Species Profile: Freshwater Jellyfish | Craspedacusta sowerbyi by: Chris Fuller

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Scientific Name:Craspedacusta sowerbyi; synonym Craspedacusta sowerbii
Common Name(s): Freshwater jellyfish, peach blossom fish (China)


Photos by Chris Fuller

Identification:

The freshwater jellyfish Craspedacusta sowerbyiย is easily recognized when in the medusa form, or jellyfish form, of its life cycle. The small bell-shaped medusa form is translucent with a white to green coloring. They range from 0.2-1 inch in diameter. Jellyfish do not have a digestive system with two openings like most animals. Instead, they have one orifice for both ingestion and expulsion of waste. ย The freshwater jellyfish has a digestive system, called the gastrovascular cavity, composed of four radial canals and one central canal, which are easily visible with the naked eye. The mouth is on the ventral, or bottom, surface of the bell. Between 50 and 500 tentacles surround the bell of the medusa, each containing specialized stinging cells called nematocysts which immobilize prey.

Range:

Craspedacusta sowerbyi is native to the Yangtze River Valley in China where it coexists with another freshwater jellyfish, C. sinensis. However, it has become globally cosmopolitan, being found in nearly all climates. In Bella Vista, C. sowerbyi has been observed in Lakes Brittany, Rayburn, and Loch Lomond.

Ecology:

Craspedacusta sowerbyi occupies a variety of freshwater habitats. It inhabits shallow pools along the Yangtze River in its native range, while in Bella Vista it has no problems occupying the relatively deep lakes.

Craspedacusta sowerbyi reproduces both sexually and asexually. Sexual reproduction happens in the medusa life stage where gametes, eggs and sperm, are released into the water. Once a larva has formed from the gametes it enters the polyp stage. The polyp is a sessile stage that can undergo budding, a type of asexual reproduction, to produce a clone of itself which can be used to form a colony group or move away and settle in a new location. When conditions are right for sexual reproduction, the polyp will undergo budding to produce a medusa. The medusa stage is not produced regularly, and populations may wait several years before producing medusa again.

The main prey of freshwater jellyfish, both medusa and polyps, are zooplankton such as copepods and daphnia. These zooplankton are microscopic animals that float in the water column. Being opportunistic feeders, they wait until a prey organism is tangled in their tentacles.

Special Notes:

Craspedacusta sowerbyi is not considered dangerous to humans or larger organisms. The stinging cells in this species are very small and unlikely to penetrate human skin. The ecological impacts of Craspedacusta sowerbyi remain unclear. Although unlikely to influence the remainder of the ecosystem, it is thought that large numbers of C. sowerbyi may shift the balance of zooplankton from one species to another, depending on feeding preference.

 

Species Profile: Passionflower Vine | Passiflora incarnata by: Kayla Sayre

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Scientific Name: Passiflora incarnata
Common Name(s): Passionflower Vine, Purple Passionflower, maypop, wild apricot


Photos by Kayla Sayre, Bella Vista POA Fisheries & Water Quality Sr. Technician
A) Passionflower bloom with symbiotic ants where flower connects to vine.
B) Palmate leaf with three deep lobes.
C) Passionflower once cross pollination has occurred but before fruit formation.
D) Passionflower fruit, also known as a maypop fruit.
E) Seeds contained within maypop fruit. Top shows seeds within pulp purse and bottom shows seeds outside of the purse.

Identification:

Passionflower vines have unique purple flowers and produce fruit called maypop. Passionflowers bloom from July to early September, but most commonly bloom in July in Bella Vista. Passionflowers have radial (circular) symmetry with three overlapping reproductive structures. At the base of the flower petals are arranged in whorls of five around the stem. There can be multiple whorls. Petals are bluish-white to purple. Overlaying the petals is a fringed white-and-purple corona, which is a cluster of hair-like appendages. The corona is patterned in a target design to entice pollinators to the middle of the flower, where the pollen is produced by the five anthers that lie above the corona. The anthers drop the pollen downward over the middle portion of the flower. Above the anthers are the three stigmas at the very top of the flower, which are often green but sometimes with purple splotching.

Between the anthers and the stigmas is an oval bulge called the ovary, where the maypop or fruit develops once fertilized. Once cross-pollinated, the three stamens fall and contact the pollen on the anthers, which fertilize the ovary. Passiflora incarnata are self-infertile, meaning they cannot produce fruit from their own pollen, so they require cross-pollination from bees to produce fruit. Bees leave traces of pollen on the anthers that are from other plants. Once fertilized, the flower closes, allowing the ovary to develop into fruit. The maypop fruit is named after the popping sound they make when stepped on. They are edible and develop in the late summer to early fall. They are about the size and color of a lime when mature. The thickness of the internal fruit varies depending on the abundance of water. Each seed is dark brown to black, with small pin-sized indentations throughout, and is encapsulated with other seeds in a small white purse that contains a juicy pulp. This pulp improves germination once outside the fruit.

Passionflowers grow on vines that contains specialized curling tendrils for attachment to sturdy structures such as trees, shrubs, or fences. The stems of the vines are smooth. The leaves are palmate, with three (and sometimes five) deep lobes reminiscent of theropod dinosaur or bird tracks. The leaf surface is smooth with margins finely toothed. Leaves are 6 to 15 centimeters in length.


https://plants.usda.gov/home

Range:

Passiflora incarnata is found in the continental United States in states east of the Rocky Mountains, and south of the great lakes.

Ecology:

Passionflower vines have evolved in ways that favor larger bees, such as carpenter bees and bumblebees, for pollination. The purple coloration attracts carpenter bees and bumblebees since bees prefer plants in the blue and purple wavelengths. The corona is patterned in a target design to entice pollinators to the center of the flower, where the pollen is produced by the five anthers that lie atop the corona. The space between the nectar and anthers is larger, so only larger bees can pick up and deposit pollen when drinking nectar. Carpenter bees and bumblebees become slightly intoxicated by the nectar as they drink and hang out on the plant for longer periods. This allows more pollen to collect on their back or for pollen from a different plant to be dislodged to allow for cross-pollination.

The leaves have two glands at the base that produce sweet nectar, which small ants feed on in exchange for protecting the leaves and flowers from insects, with two exceptions. Look closely at the above at photo (A) to see small ants along the stem. Specifically, the ants will swarm and sting insects that try to eat the plant. However, Gulf fritillary and variegated fritillary caterpillars have a resistance to the toxic chemical produced by the ants. They eat the leaves of passionflowers and lay their eggs on the flower. However, these caterpillars also protect themselves and the passionflowers by deterring mammals and birds with their vibrant orange color and black spikes. These bright colors signal to predators that they are poisonous when eaten, deterring them. The gulf and variegated caterpillars are solely dependent on passionflowers to survive in the same way that monarchs are dependent on milkweeds.

Passionflower has had interesting historic herbal uses by Native Americans and peoples of India. The maypop fruit contains compounds that may increase GABA, a neurotransmitter, production in the brain. Passionflower fruit was used by Native Americans to treat epilepsy in older people and to treat nerve pain. Additionally, it has been used in India to treat opioid addiction. It is also used to treat insomnia and anxiety since increasing GABA in the brain can be naturally sedating.

Cultivation:

Here in Bella Vista, passionflower is found in open areas with full sun. It can be found on the dry side of most of the dams but has been specifically spotted at Lakes Windsor and Avalon Dams.
Passionflower vines are in the family Passifloraceae, which includes 750 species across 27 genera that share the distinctive passionflower and fruit. Passionflower vines are perennials, meaning they come back each season. They can grow back from root shoots from the original plant as well as from seeds. The seeds germinate in the spring and do not require winter stratification. In warmer southern states with mild winters, they can grow continuously but die out in areas where freezing occurs. They grow in full sun in sandy and clay loam soil and can tolerate drought. They can grow in open prairie habitats, on slopes, or in flat areas. They do well in erosion-prone areas because, once established, they tend to dominate the landscape.

 

Species Profile: Muscadine Grape | Vitis rotundifolia by: Kayla Sayre

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Scientific Name: Vitis rotundifolia var. rotundifolia
Common Name(s): Muscadine, Bullace, Bull Grape, Southern Fox


Photos by Kayla Sayre, Bella Vista POA Fisheries & Water Quality Sr. Technician

Identification:

The muscadine is a native wild grape found in Arkansas, used primarily for wine production. Muscadine fruit is a thick-skinned grape with a large seed. Immature grapes are green maturing to a yellow bronze or purple when ripe. The fruit becomes ripe in the late summer. The flowers of wild muscadine are dioecious, with male and female flowers on separate plants, and only the females produce fruit. The male flowers have an extended stamen without a pistil, while the female flowers have shorter inverted stamens with nonfunctional pollen. The flowers bloom from late spring to early summer. Muscadine’s dark green leaves are smooth and glossy without dense hair on the underside. It has simple, undivided leaves that are directly attached to the vine. The leaves have three shallow lobes and are coarsely serrated at the margins. The vines are smooth and darker green brown. The bark develops vertical grooves as it ages, but unlike other grape plants, it does not peel or shed. It grows in unbranched tendrils which emerge opposite the leaves of the main stock. Muscadine, like other grape species, grows on vines that can reach 40 to 60 feet tall and 20 feet wide, depending on soil conditions, nutrient availability, and sunlight exposure.

Variations:

Muscadine has three varieties. The variety found in Arkansas and the southeastern United States is Vitis rotundifolia var. rotundifolia. Another variety, Vitis rotundifolia var munsoniana, grows in Florida, while V. rotundifolia var. popenoei grows in Central America.


https://plants.usda.gov/home

Range:

Muscadine is native to the southeastern and south-central United States. Muscadines grow wild in Arkansas but are less common in northern counties.

Ecology:

Wild Muscadine can be found in dry upland forests. Muscadine grows best and are cultivated in fertile sandy loam and alluvial soils with good drainage. In the wild, it can be found in well-drained soil that does not experience extended periods of drought. Its roots are susceptible to rot, so it cannot live in waterlogged soils. It does best in full sun, as it needs at least 6 hours of direct sunlight, and it thrives in humid conditions. Muscadine will climb high to reach the sun and, with the right soil conditions, it can become a nuisance in shady areas due to its need to climb toward sunlight.

Typically, it takes 3-5 years for a newly planted Muscadine to produce fruit. Muscadine fruit has thick skin, with less than half of the fruit being pulp and up to forty percent being skin and seed. Muscadine grapes will abscise from the cluster at maturity, meaning they will fall away individually and shatter. This differs from California-type grapes, which fall off as bunches. They differ in flavor from table grapes and California-type grapes traditionally used in wine production, and some may describe them as musky or sour in comparison.

The thick skin helps protect from diseases that affect other grape species such as Pierceโ€™s disease. They are relatively resistant to pest attacks, with some minor trouble from parasitic nematodes, grapevine aphids, and grape root borers. They are particularly resistant to phylloxera, an insect that kills grapevine roots.

Muscadine has been grown commercially since 1972, with many cultivars developed to aid effective and efficient fruit production. Cultivars are varieties of the natural muscadine that are often bred to be more commercially desirable. Cultivars are most commonly used in wine production, but other markets include jams, jellies, and juices. The fruit cultivars vary from almost white to purple to nearly black in appearance. Problems can arise from the muscadine fruit abscising from the stem and opening up the pulp, which allows bacteria or fungus to grow. Therefore, cultivars are created to provide a cleaner, smaller, and drier separation when abscising from the stem. In the wild, only female plants bear fruit, but commercially developed cultivars are self-fertilizing to allow for more efficient fruit production. Most vineyards consist of self-fertilizing and female-flowered plants. This allows self-fertilizing plants to fertilize themselves, along with the female plants in the vineyard, resulting in yield from all individuals.

Special Notes:

Here in Bella Vista, muscadine can be found on high ground where water can drain away, along forest margins, or in open unforested areas. They can be cultivated and grown in your backyard, with the first year needing more care and consistent watering. Once mature they can persist easily. Take care to keep the muscadine grapes away from your pets, as they are highly toxic to dogs and moderately toxic to cats.

 

Species Profile: Cardinal Flower | Lobelia cardinalis by: Kayla Sayre

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Scientific Name: Lobelia cardinalis
Common Name(s): Cardinal Flower


Left by Denis Barthel; Right by Kayla Sayre, Bella Vista POA Fisheries & Water Quality Sr. Technician

Identification:

Cardinal flowers are vibrant red flowers that grow along lakes, streams, and other moist areas. They bloom between July and September. Cardinal flowers are in the bellflower family (Campanilaceae) and in the genus Lobelia, where flowers in this genus are characterized by milky sap and petals that have a bottom lip. The flower reaches heights of three to five feet and spread between one and two feet. They have tubular bilaterally symmetric flowers with lower and upper lips. The lower lip/petal forms three lobes and the upper lip/petal has two lobes. Cardinal flowers are a raceme type flower, which is an unbranched flower with multiple flowers along the stem. Flowers bloom from the bottom to the top with the oldest flowers on bottom and newest near the top. Shiny leaves grow in an alternate pattern around the main stem below the flowers. The leaves can grow up to six inches in length and have a lance shaped with toothed margins.


https://plants.usda.gov/home

Range:

Cardinal flowers are found throughout much of the United States and eastern Canada. Cardinal flowers are found throughout Arkansas but need moist soil that consistently stays wet such as lakeside or low-lying forested areas, like many areas in Bella Vista.

Ecology:

Cardinal flowers are herbaceous, or non-woody, perennials, meaning they will die back in the winter and grow back from their root stems the following spring. They do best in fertile and rich soil in partial shade. They are drought intolerant and need year-round moisture, and as such, grow along streams, lakes, wetlands, springs, and in low-lying forests. They have roots that are tolerant to being wet and can even grow in shallow water.

To propagate, seed will need to be stratified by being exposed to cold before they grow. They germinate in early spring but will need light, so seed will need to be sown near the soil surface. Plant seeds in low lying areas along forest margins or along lakeside habitat. They flower best in partial shade in rich, moist soil. Once they are established they will readily reseed on their own. They can be planted with other water loving natives such as the white spider lily (Hymenocallis littoralis) or Arkansas bluestar (Amsonia hubrichtii) for a touch of red, white, and blue along your shoreline or low-lying forested habitat. However, use caution as spider lilies and cardinal flowers can both be harmful to dogs if ingested.

Cardinal flowers were used in the past in herbal remedies, although members in the genus Lobelia contain naturally occurring toxic alkaloids including lobelanine and lobeline. These make the plant harmful if ingested and may cause stomach upset and dilated pupils, along with the possibility of convulsions and coma. The Zuni people of New Mexico used cardinal flower as an ingredient in โ€œschumaakwe cakes,โ€ which were used for rheumatism and swelling. Also, the leaves were dried as an alternative to tobacco by the Penobscot people of Maine.

Special Notes:

Here in Bella Vista, you may find cardinal flower along lake shores, along stream banks, or in low-lying forested areas that have partial shade and consistently stay wet. They attract ruby-throated hummingbirds, as their flower shape is adapted for hummingbird beaks.

 

Species Profile: Water Willow | Justicia americana – by Kayla Sayre

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Scientific Name: Justicia americana
Common Name(s): Water Willow, American Water Willow

Water Willow by Kayla Sayre: POA Fisheries & Water Quality Sr. Technician
Photos by Kayla Sayre, Bella Vista POA Fisheries & Water Quality Sr. Technician

Identification:

American water willow is a native water-loving flower that grows along the shorelines of Bella Vistaโ€™s Lakes. Read until the end to understand more about identifying this beautiful native plant and the ecological benefits to both fish and pollinators!

American water willow is a water-loving herbaceous perennial plant. It is found in shallow water along shorelines. Water willow can range in height from three to five feet, with roots and stems below the waterโ€™s surface and the top quarter of the plant along with the flowers emerging out of water.
Flowers appear from June to September They are similar in appearance to an orchid, with each petal fusing at the base to form a tubular shape. Additionally, the flower has a landing strip in the form of a single petal that sticks out separately at the bottom of the flower, allowing for efficient pollination. Water willow is dioecious, meaning that male and female reproductive structures are on separate plants.

Although water willow bears the name โ€œwillow,โ€ it does not share taxonomic lineage with the traditional willow trees in the willow family (Salicaceae). It was given the common name โ€œwater willowโ€ because its leaves resemble those of the willow tree. The leaves are lanceolate in shape, being oblong with a pointed tip similar to the shape of a sword or lance. The leaf margins are smooth, and the leaves are 2 to 4โ€-inches long and ยฝ-inch wide.


https://plants.usda.gov/home

Range:

American water willow is found in the eastern and central United States with a limited amount found in Arizona.

Water willow is in the family Acathaceae, which is composed of herbs, shrubs, and small trees. This family contains around 2500 species worldwide, with most members of this family found in the tropics. Only a few members of this family are cold hardy and found in the United States.

Ecology:

Water willow is an emergent aquatic plant, where the top half of the plant emerges from water habitats. It prefers habitats with water that is up to three feet in depth. It will not grow without consistent soil moisture and does best in shallow water that is still or slow moving. It does well on sand-, gravel-, and mud-bars in rivers and ponds and thrives along the shoreline of lake habitats and wetlands. Water willow can live in partial to full sunlight but does best in full sun where it receives six or more hours of direct sunlight.

Water willow provides good nursery habitat for gamefish. It can form thick vegetation stands that extend along shorelines. Young fish use this aquatic vegetation to hide from larger fish while they are small and still in their nursery phase.

Stands of water willow also offer shoreline protection and stabilization in Bella Vista lakes. The extensive rhizomial network, along with the plant’s emerging portion, provides excellent shoreline protection from wave action generated by wind or boats. This buffer acts as a shock absorber protecting shorelines against erosion. Water willow stands are crucial for protecting shorelines that do not have a man-made seawalls.

Water willow attracts most pollinators but is especially adept at attracting native bees, such as bumble bees, because of its color and shape. The tubular, orchid-like shape of water willow is ideal for holding pollen and nectar. A single petal sticks out at the bottom of the flower, acting as a landing strip for bees and other pollinators. Additionally, the flower has pollinator guidelines in the middle of its petals, which are blue to purple. This is especially attractive to bees since they are adept at seeing the blue portion of the UV color spectrum. Along with pollination and reseeding, water willow also grows from rhizomes. Rhizomes are roots that extend from the primary plant and grow into open spaces where new water willow shoots can emerge.

Special Notes:

In Bella Vista, we at the Lakes Ecology Lab love water willow. It is currently the dominant aquatic plant in Bella Vista lakes serving as much needed habitat for young fish. Water willow also provides natural shoreline protection against wave action from wind and boat wakes. We want to encourage lakefront property owners to tolerate as much water willow around the shoreline as possible without impeding recreational enjoyment of the lakes.

 

Species Profile: Ninebark | Physocarpus opulifolius – by Kayla Sayre

Scientific Name: Pysocarpus opulifolius
Common Name(s): Common Ninebark, Atlantic Ninebark, Eastern Ninebark


Photos by Kayla Sayre, Bella Vista POA Fisheries & Water Quality Sr. Technician

Identification:

Ninebark are deciduous, low growing, multi-stemmed shrubs with clustered white flowers and burgundy berries. Ninebarkโ€™s name comes from its peeling bark which comes off in large papery strips that are said to resemble the number nine. The shrubs are great for decoration and landscaping because they are low growing, standing between 5 and 8 feet in height with a spread of 4 to 6 feet. It can also form a hedge if left unmaintained.

The flowers of ninebark are circular, arching clusters of small white flowers with each flower being around 0.25 inches with five white petals, yellow centers, and pink hews in the center, stamen, and anther. Flowers bloom in April and May but may bloom as late as June in some regions. The flowers give way to beautiful berries from August to October that are burgundy and clustered in the same manner as the flowers. Once dry, pods hang in drooping clusters with each berry containing two to four compressed seeds. It is not recommended to eat the berries since sources are mixed on whether they are edible or poisonous.

The leaves change color with the season, being bright green in the spring, deep burgundy in the summer, and bronze/brown tinged in the fall. The leaves are one to five inches long with three to five lobes. The leaf type is โ€œlobed toothedโ€ and is similar in appearance to a maple leaf. The leaves are simple or ungrouped and are arranged alternately around the central stem. The leaves contain fine hair on the surface which gives them a rough texture.


https://plants.usda.gov/home

Range:

Common ninebark are found throughout the Central and Eastern United States with the exception of Louisiana, Alabama, and Texas. The precision of the map above is by the State of Province and is not delineated by Counties, Perishes, or smaller units, therefore, Ninebark may not be found in some of the more extreme climates within the States or Provinces.

Ecology:

Ninebark are in the Rose family (Rosaceae) which include other notable shrubs such as black raspberries and blackberries as well as other non-shrubs such as strawberries. It is in the genus Physocarpus, which includes deciduous shrubs with peeling bark and alternately arranged leaves around the stem.

Ninebark is a multifaceted plant in that it can be trimmed and used as a landscaping plant but can also grow to large heights and act as a hedge. They do well in disturbed or harsh conditions such as along streambanks, rocky areas, and disturbed hillsides. They can tolerate dry soil and do well in well-drained soil with a slight amount of moisture. They can also tolerate acidic or alkaline soil, and heavy clay to rocky soil. They do best with some shade but can tolerate full sun. They can grow vertically one to two feet per year, and they also spread through root suckering. Root suckering is when a shrub sends out root shoots near their current location that helps spread the shrub into surrounding areas. This feature is especially helpful in the context of erosion control, since the root system will spread readily throughout disturbed habitats and act as a soil stabilizer. They are especially great for streambank stabilization or rocky hillsides.

Ninebark is attractive to many native pollinators including short and long tongued bees and mining bees. They are the host plant to many moth species including Io moth (Automeris io), glorious habrosyne (Habrosyne gloriosa), bluish spring moth (Lomographa semiclarata), and the large maple spanworm (Prochoerodes lineola).

Ninebark shrubs are monoecious where male and female parts are on the same shrub; however, they are self-infertile. A plant that is self-infertile cannot self-pollinate and requires another individual in the same species to pollinate it. Male and female flowers bloom incrementally, and three plants are needed for reliable fruiting.

Special Notes:

In Bella Vista, ninebark can be seen along forest margins or in disturbed habitats such as rocky hillsides. Ninebark is a beautiful native shrub. It is a great alternative to some landscaping non-native shrubs such as crape myrtle, boxwoods, or Chinese privet.

 

Species Profile: White Trout Lily | Erythronium albidum

Scientific Name: Erythronium albidum
Common Name(s): Trout Lily, White Trout Lily, Adder’s Tongue, White Dog-tooth Violet

White Trout Lily Photo by Kayla Sayre, Bella Vista POA Biologist

Yellow Trout Lily Photo by Kayla Sayre, Bella Vista POA Biologist

Identification:

Trout lilies produce small white flowers. Their presence indicates a healthy forest. They are in the lily family (Liliaceae) and are one of the few native lilies in our area. In NW Arkansas, trout lilies bloom in mid-March, but can bloom later in the spring depending on winter conditions. The leaves of trout lilies arise directly from the ground and are lanceolate in shape with a distinct mottled pattern. They live in colonies where one-leaved individuals are non-flowering and immature, while two-leaved individuals are mature and flower. The stems of the flowering individuals are red. Flowers are small and bell shaped with a diameter up to 1.5 inches. They are white in color sometimes with a purple strip down the middle on the outside. In other plants, petals are distinguished to entice insects to pollinate, and the sepals are a separate structure at the base of the flower which protects the bud. Trout lilies, like other members of the family Liliaceae, have tepals where these two structures are combined into one organ. Flowering plants produce fruit capsules that are oval and generally half an inch long but can reach up to one inch in length.

Similar Species:
Yellow trout lilies (E. americanum) are distinguished from E. albidum based on their yellow tepal. Yellow trout lilies have a more northern native range and occurring as far north as Maine and Nova Scotia, but they do occur here. Dwarf trout lilies (E. propullans) are much smaller and have a native range restricted to Minnesota.

Range:

White trout lilies are native to Eastern North America and part of central North America. Some range maps do not include yellow trout lilies in northwest Arkansas, but they also occur locally.

Ecology:

Trout lilies are an indicator of a healthy forest ecosystem and are found in moist forests and wooded slopes without dense underbrush. A healthy forest should be clear of dense underbrush and easily walkable. Before the prolific human settlement of the Oak-Savannah forests in this region, forests would undergo regular burns which allowed for the culling of dense underbrush species and smaller saplings. Therefore, trout lilies are a great indicator of this environment as they will not grow in dense, shaded areas.

They are also an indicator of healthy streamside ecosystems, specifically of the smaller streams which are forested tributaries of larger streams. Before the proliferation of modern industrial humans and the development of roads and concrete, water would flow slowly over the landscape. This allowed the water to slowly percolate through the soil and reduced the chances of high velocity flooding. In today’s world, water flows faster over the landscape which is the cause of streamside erosion in larger streams, such as Little Sugar. Since trout lilies thrive in small stable drainages with slow moving water, they often indicate forest and small-stream stability and health.

Trout lilies do not transplant well and should be left to thrive in the wild. The best manner of cultivation is through planting their corms which are bulb-like root balls that can be purchased from nurseries or online. They will slowly form vast colonies since the corms extend rooting structures called stolons through the soil to produce more individuals. Trout lilies can be cultivated from a seed, but this will take up to five years to produce results. They thrive in nutrient rich soil composed of decaying plant matter or humus.

Special Notes:

Here in Bella Vista, one might expect there to be trout lilies along undisturbed wooded slopes and bluffs in open forest habitat. Similarly, they may be spotted in small drainages in forests which contribute water to larger drainages basins. Generally, Bella Vista forests contain dense underbrush with trees closely packed together. The introduction of prescribed burning practices would open the understory and increase trout lily colonies in our area.

 

Species Profile: Western Mosquito Fish | Gambusia affinis

Scientific Name: Gambusia affinis
Common Name(s): Mosquito Fish, Western Mosquito Fish, Gambusia


Female Gambusia affinis

Male Gambusia affinis ยฉNOZO

Identification:

Gambusia affinis are the only live-bearing fish in Arkansas. Gambusia or mosquitofish are small surface-dwelling minnows with an upturned mouth. They are sexually dimorphic, meaning females and males look different. Females are larger, with a max length of around three inches, while males have a max length of a little over one inch. Males have a modified anal fin for reproduction, where it is a copulatory rod-like organ called a gonopodium. Since females are live-bearing and spawning is constant, they are often found with a rounded belly full of offspring. Both males and females have distinct scales that are outlined in black and have a cross-hatched appearance. They lack a lateral line, which in other fish appears as a dark line down the middle of the body.
Similar Species:
Gambusia holbrooki referred to as the eastern mosquitofish was once considered a subspecies but is now considered its own species based on some minor morphological differences and genetic sequencing. As they both fulfill the same ecological niche, Gambusia were indiscriminately stocked without regard to species throughout the world beginning in the early 1900โ€™s (Walton et al. 2012).


Range:

In Arkansas before the 1960โ€™s, Gambusia was present in small populations with limited range throughout the state. However, their distribution increased dramatically between 1960 and 1987 as they are prolific breeders. Since they were thought to be an agent for mosquito control, they were stocked on every continent except Antarctica.

Their native range is the Gulf Slope drainage from central Indiana and southern Illinois to eastern Mexico and from western Mobile Bay (Walton et al. 2012).

Ecology:

Gambusia are prolific breeders who give live birth. They breed throughout the summer and do especially well in warmer environments. Males constantly pursue females through the breeding season. Males use their modified anal fin, or gonopodium, to accomplish internal fertilization. Females can store sperm in their reproductive tract for several months as they wait for ideal environmental conditions to activate fertilization. This mechanism is usually used if there is a late season fertilization event. Once internal fertilization occurs, gestation lasts between 21 and 28 days. The brood size of Gambusia is greatly affected by the environment, and ranges from a few to hundreds of offspring. Gambusia do not exhibit maternal care for their young, so once birthed, the young fend for themselves. Females can produce up to four broods throughout the summer. Once born, males can reach sexual maturity in as little as a month, while females start reproducing when they are as small as one inch in length. Gambusia most often do not make it beyond one year of age.

Gambusia prefer shallow backwater pools with little flow and temperature between 78 and 85 F. They are a very tolerant species which is why they experienced such aggressive proliferation and distribution expansion after being introduced worldwide. They can live in most aquatic ecosystems including swamps, ditches, ponds, streams, rivers, and lakes. They survive temperatures between 42 and 95 F. They have even been known to tolerate brief temperature fluctuations up to 107 F. They can survive deadly low dissolved oxygen levels and salinities twice as high as sea water (Fishes of Arkansas).

Although commonly known as the mosquitofish, their diet is much more diverse. They are a top dwelling species, so they eat zooplankton such as cyclopoids, copepods, and cladoceran. During their reproductive cycle, they are more likely to consume insect larvae such as cranefly larvae and surface-dwelling insects such as caddisflies or wasps or bees. They are also known to consume aquatic beetle adults and larvae along with aquatic dragonfly and mayfly larvae (Crivelli & Boy 2022). Additionally, they pose a risk to native minnow species, since they are known to consume fish eggs (Kaneko et al. 2024).

Gambusia affinis is in the family Poeciliidae, which includes other live bearings such as guppy, molly, platy, and swordtail fish. Due to the common use of Poeciliidae in aquarium trade and mosquitofish as a biological control, members of this family have been introduced world-wide into non-native environments. This use of mosquitofish as a means of biological control is still debated within the fish research community, with many conflicting studies as to their effectiveness at controlling mosquitoes. Many researchers support the idea that native minnow species may be just as effective as non-native mosquitofish, especially in environments where mosquitofish do not thrive. Also, some research shows Gambusia may have detrimental effects on native minnow species and should be avoided as a means of biological control of mosquitoes in fragile ecosystems such as desserts, springs, and caves. Research as early as 1965 noted that mosquitofish introductions gradually eliminated smaller native fish and led to extinction of rare fish in the southwestern United States (Meyers 1965) and in other countries (Kaneko et al. 2024). In fact, few other minnow species have been studied as extensively as Gambusia affinis (Pyke 2006).

Special Notes:

Gambusia affinis are found in Bella Vista lakes and rivers. They are fascinating because of their life history but are hotly debated because of the widespread stocking that occurred as early as the 1920s (Walton et al. 2012).

 

Species Profile: Coral Mushroom | Ramaria spp.

Scientific Name: Ramaria spp.
Common Name(s): Coral Mushroom

Photo by Kayla Sayre, Bella Vista POA Fisheries & Water Quality Sr. Technician

Identification:

Coral mushrooms come in a variety of colors and have distinct cathedral-like branching limbs referred to as coralloid basidiomata by mycologists. Species in Ramaria are most commonly yellow, red, or orange but possess other color combinations. The common name of “coral mushroom” is derived from its visual similarity to branching sea coral. The genus name Ramariaย eytmologically comes from the Latin ramus which means branching. There are around 500 species in the genus Ramaria known worldwide.

Range: The genus Ramaria is found worldwide, except for Antarctica.

Ecology:

They have mycorrhizal mycelial mat. A mycelial mat is similar in function to tree roots. Mycorrhizal refers to the symbiotic relationship the mycelial mat has with microscopic fungi which help break down raw organic materials into bioavailable nutrients. The mycorrhizal fungus benefits from this relationship by receiving carbohydrates (sugars) from the mushroom root network while the mushroom benefits from the bioavailable nitrogen produced by the mycorrhizal fungus.

Ramaria mushrooms and associated mycorrhizal fungus are important decomposers and are vital to breaking down woody debris and other raw organic materials. This means they are vital to recycling nutrients in ecosystems so that they are bioavailable to larger organisms.

Coral mushroom species can look very similar, so it requires expert analysis to identify them, therefore extreme caution should be taken when assessing edibility. For example, the “cauliflower coral” (Ramaria botrytis) is an example of an edible species. The “pinkish coral mushroom” (Ramaria formosa) is a poisonous species that looks very similar at a glance to the cauliflower mushroom.

Identification to the species level will require a mushroom expert or biologist. The best way to identity is by examining the spores or reproductive structure of the mushroom. With capped mushrooms, mycologists like to make a print of the spores to compare. With coral mushrooms, biologists would slide mount the spores to analyze the sport structure under a microscope. Other factors they consider are important, but the gold standard for identification is the structure of the spore. Identifying the habitat in which it was found and the substrate it is growing in is also good clues. Differences in branching patters are also important identifying characteristics. Lastly, coloration is used since color can be a fickle identifier.

Special Notes:

Ramaria species can be found living on living or dead wood known as lignicolous or living on the dirt or ground known as terricolous. They are most often associated with pine trees but have been documented as being attached to oak trees as well.

 

Species Profile: Birds Nest Fungi | Nidulariaceae

Scientific Name: Nidulariaceae
Common Name(s): Bird’s Nest Fungi

Splash Cup Birdโ€™s Nest Fungi ยฉMatej Franฤeลกkin and ยฉMushroom User

White Egg Birdโ€™s Nest Fungi ยฉGrzegorz “Spike” Rendchen

Identification:

Bird’s nest fungi are often nestled on top of mulch or decaying wood. The mushrooms of these fungi, or their fruiting bodies, resemble a tiny bird’s nest with eggs in their mature form. The small egg-like structures are the mushroomโ€™s spore containing capsules. In the immature form, the โ€˜nestโ€™ enclosed in a globe-like protective covering called a peridium, which may have hair-like structures on its outer surface. As the fungus matures, the upper surface of the globe disintegrates, becoming a cup, to reveal the egg-like spore capsules. The spores are dispersed when water splashes into these cups, throwing them up to a meter away. The cups, which decompose slowly, are sometimes found attached to the underside of leaves long after the spores have been ejected.

All bird’s nest mushrooms are in the family Nidulariaceae, which includes at least 8 genera and many species that are found worldwide. There are many types of birdโ€™s nest fungi with the general โ€˜cup and eggsโ€™ form, with variations in the size, shape, color, and texture of both cup and eggs. Bird’s nest fungi are found throughout the United States. The two most common species in the southeast are โ€˜splash cupโ€™ (Cyathus striatus) and โ€˜white-eggโ€™ (Crucibulum leave).

Splash cup fungi are 6-10mm tall and 6-8 mm wide with a black and brown woolly surface. The cup top disintegrates over time, revealing grey, disc-shaped spore capsules. Cups grow more concentrated and closely grouped, with fruiting most common between midsummer and fall.

White-egg fungi are a little larger, with an outer cylinder 5-10 mm tall and 10 mm wide that disintegrates over time to reveal white, flattened spore capsules inside and cream with brown to orange brushing on the outside. Cups grow scattered, with more space in between, with fruiting most common between spring and fall.

 

Ecology:

Birdโ€™s nest fungi are saprophytic, meaning they decompose organic matter and absorb the nutrients released. Bird’s nest fungi help decompose dead wood and mulch. They thrive in damp and shady areas. They often appear after a rain event has left the ground saturated with water. These fungi are gregarious, meaning they grow in groups but are not joined together.

The lifecycle of birdโ€™s nest fungi is similar to most other mushrooms. Male and female spores grow hyphae, small thread-like root structures. When two hyphae of opposite genders meet, they fuse and grow a large hyphal net known as a mycelium. Given appropriate conditions, the mycelium produce a fruiting body, also known as a mushroom, which produces spores, starting the cycle over. Most species of mushroom fruit when moisture is high and temperatures are moderate. Birdโ€™s nest fungi have a gastroid fruiting body, in which the peridioles, the spore containing capsules, develop within a peridium, a globe or ball with hair-like structures. This fungal globe is closed during the immature stage of the mushroom when the spores are developing. Once spores have matured, the larger membrane housing the spores splits along its circumference or disintegrates, exposing the spore capsules, which marks the beginning of the mature stage of the mushroom. During this stage, the mushroom resembles an open bowl with small circular spore capsules inside. The spores are dispersed when water splashes into these bowls, throwing spore capsules up to a meter away.

Bird’s Nest mushrooms and other fungi are vital to all ecosystems, as they facilitate decomposition and nutrient recycling. As mentioned, they are saprophytic and release enzymes into dead or decaying material, helping speed up decomposition. This helps the fungi mycelium and fruiting body directly by providing them with nutrients, while also benefiting the surrounding ecosystem. This organic breakdown of raw materials into more palatable forms benefits organisms that rely on soil nutrients to survive, such as soil invertebrates and plants.

 

Special Notes:

Here in Bella Vista, birdโ€™s nest fungi are very common both in mulch beds and among decaying trees in forested areas. The two most common birdโ€™s nest species in the southeast are โ€˜splash cupโ€™ (Cyathus striatus) and โ€˜white-eggโ€™ (Crucibulum leave).