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Vol. 7, No. 2. The Internet Site for Environmental Information in Oklahoma October 2018 - November 2018 “A SYMPOSIUM GENERATES RICH THOUGHT AND ON BRINGING SCIENCE TO THE PUBLIC THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS”

The researchers at The EnvironMentor followed an Back at the blog on the CAISE website, Martha article in the September 2018 Newsletter from Merson, a project director at TERC, Technical Edu- CAISE (Center for the Advancement of Informal cation Research Center, writes about iSWOOP, a Science Education) titled, “A symposium for park project she coordinates. iSWOOP stands for Inter- interpreters & biologists generates rich thought” to a preters and Scientists working on our Parks. Along blog on the CAISE website with the title of this cov- with Nicholay Hristov and Louise Allen, Merson er story, and ultimately to the July 2018 issue of the has been working on this project since 2015 and journal Integrative and Comparative Biology where will continue until September 2019. Martha Mer- we found an entire issue of articles of interest to in- son and Louise Allen are the authors of many of the formal educators. Under a heading, “Science in the articles in the journal discussed above. Public Eye: Leveraging Partnerships,” are 11 articles with such titles as “Beyond the Brown Bag: Design- To sign up for communications from CAISE from ing Effective Professional Development for Informal which we found the initial article that began our Educators” and “So Y ou Want to Share Y our Sci- search, click on this URL: http:// ence … Connecting to the World of Informal Science www.informalscience.org/. You can also register to Learning.” To access the issue click on https:// join the community. (The EnvironMentor has been academic.oup.com/icb/issue/58/1 (as far as we can a member since its inception and it is our under- tell the articles are free to access). standing that registering is still free.) To read Martha Merson’s blog, click below: http://informalscience.org/news-views/ symposium-generates-rich-thought-bringing- science-public-through-partnerships For a poster about iSWOOP, click below: http://www.informalscience.org/sites/default/files/ TERC_AISL%20poster_iSWOOP.pdf

This graphic illustrates the two-way information pathways that are the hallmark of iSWOOP.

In this issue ... Quiz!! Quiz!! Quiz!!

Bringing Science to the Public Through Partnerships Cover Editorial Page 2

Not an Endorsement, but ... 2 What is that little What joint is at extension at the Quiz!! Quiz!! Quiz!! 2 the pointer? pointer? BioBlitz! Oklahoma 2018, Greenleaf State Park 3 Sustainable Beekeepers Guild 4 The Haunted Forest at Lake Eufaula State Park 5 Blue Thumb Training Workshops 6-8 Envirothon Student Workshop 9 Thrill Camp Spook Trail 10 Oklahoma Renewable Energy Education Program Educator Workshop 11 2018 America Recycles Day Banquet 11 The bat is a mammal and as such has Invasive Species Cards 12 many similarities with humans. The Oklahoma Northern Saw-Whet Owl Project 12 answer to the questions are the com- World of 7 Billion Video Contest 13 mon human names for those parts. Gardens Grant Program 14 See Page 16 for the answers. Mesonet 14 Oklahoma Nature Study Challenge 15 World Migratory Bird Day 2018 15 The NSF 2026 Idea Machine 16 2018 Monarch Conservation Webinar Series 16 An environmental education newsletter for Tenkiller Women in the Outdoors 17 the citizens of Oklahoma sponsored by the Beavers Bend Folk Festival and Craft Show 18 Department of Biology at Oklahoma City University. Items appearing in this newslet- Oklahoma Ornithological Society Fall Meeting 19 ter do not necessarily reflect the opinions or Growing Up WILD Workshop 19 endorsement of the sponsoring organization.

Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge 19 Editor: Beth Landon Wetlands Mapper 19 [email protected]

2018 Tulsa Metropolitan Recycling Directory 20 Please send any submissions to Tree For All 20 The EnvironMentor Newsletter or The Calendar to: Friends of Blue Thumb 20 [email protected] Save the Date for EEExpo 20 Published bimonthly each year. Events at Hackberry Flat Center 21 The next deadline is November 20, 2018. The Hedley Kow 22-23 If you wish to receive an email The EnvironMentor on Facebook 24 announcing when a new issue QuikLIST 24 has been uploaded, please send an email to [email protected]. Calendar Form 25 Download your EnvironMentor Newsletter in Not an Endorsement , but ... pdf form from: http://www.okcu.edu/environmentor

Due to an unusually long Table of Contents, “Not an Endorsement, Visit The EnvironMentor Calendar at but ,,,” has moved to Page 5. If the Table continues to grow, we http://www.okcu.edu/environmentor/ Scroll down from The Newsletters. Regularly might have to find another permanent home for “Endorsement.” updated as information becomes available. This is a good problem to have. 2

at Greenleaf State Park, October 5-7 Register Now! Registration includes two nights of tent camping in group camp, Fri- http://biosurvey.ou.edu/bioblitz- day night s’mores, and 24 hours of BioDiveristy! Students are $10 oklahoma/bioblitz-2018-greenleaf- and non-students are $15. state-park/

Long sleeve t-shirts featuring our highlighted taxa - American Burying Beetle - are sold separately and can be purchased even if you are not attending the event. T-shirts are $12 for youth sizes, $15 for adult sizes, $20 for XXL and up. Design and color are TBD.

Registration deadline is October 3 at 8:00 a.m. Deadline to guarantee a t-shirt is September 20 at 8:00 a.m.

Free Registration for Student Volunteers University students are eligible for free registration and t-shirt in turn for volun- teering 4 hours during the event. Please email BioBlitz! staff to apply.

While you’re at BioBlitz! Oklahoma 2018 and Green Leaf State Park, why not treat yourself to a hike! Get this FREE downloadable topo map of the Greenleaf Loop Trail at the following site: http://www.ouachitamaps.com/Greenleaf.html There are maps for sale at this site, but the downloadable maps are free.

Check out this group on Facebook. The EnvironMentor has applied to join. Description from Facebook: “We are a group of beekeepers that focus on advanced learning and providing alternative methods to raise honeybees in the most sustainable ways possible.”

Not an Endorsement , but ...

Goals and Objectives

The overall goals of this program are to:

 Engage students and teachers in scientific research projects to address real-world issues.  Provide student and teacher mentorship.  Link students and teachers to professionals in the field.  Mentor and motivate students underrepresented in the sciences as they plan and conduct environmental science research projects and acquire the skills that will allow them to build careers and to become more active stewards of their communities and the environment. 5

Friday, October 26, 2018 9:00 A.M. -- 2:30 P.M.

The actual Envirothon takes place on: Friday, March 29, 2019

Oklahoma Renewable Energy Education Program (OREEP) Educator Workshop What: A one day free workshop fo- cused on using information about solar & wind energies to teach state stand- ards. The workshop will be led by Dr. Doug Weirick (Chair & Professor, De- partment of Environmental Health Sci- ences, ECU) and two veteran science educators, Jane Cronin & Tara Barker.

Participating teachers will receive:  Light breakfast & lunch  STEAM lesson plans for teaching renewable energy  Classroom supplies  Solar & wind energy education kits  $50 stipend When: OKC―Saturday, October 13, 2018, 8:30 am to 3:30 pm Who: 25 educators will be admitted on first come, first serve basis with a preference given to those who teach 4th‒8th grade, particularly science How: Reservations required Please email Jane or Tara at [email protected].

Get Your Invasive Species Cards Hot Off the Computer Here --> [email protected] Send an email to the above address requesting the 4-up pdf with 4 invasive species. Along with the Emerald Ash Borer, you will receive the Japanese Beetle, the Import- ed Fire Ants, and the Asian Longhorned Beetle. Print off double-sided copies, cut them apart and help to get For more information on the Emerald Ash the word out! Borer, see on the EnvironMentor website.

Banding season is coming up quick! Oklahoma Northern Saw-whet Owl Project Our station will open on October 15th.

We are excited to announce that we have 17 transmitters to attach thanks to The Nature Conservancy of Okla- homa and funding from the Oklahoma City Zoo Science and Research Fund!

Be sure to “Like” the Project on Facebook!

A huge thanks to Oklahoma Ornithological Society and Payne County Audubon Society for their help in funding this season!

The EnvironMentor received the following announcement: We are excited to announce that the World of 7 Billion video contest is back for the 2018-2019 school year with new topics! This Includes such topics as preserving biodiversity and sustainable resource use. The contest is open to all middle and high school students worldwide, and the deadline for submissions is February 28th, 2019. We’re hoping that, by giving teachers enough lead time, they’ll be able to incorporate the contest into their syllabi. Participating teachers receive free curriculum resources from Population Education, and the student winners receive cash prizes. Create a short video – up to 60 seconds – about human population growth that highlights one of the following global challenges: Preserving Biodiversity, Sustainable Resource Use, Protecting Human Rights. All videos must include: a) how population growth impacts the issue b) at least one idea for a sustainable solution. Consider narrowing your focus by concentrating on a subtheme within your topic. Possible sub- themes include:  Preserving Biodiversity – Habitat destruction/fragmentation, ecosystem diversity, coral reefs, deforestation, pollinators, extinction, invasive species  Sustainable Resource Use – Energy, fossil fuel use, single-use products, diet, overfishing, global inequities in consumption

Deadline for submissions is February 28, 2019. For more information click on: https://www.worldof7billion.org/student-video-contest/

from the National Wildlife Federation Blog 13

Gardens Grant Program Created in partnership with FoodCorps, the Garden Grant program provides a $2,000 monetary grant to support a new or existing edible garden at either a: K-12 school 501(c)(3) Non-profit working in partnership with a K-12 school 501(c)(3) non-profit organization GARDEN GRANT APPLICATION IS OPEN! APPLY HERE Application Open: September 1st, 2018 Application Closes: October 15, 2018 at 6pm EST/5pm CST Review Period: Winter 2018 Notification to All Applicants: February 15, 2019

Go to http://www.mesonet.org/ for current and archived weather information. You can download a mobile app for your cell phone. And make sure to “Like” Oklahoma Mesonet on Facebook!

A bird’s eye view on flyways: https://www.cms.int/sites/ default/files/publication/ cms_pub_pop-series_bird-eye- view-flyways_2ed_web.pdf Download your 65-page pdf “A brief tour by the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals.”

North American flyway scrolling information https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2018/03/bird-migration-interactive-maps/ This is a visually- engaging website involving colorful maps illustrating the pathways of seven repre- sentative species including the wood thrush, western tanager, white-throated sparrow, magnolia warbler, fork-tailed flycatcher, broad-winged hawk, and the greater yellowlegs. Take some time to enjoy all that is on offer.

The NSF 2026 Idea Machine! The NSF 2026 Idea Machine is a competition to help set the U.S. agenda for fundamental research in science and engineering. Participants can earn prizes and receive public recognition by suggesting the pressing research questions that need to be answered in the coming decade, the next set of “Big Ideas” for future investment by the National Science Foundation (NSF). It's an opportunity for researchers, the public and other interested stake- holders to contribute to NSF's mission to support basic research and enable new discoveries that drive the U.S. economy, enhance national security and advance knowledge to sustain the country's global leadership in science and engineering. If you have an idea you would like to make a reality, you still have time. Research areas include biological sciences, environmental research and education, What's Next? geosciences, and mathematics Review all the materials and physical sciences. on the website https://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/ nsf2026ideamachine/index.jsp and enter your “Big Idea” between August 31, 2018 and October 26, 2018!

Answer to: Quiz!! Quiz!! Quiz!! The answer to the question on the left is wrist. The answer to the question on the right is thumb. Check out the “fingers” of the bat!

TENKILLER WOMEN IN THE OUTDOORS

NOVEMBER 2-4, 2018 Early Check in on Nov. 2 from 6-8 p.m.

TENKILLER BAPTIST ASSEMBLY CAMPGROUND Leann Bunn: 918-489-5641or 5025 ext 6 [email protected] Registrations will be available Sept. 1 Call/email your address

Come join us at Women in the Outdoors, a National Wild Turkey Heritage Outreach Program. There will be 31 classes offered, everything from Dutch Oven Cooking, Rappelling, River Experi- ence, Beekeeping, skeet shooting, Basket Weaving, Orienteering, Primitive Skills, and much more. So if you enjoy the outdoors and want to learn more,this is the place for you. You can find us on Facebook at :WOMEN IN THE OUTDOORS TENKILLER STATE PARK OR www.nwtf.com or www.travelok.com Search Tenkiller State Park Events

Cimarron River watershed community sampling is underway!

Thank you Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation

Arkansas Darter

Growing Up WILD Fall Meeting October 19-21, 2018 October 27, 2018 9:00 A.M. - 3:00 P.M. The Oklahoma Ornithological Society Fall 2018 Meeting has been set for October 19-21 at the University of Central Oklahoma University of Central Oklahoma. Registration will be available here on this website http://  You must pre-register for all workshops. Contact the person listed to register for a workshop. okbirds.org/ starting around September 7. The  The workshop fee is $20 per person. banquet speaker will be Dr. Michael Patten of  Workshops are designed to be interactive and hands-on. OU. His subject is "How variation in microcli- Please be prepared to participate in the activities. mate affects the occupancy patterns of birds, both  An* after the time indicates a working lunch, where partic- migratory and resident, in North and Middle ipants bring lunch and work on assignments as they eat. You America." The Fall Meeting is the technical will need to bring a sack lunch as you will not have time to go meeting. Presentations on avian field studies and out and get lunch. scientific research from all  Dress casually, comfortably and appropriately for the out- across the state will be giv- doors. Some activities may be conducted outdoors, even if it is hot, cold or wet. en at the meeting. Non-  Workshops involve moderate physical activity. Special ar- members are welcome to rangements can be made for persons with disabilities. Please attend. To inquire about call (405) 990-1292 two weeks in advance if special arrange- presenting or to reserve a ments need to be made. slot, please send emails to  Participants in college credit workshops must also pay for [email protected] or the college credit in addition to the workshop fee. Contact the university or college listed for costs on credit classes. [email protected]. If there isn't a workshop scheduled near you, check back at a later date or schedule a workshop for your area.

This Wetlands Mapper, from the US Fish and Wildlife Service, was found in the latest Okla- homa Wetlands Program Bulletin. This Map- per “integrates digital map data along with other resource information to produce current information on the status, extent, characteris- tics and functions of wetlands, riparian, and deepwater habi- tats.” There is a bit of training needed to oper- ate it properly, Wetlands Mapper but there is a step=by-step Beginning at sunrise April 1 the crystal Click digging area at the refuge will be open process with a for visitors. It will remain open daily, manual and a below: from sunrise to sunset, until October 15. video to help Bring the family out to the refuge and you. harvest your own selenite crystals (the state crystal of Oklahoma) and create https://www.fws.gov/wetlands/Data/Mapper.html? memories that will last a lifetime. utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=& utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=

Tree For All Tree Giveaway and Sale, is back! Presented by Cox Communica- tions, the first 100 patrons in line on the day of the event , November 3rd, 9-Noon, will receive a FREE Eastern Redbud which is Oklahoma’s state tree. Trees are available for $12 for members and $15 for non- The M.e.t.’s Recycling Directory is the ency- members with a limit of two trees per household. Trees clopedia of recycling for the Tulsa Metro- come in 3-gallon containers and can be up to 7 feet tall. All trees are Oklahoma Proven varieties that perform politan Area. In our directory, you will find best in challenging climates. Guests are encouraged to bring a wagon for transporting trees to their vehicle. Par- up-to-date information on the best places to ticipate in free educational workshops on how to plant locally dispose of various items. Click here and care for your trees, which will be essential in main- taining plant health. A variety of booths and vendors will to access the full PDF version of the direc- be on hand for you to visit. Special thanks to our pre- tory. For a printed booklet, call our office at senting sponsor Cox Communications, along with the Tree Bank Foundation and Cedar Valley Nurseries. 918-584-0584. For more information: https://oklahomacitybotanicalgardens.com/wp-content/ uploads/2018/10/2018_10-Tree-for-All.pdf

At the 2019 EEExpo, we will examine everyday phenomena found in our environment using Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.

'Tis the season for something a little supernatural...

How about a shape-shifter and a vampire?

Long ago in the English village of Headley, folks were afraid of the “Headley Kow” (they pronounced it “koo”), a supernatural creature that often took the form of a fierce black horse, but could change shape to mimic ani- from the Klang blog, the art work of a 21-year-old student in 2011 found at http://klangford-art.blogspot.com/2011/04/hedley-kow.html mals, objects, or anything that would help it play mean tricks on the people of Headley. They say there was an old woman who earned her living by doing laundry or mending, running errands for busy housewives, or whatever needed doing in the village. She didn't earn much, sometimes just a cup of tea or a bowl of stew, but she was always cheerful saying, “Aren't I the lucky one! I have just as much as I need.” One afternoon she was coming home from the village when she saw a big black iron pot on the side of the road. “Who could have left it there?” She looked both ways and saw nobody coming or going. “What a fine big pot, with a lid, too! But maybe it has a hole...” She came closer to examine it. “If that's why someone threw it out, though, it would be just the thing for me. I could put it by my cottage door and plant some gerani- ums in it. Aren't I the lucky one, to find such a fine flower pot!” But when she lifted the lid to look for the hole, she got a big surprise. “Gracious! It's full of gold coins! What a treasure!” Her eyes grew wide as she imagined all the things she could buy. “Aren't I the lucky one! Now, how can I get this heavy thing home?” She took off her shawl, tied it around the pot, and began tugging on the ends. And she began to worry. How could she keep such a fortune safe from robbers? Where could she hide that much gold? She stopped to rest her back, and lifted the lid to check on the gold coins. “Gracious! Now the pot is full of silver coins!” This put her mind at ease: silver was less valuable than gold. “Aren't I the lucky one! I won't worry so much about robbers,” and she began tugging the pot along the road again. But the way home was long. She stopped to rest again, and peeked at her treasure. “Gracious!” for now the pot of silver coins was gone, replaced by a big lump of solid iron. “Iron instead of silver or gold! Aren't I the lucky one! Because I won't have keep this safe. I can sell it to the blacksmith, and he'll make useful things out of it–while I won't have a worry in the world!” But it was still heavy. She tied the shawl again and re- sumed tugging. She had almost reached her cottage door when her back needed another rest. This time when she looked in the shawl, instead of a lump of iron she found a big stone. “Aren't I the lucky one! This just what I need to hold my door open when I want a nice breeze in the house!” Suddenly the stone gave a shake and rose up. It dropped down four long lanky legs and a shaggy tail. It tossed long ears and a black mane and pranced away, laughing and neighing. “Well!” said the old woman, “aren't I the luckiest one of all, to see the Headley Kow in person – after dragging it over half the countryside!” And she went inside to make herself a cup of tea. From The Earthteller,

(Continued on Page 23) Fran Stallings

(Continued from Page 22) Driving in the country this summer, you may have seen tangles of stringy orange stuff sprawled over roadside grasses and bushes. You may And now for the vampire ... have thought, “What fool of a fisherman threw his fishline out the window? Doesn't he know it's dangerous to wildlife?” And that orange stuff IS dangerous, but not to wildlife. It's not fishline; it's “dodder” (a.k.a.”strangleweed” Cuscuta campestris), a vampire plant that takes its food and water from the plants it grows on. Scientists figure that long long ago, the ances- tor of dodder was a self-sufficient vine like its rela- tives in the morning glory family (Convulvulus). The chlorophyll in its leaves made food for it using the energy of sunlight. Its roots gathered water and min- erals from the soil. Its stems were weak, so it climbed up onto other plants to get its share of sunlight. At some point, though, dodder's ancestral genes mutated. Dodder gained the ability to sink fangs (haustoria) into the flesh of the plants it was climbing on. Sucking all the food it needed from its victims, this vampire plant no longer needed chlorophyl. Without that bluegreen color, its carotenoid pig- Cuscuta campestris from Wikipedia ments left it bright orange. Its sprouting seeds made a tiny root just long enough for the seedling to bumble into a victim plant, but once it had sunk in its fangs, even that root dried up. It even quit making its own leaves. Now dodder is just a twining orange stem, tangling up like discarded fishline on its victim. Dodder has become a vampire parasite on other plants. Recent study of dodder's complete genome shows that, like the Headly Cow, dodder has downsized, gradually losing the genes for making chlorophyl, leaves or roots. It doesn't need them to play its tricks on other plants! Unlike most parasites, which can only attack a few victim species, dodder can grow on a wide range of dicots (including its own Convulvulus cousin, bind weed) and even some grasses! The geneticists were surprised to find genes from these species in dodder's own genome, probably by a process called “horizontal transfer.” They don't yet know what role these foreign genes play for dodder, but suggest they might help the vampire avoid its victim's immune defense systems. From the Nebraska Invasive Species website. This is field bindweed. You can see why it is in the same family as the morning glory. Sources:

Folktale: Jacobs, Joseph; Batten, John D. (1894). "The Hedley Kow". More English Fairy Tales (2nd ed.). London: David Nutt. pp. 50–53 & notes: 225.

Facttale: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-018-04344-z#Fig1

Footprints of parasitism in the genome of the parasitic flowering plant Cuscuta campestris

SCIENCE Aug 2018 Decoding parasitic plant genomes Nat. Commun. 10.1038/s41467-018-04344-z, 10.1038/s41467-018-04721-8 (2018). 23

On February 23, 2013 The EnvironMentor dipped a toe into social media. We made this decision because, at this time, there are two to three months between issues of the Newsletter. During this past gap an im- portant event had an application deadline of April 1st so an announcement went out from Facebook. We won’t bother you with anything trivial, so … “Like” The Environmentor on Facebook!!

10301 South Sunnylane Road QUIKList Oklahoma 405-814-0006

Leopold Education Project http:// http://www.aldoleopold.org/Programs/ www.museumofosteology.org/ lep.shtml Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Type in Oklahoma Saturday 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Sunday 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. Oklahoma Blue Thumb http://bluethumbok.com/ Project Learning Tree (PLT) Oklahoma Blue Thumb Association http://www.plt.org/ [email protected] http://www.forestry.ok.gov/project-learning-tree

Oklahoma Envirothon Project WET http://www.oklaenvirothon.org/ (Water Education for Teachers) http://www.bluethumbok.com/project-wet.html Oklahoma Green Schools

http://www.okgreenschools.org/ Project WILD

http://www.projectwild.org/ Oklahoma Master Naturalists http://okmasternaturalist.org/ As with all hyperlinks in The EnvironMentor

Oklahoma Native Plant Society Newsletter, these are clickable. http://oknativeplants.org/ Do you know an environmental group in Okla- Oklahoma Recycling Association (OKRA) homa that should be listed. Send that infor- http://www.recycleok.org/okra/ mation to: [email protected]

Most people who remember The EnvironMentor Newsletter know that the pages at the end of the issue were reserved for The Calendar. Being online has some great advantages. When you downloaded your copy of the newsletter you may have noticed the box on the right side of the webpage. This is a conven- ient listing of the next events from The Calendar. This will always be up-to-date because it happens au- tomatically. For more information on the event just click on it and a window will open up with all the details. If you wish, you can access the rest of the calendar from the there.

To have your event posted to The Calendar, copy and paste the following list into an email, fill in as much information as you wish, and send it to: [email protected]

Title of your event: Start Date and Time End Date and Time Location Location Address Contact Name Contact Phone Contact Email Details in Narrative Form Location Link Event Link Map Link

Please note: We are not able to publish for-profit information.

To go directly to The Calendar click on:

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