Field Biology May 2006

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Field Biology May 2006

• Biodiversity of the Nature Area
• Saint Marys College
• Notre Dame, Indiana

This is a preview of a project in the works to
provide details of the flora and fauna of the SMC
Nature Area, perhaps even a virtual tour of the
stations of the trail. Stay tuned
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St. Marys Nature Area Species Diversity
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Ephemeral Spring Wildflowers

• Dames-Rocket
• (Hesperis matronalis L.)
• Brassicaceae, Mustard Family
• perennial herb
• blooms May-Aug.
• introduced scattered counties in Indiana
• corolla with 4 petals, purple, pink or white,
  leaves lanceolate or deltoid-lanceolate with
  small sharp teeth
• found in open woods, roadsides
• source Indiana Wildflowers, Yatskievych 2000

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Trees of the Nature Area

• Pawpaw (Indiana banana)
• Asimina triloba (L.) Dunal.
• Annonaceae, Custard-Apple Family
• small tree to 30 feet, often in colonies
• very large simple alternate leaves with smooth
  edges (odoriferous when bruised)
• brown/maroon flowers, rancid odor 6 petals,
  blooms Apr-May
• fruit ripens in October green to blackish berry
  with pulpy edible seeds
• widespread in Indiana
• habitat woods, esp rich moist soils along
  streams
• source 101 Trees of Indiana Jackson 2004

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Animals of the Nature Area

• Red-backed Salamander
• Plethodon cinereus
• Plethodontidae
• small (6-13 cm) slender salamander naso-labial
  grooves present mottled gray and white belly
  redback phase has a reddish dorsal stripe,
  leadback --dorsal dark like sides
• humid woodland habitats, under rocks, logs during
  the day, feed at night on small invertebrates
  occupy small individual territories and home
  ranges
• eggs produced in early summer kept in
  underground burrows accompanied by female until
  hatching (4-8 weeks later) no aquatic phase
• source Amphibians and Reptiles of the Great
  Lakes Region, Harding 2006

Conservation note Important ecological component
of forest ecosystem
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Nature trail forest and Saint Joseph River
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Cut area and opened canopy
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