About that (new) Grasshopper.

April 18, 2023 Blog Environment

About that (new) Grasshopper.

Sketch of Melanoplus Lindemanni

  Long-time blog followers may remember “Grasshopper George” the name that didn’t work for the scientists. Instead the new species of grasshopper discovered on Coal Creek in 2018 was named (consistent with scientific process) Melanoplus lindemanni Hill. That is the species, me and Hill for the “bug guy” that identified it. Of interest, part of how they describe a species is through the genitalia. They use the male parts because they are like a “key” the scientist explained and each male can only fit into the lock of a female of its species. It was officially named in 2020. This was one of the coolest things, among many cool things in the biodiversity survey.

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April 27 2023 Blog Environment

The Management Recommendations for Improvement

April 25 2023 Blog Environment

Grasslands are gone, too.

Some scientists estimate that native grasslands have declined by as much as 99 percent. By some estimates, this resulted in three billion fewer birds on the landscape than 50 years ago. This has harmed both the eastern meadowlark and the bobwhite which are both found on Coal Creek.

April 20 2023 Blog Environment

Landscapes like people get stressed.

Historically, open savannas and woodlands were largely maintained by periodic fire, which served to remove dense blankets of accumulated leaf litter from the ground and promote the growth of fire-adapted trees, such as shortleaf pine. Due to the loss of periodic fire, it is estimated that at least 90% of shortleaf pine-oak savanna has been lost.