A Little Bit More
In general, we think of winter, with its cold temperatures and snows, as the worst time of the year for animals. Many animals are able to migrate or hibernate to avoid the onslaught of winter but those that remain behind are pretty well adapted for life throughout the winter months. Nevertheless, winter does take a toll and many don’t make it to the warmer months. Spring, however, as the poster points out may prove to be the “straw that breaks the camel’s back”.
Snow that lies upon the ground for long periods in winter provides many smaller mammals with places to tunnel and forage in safety and relative warmth. In areas where the snow falls unpredictably, it may still provide some temporary cover. By spring however, not only is the snow cover eliminated, but the wet, matted groundcover has been stripped of much of its edible food. Food is scarce and shelter is hard to find.
Sudden spring storms may dump huge quantities of rain, sleet or hail adding an additional burden to the large, as well as, small terrestrial animals. Broad areas may be too muddy to navigate and flooding streams can effectively isolate many animals on temporary islands above the water line. Even deer may find it difficult to get around and are occasionally mired, unable to free themselves. Any animals that are already weakened from the winter are in an especially vulnerable position. Once the warmth of spring promotes renewed plant growth, animals can begin to find adequate food from the many succulent plants that are sprouting and abundant shelter is once again available.
Activities
Life Springs to Life
Objectives: Observe spring’s renewal
Materials: Access to “undisturbed” site and aquarium or gallon jar
When we look out on the landscape in late winter and early spring, it really doesn’t look very much alive. And yet, there are all kinds of animals, plants, even fungi waiting there all ready to burst into growth. Use this opportunity to take a look at a mini-environment this spring and see what you can find.
This activity is best accomplished once the worst of winter is past yet the ground still looks pretty “dead”. Obviously, students in Louisiana and those in Minnesota will have different times when this occurs so keep this in mind when trying this out – what seems too early for some will be too late for others.
1. Locate a rather undisturbed area of your schoolyard, your backyard or even a wooded area down the street and take a shallow scoop of some of the leaves and dirt from a sheltered area such as under a tree or under a log.
2. Place this material, in as undisturbed a way as possible, in an aquarium or wide-mouth gallon jar (this works well on its side) in your school or home. Keep a cover on the container so it doesn’t dry out – it shouldn’t be wet though so you may have to uncover it at times!
3. Since the scooped-up material will be coming indoors from a cool, if not cold, environment, try to place your “mini-environment” in as cool an indoor area as possible. This will allow it to warm up more slowly.
4. Over the next week to 10 days, watch the scooped-up material closely to see if you can see any small creatures moving about. You may also want to watch for germinating seeds too.
5. Once you deem it “right” (you decide when), gently remove the material from its container and very carefully sift through to see what you can find. You’ll have to look closely, but there should be some activity in your material whether it’s plant or animal.
6. Once you’re finished looking at the life in your mini-environment, return it to the place you found it or at least to a similar setting. It will set a good example for students if you make a point of treating the life in this small “world” as you would a larger animal or plant.
Key Concepts
Behavior and Regulation, Populations and Ecosystems
Questions
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