Orlando Wetlands Park Newsletter

A Publication of the Friends of the Orlando Wetlands and The Orlando Wetlands Park

August—September 2015 Volume 3, Issue 4

Get your SAVs on! Have you ever been swimming in a lake and felt something slimy rubbing up against your legs? Or have you ever been fishing and felt the “tug”? Excitedly you reel in your line only to find that your hook is covered in plants. If so, then you have experienced SAVs. In Florida there is a wide variety of submerged aquatic vegetation Photo: (SAVs) types. In recent years, wetland managers have come to Photo by Mark PollittMary Keim realize the importance of plants that grow under the water’s surface. At the Orlando Wetlands Park, numerous SAV species exist. In the shallow freshwater marshes, southern naiad (Najas guadalupensis) Inside this issue and coontail (Ceratophyllum demersum) are two of the dominant species. Southern naiad has very long stems with many branches. Around the Park ...... 2 They have very narrow, inch-long and less 1/16inch wide leaves that Pig Frog ...... 3 have definitive teeth on their margins. Naiad leaves are either Staying Cool at OWP ...... 4 arranged oppositely on the stem, or in Volunteer Spotlight ...... 4 whorls of three. The leaves are deep Butterfly Count ...... 5 green to purplish-green. The flowers Wildflower Corner ...... 6 are very small and inconspicuous1. Butterfly Spotlight ...... 7 Southern naiad produces pollen which Happenings ...... 8 is carried by water currents. Seeds are very small, typically 3 mm long2. Southern Naiad Park Information ...... 8 Various species of ducks, coots and Photo: Mary Keim gallinule all consume southern naiad. Coontail is a free floating, rootless SAV. It has feathery leaves that are arranged in whorls on the stem, that plant resemble a raccoon's tail, hence, the common name. The fan-shaped leaves are best (Continued on page 2)

Editor: Rachel Kessler

Orlando Wetlands Park 25155 Wheeler Road Christmas, Florida 32709-1375 Phone 407.568.1706 Fax 407.568.1725 cityoforlando.net (Continued from page 1) observed in the water. They look feathery because each leaf is divided into many narrow segments. Each leaf has several small teeth on the midribs. These tiny teeth give the plant a rough feel when pulled through the hand. Coontail's flowers are very small and rarely seen3.

These and other SAV plants are extremely important to aquatic wildlife. At the Wetlands Park, SAVs provide protection for fish and invertebrates, provide an important food source, help to oxygenate the water, affect the pH, stabilize the sediments, and Volunteer Aquanuts remove nutrients and other pollutants. So the next time you Sandy Bauerschmidt and feel something rub up against your leg in a lake, or get tangled Jackie Rolly with up while fishing, remember these are “good” things! OWP Environmental Specialist, Gary Foreman In order to promote healthy marshes, a team of FOWs and Park staff (who call themselves the Aquanuts) have been working within the wetland marshes to transplant SAVs to open water areas. These plants as they grow, will continue to provide great water quality and outstanding wildlife habitat! Go Aquanuts! All of their hard work is greatly appreciated! —Mark Sees

1"Southern Naiad | Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants." Southern Naiad | Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants. UF/IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants, n.d. Web. 30 July 2015. 2"Najas Flexilis (slender Water-nymph) and Najas Guadalupensis (common Water-nymph)." Najas Flexilis (slender Water-nymph) and Najas Guadalupensis (common Water-nymph). Washington State Department of Ecology, n.d. Web. 30 July 2015. 3"Coontail | Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants." Coontail | Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants. UF/IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants, n.d. Web. 30 July 2015.

Around the Park In the early mornings, alligators have been collectively feeding on fish along Wetlands Blvd. It’s believed that dissolved oxygen levels decrease in the warm water overnight causing fish to seek out and congregate in waters with higher levels of dissolved oxygen. Large groups of alligators then feed on the fish. Photo: Mary Keim

Water lilies have been blooming along Alligator Alley and Limpkin Lane. Nymphaea odorata, or fragrant water lily, has a scented white Yellow Water Lily flower. Nymphaea Mexicana, or Yellow water lily, has a yellow Photo by Ann Murray flower. Water lilies are emergent aquatic plants with roots in the © 2002 University of Florida mud and leaves and flowers above the water’s surface.

2 Pig Frog

The Pig Frog (Rana grylio) is a large aquatic frog that typically grows 3 – 6 inches in size. The body is typically greenish but sometimes brown. Pig frogs are common throughout the Wetland’s marshes. They feed on a wide variety of species which includes beetles, dragonflies, crayfish and other aquatic invertebrates. They will also occasionally feed on fish and amphibians. Up to 10,000 eggs may Photo by Mary Keim constitute an egg mass. Eggs hatch in only a few days, but tadpoles may not metamorphose until a year of age. Pig Frogs offer up a low grunting sound which sounds pig-like. Their grunting call is commonly mistaken for the bellow of an alligator. These frogs are nocturnal and live their lives almost entirely in the water. On the St. Johns River, locals often hunt these frogs at night with bright lights and frog gigs. The frogs are prized for the legs which are eaten as a delicacy in some local restaurants.

Photo by Mary Keim The next time you are at the Wetlands Park during late spring and summer months be Pig frogs offer up a low sure to listen for the sound of pig frogs calling. Also, if you arrive at the Park early grunting sound . . . . in the mornings you can often find these commonly mistaken for the frogs with their nose and eyes protruding bellow of an alligator. from the water. Happy hunting…..or should we say happy looking! —Mark Sees

1 Howington, Andy. "Pig Frog (Rana [Lithobates] Grylio)." Species Profile: Pig Frog (Rana [Lithobates] Grylio). University of Georgia - Edited by J.D. Willson, n.d. Web. 09 July 2015.

3 Staying Cool at OWP Summers in Florida can be downright hot. But that doesn’t mean you have stay indoors! Here are some ways to beat the heat while enjoying the Wetlands Park this summer.  Bring plenty of water. Don’t wait to feel thirsty before taking that first sip.  Plan to visit during the cooler parts of the day such as the early morning or late afternoon.  Wear sunscreen and a hat. Don’t forget to cover places South Woods Branch Trail like the tops of ears and back of the neck. Photo: Rachel Kessler  For added comfort and safety, wear closed-toed shoes and insect repellant. There are also shaded hiking  Plan your route. Consider in physical limitations and trails such as the South and time restraints. A scaled map brochure is available in North Woods Branch Trails. the Pavilion and Education Center.  Hike in the shade! While most of the park is open berms, there are also shaded hiking trails such as the South and North Woods Branch Trail. A pamphlet guide is available in the Pavilion and Education Center.  Take a free tram tour and explore the exhibits inside the air conditioned Education Center on Fridays and Saturdays starting at 9:00 am.

Volunteer Spotlight: Jutta Geisler Jutta began volunteering with the Friends of the Orlando Wetlands over 5 years ago when she created the website and blog for the volunteer organization. Since then she has been contributing photographs and assembling Friends of the photographic exhibits, assisting in Orlando Wetlands creating the Birds of the Orlando

The Friends of the Orlando Wetlands Wetlands book, leading tours and assisting in the Education (FOW) is a citizen support Center. She enjoys how the park changes throughout the organization for the City of Orlando's seasons and that “there is always something different to see at Orlando Wetlands Park. Its mission is the park.” She likes to share in the excitement of discovery to assist the City of Orlando employees in providing educational when leading tours, especially with children such as girl-scout opportunities to increase community groups. Jutta likes to study animals by watching and studying awareness, support and appreciation their behaviors. She really enjoys helping visitors remember of the park and its wildlife. animal names by making connections to their unique behaviors. She has also completed the Florida Master Naturalist program. Thanks Jutta for all that you do! 4 Butterfly Count: Christmas, FL, 4th of July

The Christmas, FL 4th of July Butterfly Count is an annual event originally sponsored by the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation and taken over by the North American Butterfly Association in 1993. When the Christmas, FL count was established in 1991, only one other butterfly count existed in the state. In 2014, 50 counts were held in Florida!

The butterfly counts are patterned after National Audubon Fiery Skipper Society’s Christmas Bird Counts. Each count area is a 15-mile diameter circle. The Christmas, FL Butterfly Count includes all or part of Orlando Wetlands Park, Seminole Ranch Conservation Area, Savage/Christmas Creek Preserve, Tosohatchee Wildlife Management Area, Hal Scott Preserve and Charles H. Bronson State Forest.

The inaugural count, held in 1991, had 3 participants that found 22 species and a total of 127 individuals. The 2015 count had 13 participants that found 54 species and a total of 909 individuals. In 2013, 64 species were observed, the most of any count in the state. The most individuals were recorded in 2005 with 2747.

On June 20, 2015, the Orlando Wetlands Park team recorded 31 species. Fiery Skipper (photo) was the most abundant butterfly Hackberry Emperor with 33 individuals. Two unusual sightings for the park were Hackberry Emperor (photo) and Gemmed Satyr (photo).

—Text and photos by Randy Snyder and Mary Keim

Butterfly Resources

Florida Museum of Natural History: Florida Wildflowers and Butterflies https://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/wildflower/

North American Butterfly Association http://www.naba.org/ Gemmed Satyr Florida Native Plant Society: Attracting Butterflies http://www.fnps.org/plants/butterflies 5 Wildflower Corner – Turkey Tangle Fogfruit

A summer and fall bloomer in Orlando Wetlands Park is Turkey Tangle Fogfruit (Phyla nodiflora), a native ground cover in the vervain family (Verbenaceae). It is found along the berm shoulders, sometimes in dense mats. The white to pink flowers grow in a cone-like cluster and bloom from the bottom up.

Turkey Tangle Fogfruit is the host plant for the Phaon Crescent (see Butterfly Corner in this issue) and a great nectar source for many other insects including Pearl Crescent, many skippers, and other non-butterfly insects. If you enjoy insect-plant and insect-predator interactions, it is a great plant to watch!

Look for this awesome Florida native wildflower while traveling the berms and enjoy the variety of visitors that depend on it for food. —Text and photos by Randy Snyder

Turkey Tangle Fogfruit (Phyla nodiflora)

6 Butterfly Spotlight – Phaon and Pearl Crescents

Two related and somewhat similar species are the Phaon Crescent and Pearl Crescent. Both are members of the Brushfoot family (Nymphalidae), named for the reduced pair of front legs. Both are orange and black, with the Phaon Crescent having a yellow stripe in the middle of the front wing. Both have a wingspan of about an inch. Both can be seen throughout the year. Caterpillar host plants differ. Phaon Crescent caterpillars use Turkey Tangle Fogfruit (Phyla nodiflora) while Pearl Crescent caterpillars use plants such as Elliott’s Aster (Symphotrichum elliottii) in the family Asteraceae. Host plants for both butterfly species are common within the park. Look for these crescents along the berm shoulders where they can be seen nectaring on a wide variety of wildflowers. –Text and photos by Randy Snyder

Phaon Crescent (dorsal view) Pearl Crescent (dorsal view)

Phaon Crescent (ventral view) Pearl Crescent (ventral view)

7 Happenings Florida Master Naturalist Program

The Uplands program of the Florida Master Naturalist (FMNP) will be offered at the Oakland Nature Preserve (south shore of Lake Apopka off the Turnpike), every Friday from 2 October to 6 Nov. The mission of FMNP is to promote awareness, understanding, and respect of Florida's natural world among Florida's citizens and visitors. The Florida Master Naturalist Program is an adult education UF/IFAS Extension program developed by the University of Florida and provided by many Extension offices and participating organizations throughout the state of Florida. FMNP training will benefit persons interested in learning more about Florida’s environment or wishing to increase their knowledge for use in education programs as volunteers, employees, ecotourism guides, and others. There are three modules under this program, Uplands, Wetlands and Coastal. The Wetlands module will be offered at the Orlando Wetlands Park next Spring. Take advantage of the Uplands module this Fall and join us in the spring for the Wetlands module. For more information and to register, visit http://www.masternaturalist.ifas.ufl.edu/

Education Center Exhibit: Reptiles and Amphibians The Wetlands Park Education Center will feature a seasonal display during the months of August and September titled: Reptiles and Amphibians. Stop in and visit the center. Incredible photographs by our Friends of the Orlando Wetlands will be displayed!

Photo: Mary Keim

Free Tram Tours Available

Come take a tour of the Wetlands! Friends of the Orlando Wetlands will be available for tram tours each Friday from 9:00am until 3:00pm and Saturday from 9am until 4pm during August and September.

The Tram Tour seating capacity is 7 people on a first-come, first- served basis. No reservation required.

The Tram Tours are free. Donations are welcome.

Friends of the Orlando Wetlands: orlandowetlands.org

Orlando Wetlands Park 25155 Wheeler Road Christmas, Florida 32709-1375 Phone 407.568.1706 Fax 407.568.1725 cityoforlando.net