Photos: Supplied.
RANGER STACEY THOMSON IS PRINCIPAL ADVISER – COMMUNITY EDUCATION (REDLAND CITY COUNCIL)
I’m constantly amazed and inspired by the natural world.
Whoever first said “You learn something new every day” is absolutely spot on, because when it comes to the environment, I’m on a continuous journey of enlightenment and discovery.
Just the other day, I was chatting with a group of my IndigiScapes colleagues when I spontaneously posed the question: “What’s one thing you find totally fascinating in the local environment?” Now, I realise this may not be typical workplace water cooler conversation, but hey that’s how I roll! The responses from my fellow nature loving co-workers were too good not to be shared.
Cheryl chose the soldier crab, and I can understand why. Armies of these cute crustaceans emerge at low tide to feed on detritus in the sand, leaving behind perfect little round balls of leftover sand as they march onwards. They are one of the few crab species that walk in a forward fashion thanks to the unique joint structure in their legs.
Cath singled out leaf galls – the funny little lumps or knobs that occasionally form on the leaves of certain plant species. For those of us with curious minds it’s interesting to note that leaf galls are caused by insects, mites, bacteria, or fungi, and usually cause no harm to the plant.
Mim’s response was the bladderwort and since she’s a self-professed plant nerd, this came as no surprise. It’s a native water plant with an appetite for meat. Yep, this carnivore is equipped with hollow sacs that suck in tiny water creatures, and inhabits local creeks on Redlands Coast.
Last but not least, Maree produced two wonders of nature. A group of arachnids known as net-casting spiders. They catch prey in a small web in the form of a net which they cast over unsuspecting prey using long legs.
And finally, fungi! What we see growing in the forest as delicate and beautiful is actually the fruiting bodies of the fungi that is living underground.
My advice: discover the world around you and embrace your sense of wonder!
Until next time … Stay Wild!
