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March: Spring into Phenology
March 1, 2016 @ 9:00 am - March 31, 2016 @ 4:00 pm
Celebrate spring at ALNC! Click here for a listing of drop-in and self-guided highlights this month.
Ribbit, Croak… Did you hear that?![]()
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Frogs and turtles are active in the pond after their long winter rest! Most reptiles and amphibians in colder climates enter a state of brumation during the colder months. In this state, their movements and metabolism slow to conserve energy until outside temperatures warm up again. Many aquatic creatures, like painted turtles or American bullfrogs, will go through this process at the bottom of a frozen pond where temperatures don’t typically reach freezing. Land dwelling reptiles and amphibians will burrow into the ground or hide under leaf litter and in cracks or crevices to stay beneath the frost line. Some frogs, like the gray treefrog will even spend their winter in the trees, producing glycerol to prevent themselves from freezing solid. ![]()
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Once temperatures are consistently above freezing, turtles and frogs begin to emerge. Warmer temperatures allow turtles to regulate their temperature by basking in the sun. Food sources become more available for all as plants and animals prepare for spring. ![]()
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Have you seen any frogs or turtles yet this spring?![]()
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What signs of the season do you see? Visit us for a hike or take a walk around your neighborhood looking for cyclical events influenced by seasonal changes.![]()
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Photos: Stephanie Briand, Aldo Leopold Nature Center![]()
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#PhenologyFriday #PaintedTurtle #frogs #WIEnviroEd #NatureIsEverywhere #NatureIsForEveryone #EveryBodyOutside
