooplankton that they filter out of the surrounding water. A single adult mussel can filter over 1.25 gallons of water per hour and a 1 mile long mussel bed on a large river can filter 4 billion gallons in a day! The reproductive process of freshwater mussels is complex and involves a short parasitic stage with a Purple Wartyback (Cyclonaias tuberculata) fish host. Reproduction occurs when males release sperm into the water column which is then taken up by the female s siphons as they respire. Eggs are fertilized and develop into larvae (glochidia) within the female s gills to be released in the presence of a host fish. Many female mussels possess an enlarged region of mantle tissue that resembles a potential food item (minnows, worms, and insect larvae) to a fish host in search of food. As the fish approaches and nips at the mantle flap, the female releases glochidia into the water which attach themselves to the gills of the fish host. The glochidia then transform into juveniles and drop from the fish onto the streambed below where they mature and repeat the cycle. The glochidia stage of the freshwater mussel is the most mobile and allows it to expand populations and genetic diversity into other suitable habitat. Freshwater mussels are valuable ecologically in that they are a vital link in the food chain. Wildlife such as muskrat, otter, ducks, herons, and sport fish depend on mussels as a major source of food. In addition, mussels improve water quality as natural filters by straining out suspended particles and pollutants. Their ability to remove and store contaminates is an integral part in the natural purification process making aquatic habitat more suitable for other wildlife. Prior to European settlement, mussel populations in the Ohio River basin remained relatively unchanged. As settlers moved westward and expanded, they began to dramatically alter aquatic ecosystems to promote shipping and farming. In the early 1900 s, mussels became economically valuable as thousands of tons of were being harvested to produce pearl buttons from the shells. By the millions, mussels were loaded onto barges and transported to factories for grinding and polishing. By 1912, nearly 200 factories were conveniently located along major rivers to supply these popular buttons to the clothing industry. This industry was sort lived; however, as resources began to dwindle and cheaper and more durable plastics became available. Cont. Page 5

5 Page 5 Marietta Natural History Society Fall 2015 In the late 1950 s, the Japanese cultured pearl industry brought about another economic demand for freshwater mussel shells. Cultured (manmade) pearls are created by implanting a small bead into a live oyster or mussel. The bead is an irritant to the oyster causing it to secrete a motherof-pearl layer (nacre) over the bead in an attempt to soothe the irritation. The beads used in this process are cut and ground from the shells of our native freshwater mussels. Thousands of tons of mussels are harvested annually to support this multi-billion dollar industry. Today, shell from an American mussel forms the center of nearly every Japanese cultured pearl. Over harvesting by commercial shellers is only a minor contributing factor to mussel decline. Numbers and diversity of mussel fauna in the Ohio River basin has been adversely affected by a variety of human disturbances. Major factors contributing to the degradation of habitat and population decline include; dams and impoundments, channelization and dredging, sedimentation from agricultural land, construction projects and mining operations, water pollution, fish loss (host species), and the introduction of non-native species. Streams and tributari es can become polluted through Results of U.S. FWS Mussel Restoration to Date 1. Eastern Fan Shell (Cyprogenia stegaria) 200 in the Muskingum River, 200 at Muskingum Island, and 200 at Kanawha Falls 2. Pink Mucket (Lampsilis abrupta) 650 at Muskingum Island 3. Clubshell (Pleurobema clava) 400 (Muskingum and Buckley Island, Greenup Pool, Middle Island Creek, Little Kanawha River) 4. Northern Riffleshell (Epioblasma torulosa rangiana) 300 in the Ohio River, 100 at Kanawha Falls, and over 1,000 in the Elk River at Queen Shoals 5. Purple Catspaw (Epioblasma obliquata) The first successful propagation of this mussel occurred in 2013! 6. Orange-footed Pimpleback (Plethobasus cooperianus) currently aggregating adults for spawning 7. Spectaclecase (Cumberlandia monodonta) First propagation underway 8. Sheepnose (Plethobasus cyphyus) First successful propagation in 2014! Another great source of information is Dr. David McShaffrey s website on the Freshwater Mussels of the Ohio River basin at Spectaclecase coal mining related siltation and the associated toxic runoff known as yellow boy or acid mine drainage. Mussels are of value to science as indicators to the overall health of an ecosystem. Their sensitivity to changes in water quality is useful to biologists as biological monitors to indicate past and present conditions. In 1980, a survey of shorelines revealed evidence of only 25 species of freshwater mussel where, historically 80 were present within the main channel. Today, of the 127 distinct species that once thrived here, 11 are now extinct, 28 are classified as federally endangered with 18 others under review for potential addition to the Federal Endangered Species List. Within the span of little more than a century, nearly half of the Ohio River basin s mussel species has been either lost to extinction, become endangered, or reduced to the point of possible federal protection. In response to declining conditions, the Clean Water Act was passed in 1977 followed by the Water Quality Act of The objective of these legislations is to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation s waters by addressing various pollution problems, assisting with wastewater treatment programs, and maintaining wetlands. In 1990, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service established the Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge to aid in the conservation of habitat along the Ohio River. By 1999, 38 species could be found within the Ohio River showing evidence that legislation and conservation efforts were successful. In 2014, 45 species were documented along the Ohio River Islands NWR. One of the greatest threats to the industrialized Ohio River is the potential for a large scale accidental spill or contamination. A case study into the toxic discharge events of 1999 revealed a 100% mortality rate for freshwater mussels in the Bellville Pool of the Ohio River. Cont. page 6

6 Page 6 Marietta Natural History Society Fall 2015 This resulted in the annihilation of more than 990,000 native mussels, 26 species in five discrete beds with immeasurable losses in between. Over 8,600 dead fish were documented and nearly 12 million snails and other benthic invertebrates were killed. Nothing was found living within 80 meters of the shoreline. By 2007, when active restoration projects began, 7 live mussel species had naturally returned to site 11 in the heart of the impact zone. The first step for the U.S. FWS in the active restoration project was to restore the ecological functioning of the mussel bed through the translocation of adult mussels. These adults are collected from areas of impact such as dredging operations, shoreline development, and bridge projects then relocated to an approved location. To date, 9,851 adults of 29 species have been relocated to the restoration area. The second step to recovery involves captive propagation and can have a lag time of up to 3 years from the lab to the river. Host fish, specific to the mussel species being propagated, are collected and infected with glochidia extracted from fertilized females. Caution is used to prevent over-inoculation and any potential harm to the host fish. The fish are then placed in a cage with a sandy substrate on the bottom and suspended in the water column. The glochidia mature into juveniles and drop to the sand below where they can be collected and grown out in the lab. Once they have matured, they are tagged for monitoring and stocked in the restoration area. By the end of 2014, 21,857 juveniles of 14 species had been propagated in captivity, tagged, and stocked in the Bellville pool. The monitoring program results of 2012 documented 22 mussel species, including the endangered Eastern Fan Shell, with an average density of 3.4 per square meter. With the success of the active restoration project, focus can now be shifted toward rarer species and those with insufficient brood stock to maintain genetically healthy populations. In 2010, a cooperative project was initiated to recover 8 species of endangered mussels in our big rivers with the ultimate goal of removing them from the Endangered Species List. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, in cooperation with several state and private organizations have been successful in this operation with the several species (see box inset): Unfortunately, the mussels of the Ohio River basin will never fully recover to historic levels. Species such as the round combshell, the Eastern Fan Shell leafshell, the Tenessee riffleshell and many others are lost forever to extinction. In the natural world, extinction and speciation occur at roughly the same rate. However, humans are responsible for environmental changes such as air and water pollution and loss of habitat that have now caused the extinction rate to far exceed the natural rate of speciation. Unnecessary extinctions diminish the diversity of life on Earth, ultimately leading to a less stable environment. If enough species are lost, the balance of nature could potentially be altered is such a way to jeopardize our own survival. Through restoration, education, and conservation we have an opportunity to reverse some of the damage that has been done and preserve our natural treasures for future generations. Jason White is a Naturalist and/or Volunteer Bio-tech for USFWS Ohio River Islands NWR. Jason extends a special thanks to Patricia Morrison, Refuge Biologist, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Ohio River Islands NWR. WHY THE CHIPMUNK HAS BLACK STRIPES From Mabel Powers (Yeh Sen Noh Wehs) Stories the Iroquois Tell Their Children At one time, the animals had tribes and chiefs, like men. It was when the porcupine was chief, that a council was called. A great fire was lighted, for it was night. When all the animals were seated around the fire, the porcupine spoke. "Friends," he said, "we have met here to settle a great question: 'Shall we have night all the time, or day?'" At this, all the animals began to talk at once. There was great confusion. The night animals kept shouting, "Night, night! Always night!" Others of the animals cried, "Day, day! Always day!" Still others called for "Day and night!" There was so much noise that it could not be decided what was best. At last the animals grew tired of calling. One by one the voices grew fainter, and the shouting ceased. Of the night animals, the voice of the bear alone was heard. He had a big voice and still kept calling, "Night, night! Always night!" The animals who wanted day all the time, and those who wanted day and night, also became quiet, all except the chipmunk. He chattered on, "We will have light and then night. We will have light and then night. Chee, chee, chee!" Cont. Page 7

7 Page 7 Marietta Natural History Society Fall 2015 Then the bear, too, became tired. He was fat and lazy, and so sleepy! He thought he would take a short nap. But all night long the wide-awake little chipmunk kept up his song. Not for a moment did he stop to rest. Out of the dark came his voice, sure and cheery, "We will have light and then night. We will have light and then night! Chee, chee, chee!" And before the animals knew it, the sun began to rise. At the first rays of light, the bear sat up, blinked, and rubbed his eyes. He saw that while he had slept, light had indeed come. He knew that he and the night animals had been beaten in the council, and that the chipmunk and the animals who wanted day and night had won. The bear was very angry. He struck at the chipmunk with his paw. But he was clumsy, and the chipmunk was spry! The chipmunk laughed and sprang into a hole of a hollow tree near by. But those black stripes on the chipmunk's back show where the paw of the black bear touched him as he slipped into the tree. Ever since this council, and the little chipmunk called so long and loud for "light and night," we have had day and night. #Page_122 Recycled Paper 30% Post-Consumer MNHS 2015 Membership Let us know of any mistakes or omissions Doug Albaugh Karen & Gene Barry Brad Bond Gary and Gloria Brown Shirley Brown Christine Broyles Clare Kermer Caroline Clark Nancy Coleman Patrick & Harriet Collins Diane Dudzinski Scott & Janice Emrick Richard & Jeanette Esker Amy Ferguson Keith & Barbara Foster Margaret Fredericks Sharon Gegner Mary Grubert Nancy Habel Dave & Ruth Hawkins Dawn Hewitt Bernice Hines Betsy Hupp Anne Jacoby Martin Jamison Jim Jeffers Elin & Art Jones Kathy Layman Paul & Judy Lewis Marilyn Logue John Lohse Kurt Ludwig Peggy Malcomb Dave McShaffrey & Ann Delleur Laurie Meagle Anna Melago Maggie & Steve Meyer Edwin Michael Dr. & Mrs. James Mills Diane Mitchell Jack & Barb Moberg Tom Moran Jim & Gwen Noe Jean Nuss Janet O'Brien Kathy Ortt Frances Parlin Tim and Carol Peterson Judy Piersall Richard Allen Shirley Brown Marion Spilatro Steven and Jane Spilatro Tom Steckel Carol Steinhagen Geraldine Stewart Patrick Stewart Teresa Stone Jay & Joan Stowe Bill & Julie Z. Thompson Elsa Thompson Cynthia Ting Anita Wall Wayne National Forest Barb Stewart & John Whistler Pat & Fred Wood Becky Wright Louise Zimmer MNHS Bird Feed Watch Results for Species Short List 10 watchers 18 watchers 14 watchers Mourning Dove Cardinal Junco House Finch Goldfinch Starling Cowbird House Sparrow Turkey Vulture Blue Jay This is a short list of the most common species observed during the last three Bird Feeder Watch seasons. Brad Bond reported that, with just 10 observers last year, a total of only 42 species were recorded, down from a record-setting 62 the previous year. But good news was that our 18-year species total was increased to 83 with the addition of a Lincoln s Sparrow observed by Barb Hohman. Other good news was the observation of 26 Pine Siskins after none were observed last year.

8 Invite a Friend to Join the Marietta Natural History Society Wood Thrush Individ l $15 River Otter Family $25 Monarch Friend $50 Why not give a gift membership? Mail check to address L Benefits of Membership L L L Quarterly newsletter L Educational experiences for Monthly programs Field trips kids and adults Conservation Projects The MNHS Mission i To foster awareness of and sensitivity to our environment and its biodiversity i To provide a place where people with these interests can gather for information and activity i To create a presence in our community representing these ideas Marietta Natural History Society P.O. Box 983 Marietta, Ohio (740)