Clean water for people, plants, and animals
Do you ever wonder why clean water is so important?
Well, without out clean water our life would be very different. We need water to drink, to wash our hands, to cook, to water plants and many other things. Without clean water, plants would die and people and animals would go thirsty.
Well, without out clean water our life would be very different. We need water to drink, to wash our hands, to cook, to water plants and many other things. Without clean water, plants would die and people and animals would go thirsty.
Creekside fauna
The creek is one of best places within the preserve to experience a large concentration of living things. Whether it may be a fishing spider on the hunt, a dragonfly staking claim to a piece of territory, or a thirsty tree lapping water up with its roots, you can bet you will get a sense of what the water has to offer here at the creek. Check out this slideshow for some of the fauna you might be able to see down by the creek!
Black Fly Larvae: Black fly larvae thrive in water with moderate to fast currents. Black fly larvae require these swift currents in order to filter and collect enough food. The larvae stay attached by producing a silk thread from their mouths and using it to form sticky pads that adhere to the substrate surface.
Damselfly Nymph: Damselfly nymphs are predatory, feeding on aquatic insects. Upon hatching, nymphs go through approximately 10-12 immature stages (called instars) during development. When they are ready to become adults, they crawl out of the water and shed their exoskeleton one last time to transform into adults.
Neon skimmer: Do you know the difference between dragonflies and damselflies? Can you tell which one this is?
The easiest way to differentiate a damselfly from a dragonfly is to look at their wings at rest. Damselfly wings normally are "closed" at rest above their abdomen. Whereas, dragonfly wings at rest are kept in their normal, horizontal position. So this is a dragonfly!