Second Nature Walk
For my second nature walk, I gathered a group of my classmates and went behind the wooded area adjacent to the Connell Recreation Center. Despite having an enjoyable time, the weather made this particular walk considerably more difficult as it was raining and approximately 50 degrees out. However, the unfavorable weather didn’t stop me from finding various species of fungi along with other plants, grasses, vines, and tree saplings. I found the phyllotopsis nidulan (commonly known as the stinking orange oyster) which I observed to be particularly interesting. This eukaryotic organism, meaning it is multicellular and possesses a membrane-bound nucleus, grows on rotting wood and has a distinct scent to it. In relation to class, fungi like this are necessary for decomposition processes where bacteria and archaea are unable to, in a sense, rapidly decompose a dead organism (especially the larger ones). This exact need for these types of fungi is what I witnessed on my walk. In all, the wide variety of organisms I observed today, some even living symbiotically, was an eye-opening experience and proves to me that even walking in the woods on a cold rainy night can be worth the trip.
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