Favoritos de faerthen

Two sets of galls on different branches of the same juniper tree, on the trail to Landscape Arch, Arches NP. Discussion with a ranger at the visitor’s center suggested this might be caused by an Eriophyid mite, but I have not been able to find other photos of galls caused by these mites on juniper for comparison. Any help would be welcome! See my observation on 7/24/23 for a similar gall.

These galls are near the tip of a branch on a juniper by the side of the road, in Arches NP. Rangers at the visitor’s center suggested either Juniper Tip Midge or Eriophyd mites, though it doesn’t look like the pictures I’ve found of the galls formed by the midge. I can’t seem to find reference photos of galls caused by mites on juniper at all. Any help would be welcome!

Trapping wood rats out of the garage last night. Very different colors, but I assume that’s age difference rather than species difference, since they were caught in the same trap within about an hour of each other.

This ob is for the paler of the two animals. The other ob is here

Apparently, there are three species in the area (despite the range maps that say that the Colorado River is the division line): N. mexicana, N. lepida, and N. albigula. Plus a fourth: N. cinerea nearby, just slightly higher in elevation.

Collected for NHMU.

Biological Soil Crust - Elephant Hill Trail

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Elephant+Hill+Trailhead/@38.1415791,-109.8298309,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x8737e5d01c25c0cd:0xdca4d04ad4ed7e35!8m2!3d38.1415749!4d-109.8272506!16s%2Fg%2F11f5vqqb5l?authuser=0

https://www.usgs.gov/centers/southwest-biological-science-center/science/field-guide-biological-soil-crusts-western-us#:~:text=Biological%20soil%20crusts%20(biocrusts)%20are,strongly%20interact%20with%20the%20soil.

Loved these things - and had to have a few documented. I'll be working to clean these up using a few resources over time. Any help is appreciated, but wouldn't mind going for the most uncommon bacteria in each picture, as I work my way through the below list.

GO THERE! (After school starts in the middle of the week, of course)

These are the same area, at different levels of zoom, and the greater habitat is pretty bizarre.

Yellowstone NP Targets

Watch the Video absolutely fascinating. I wanted to bring a lazer temperature gun, but only decided to take this vacation the night before, and shotgunned everything into the car...

https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/nature/life-in-extreme-heat.htm
https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/nature/thermophilic-bacteria.htm
https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/nature/thermophilic-communities.htm
https://microbewiki.kenyon.edu/index.php/Yellowstone_Hot_Springs

Cyanobacteria Calothrix

pH: 6–9
Temperature: 30–45°C (86–113°F)
Color: Dark brown mats
Metabolism: Photosynthesis by day; fermentation by night.
Location: Mammoth Hot Springs, Upper, Midway, and Lower geyser basins

Cyanobacteria Phormidium

pH: 6–8
Temperature: 35–57°C (95–135°F)
Color: Orange mats
Metabolism: Photosynthesis
Location: Mammoth Hot Springs, Upper, Midway, and Lower geyser basins

Cyanobacteria Oscillatoria

pH: 6–8
Temperature: 36–45°C (96–113°F)
Color: Orange mats
Metabolism: Photosynthesis; oscillating moves it closer to or away from light sources.
Location: Mammoth Hot Springs and Chocolate Pots

Cyanobacteria Synechococcus

pH: 7–9
Temperature: 52–74°C (126–165°F)
Color: Green mats
Metabolism: Photosynthesis by day; fermentation by night.
Location: Mammoth Hot Springs, Upper, Midway, and Lower geyser basins

Green Sulfur Chlorobium

pH: 6–9
Temperature: 32–52°C (90–126°F)
Color: Dense, dark green mats
Metabolism: Anoxygenic photosynthesis— produces sulfate and sulfur, not oxygen.
Location: Mammoth Hot Springs and Calcite Springs

Green nonsulfur Chloroflexus

pH: 7–9
Temperature: 35–85°C (95–185°F)
Color: Green mats
Metabolism: anoxygenic photosynthesis—use organic compounds during photosynthesis.
Location: Mammoth Hot Springs, Upper, Midway, and Lower geyser basins

Aquifex Hydrogenobaculum

pH: 3–5.5
Temperature: 55–72°C (131–162°F)
Color: Yellow and white streamers
Metabolism: Uses hydrogen, hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide as energy sources; can use arsenic in place of hydrogen sulfide.
Location: Norris Geyser Basin, Amphitheater Springs

Aquifex- Thermocrinis

pH: 5–9
Temperature: 40–79°C (104–174°F)
Color: Bright red or orange streamers; contains carotenoid pigments that act as sunscreen.
Location: Lower Geyser Basin