Ausable River Wandering!

Wednesday was an ideal day to meander along the 1 km trail to Mystery Falls. We took our time, looking at the flora and fauna along the way.

An unexpected discovery was an arrowhead! It appears to be authentic and was carved from obsidian, also called volcanic glass. Obsidian had value for indigenous people who traded it as they moved from one area to another.

Trailhead sign

Skunk Cabbage is a strong-smelling plant that grows in wet areas and can be viewed along sections of the Mystery Falls Trail.

Trout Lilies

The less common, White Trout Lilies

Azure sp. on Violet sp.

This cup-shaped fungus grows on decaying wood in shaded areas. iNaturalist suggests it could be Scarlet Elfcup.

Carolina Spring Beauty: A pretty flower with a fitting name!

Adult Eastern Red-spotted Newts are generally found in slow-moving water. They have an interesting life cycle in which the eggs are laid in the water. When the larva hatch, they swim in the aquatic environment looking for insects to eat. After a few months, they reach the juvenile stage, lose their gills and spend between 2 and 7 years on the surrounding land as an Eft. When the Efts reach maturity, they transform into adults and return to the water to breed. Like salmon, most newts return to breed in the water where they were born. Newts may live for up to 15 years! They contain toxins in their skin which are lethal to most predators, except garter snakes.

https://ontarionature.org/programs/community-science/reptile-amphibian-atlas/red-spotted-newt/

Eastern Red-spotted Newt eggs: Notice the lines within the jelly. Tiny Salamanders have hatched from the eggs. They can use the gel as a source of food to help them grow in their early days. Although the jelly surrounding the egg mass is important to protect the eggs, it also causes oxygen deprivation. The embryos must breathe as they develop. Salamanders have developed a symbiotic relationship with a special type of algae known as Oophila amblystomatis. The algae grows and blooms inside the jelly. It absorbs carbon dioxide and other waste made by the embryo. During photosynthesis, the algae produces oxygen which can be used by the salamander embryos! 

https://snakeinformer.com/what-do-salamanders-look-like-identification-guide/

Trail Sign providing direction for the trail between Mystery Falls and MacDonald Drive.

A special find for the day was a West Virginia White Butterfly! This species is listed as Vulnerable on the Endangered Species list. The host plants for the larvae are members of the Toothwort Family. The invasive Garlic mustard is related to the Toothwort Family. Unfortunately, if an adult butterfly lays eggs on Garlic mustard, the caterpillars refuse to eat the plant and will not survive.

https://www.ontario.ca/page/west-virginia-white