Moss 2 - Orthotrichum stellatm

Moss-2 Orthotrichum stellatum

Figure 1: Orthotrichum stellatm leaf part I












                                                                                         

                                                                                            Figure 2: Orthotrichum stellatum  leaf part II

                                                                                 
Name: Orthotrichum stellatum
Common Name: N/A
Family: Orthotrichaceae
Collection Date: 9/8/2016
Habitat: Growing on bark around lower half and roots of tree.
Location: Hiram college
Description: Short, dark green leaves, born out as they go down stem/die off. Individual leaves visible to naked eye.    

Figure 3: Dried sample of Orthotrichum stellatum

Keying Guide used: McKnight, K. B. & Rohrer, J. R. & Ward, K. M. & Perdrizet, W. J.(2013). Common Mosses of the Northeast and Appalachians. Princeton: Princeton University Press. Retrieved October 12, 2016, from Project MUSE database.
Keying Steps: From: Common Mosses of the Northeast and Appalachians (p 17) Acrocarp Lance shape, veined Key II (p 342-350) 1: Plants dark green, yellow green or brownish black, shoots loosely associated or in densely packed, not domed mounds; leaves flat or folded but not tubular, with midrib usually visible at least at base of leaf - 3 3: Plants on soil, rocks, trees or logs in dry areas; leaves not folded at base -4 4: Leaf surface not rippled or wavy when wet- 9 9: Leaves less than 4mm long - 21 21: Leaves spreading in various directions or barely diverging from stem when wet; plants lacking brood branchlets - 22 22: Plants 0.2 - 2 cm long - 34 34: Plants growing on bark of trees - 35 35: Shoots grow in clusters, not connected creeping stems - 36 36: Capsules surrounded by leaves, stalks not or barely visible - 37 37: plants 3-5mm tall capsule hoods hairless - (p103) Orthotrichum stellatum 
Keying Guide Source: McKnight, K. B. & Rohrer, J. R. & Ward, K. M. & Perdrizet, W. J.(2013). Common Mosses of the Northeast and Appalachians. Princeton: Princeton University Press. Retrieved October 12, 2016, from Project MUSE database.
Source for family Name:Orthotrichum stellatum Brid. (n.d.). Retrieved October 10, 2016, from http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=ORST3

Moss 1 - Compylophyllum hispidulum

Moss-1 Compylophyllum hispidulum 



















Figure 1: Compylophyllum hispidulum


                                                                                                                                             Figure 2: Leaf close-up
Name: Compylophyllum hispidulum 
Common Name: N/A
Family: Amblystegiaceae
Collection Date: 9/8/2016
Habitat: Growing on flat rock surface
Location: Hiram college
Description: Light green, branching, creeping/horizontal growth with very small leaves.

Figure 3: Dried sample of Compylophyllum hispidulum 

Key Used: McKnight, K. B. & Rohrer, J. R. & Ward, K. M. & Perdrizet, W. J.(2013). Common Mosses of the Northeast and Appalachians. Princeton: Princeton University Press. Retrieved October 12, 2016, from Project MUSE database.

Keying Steps: From: Common Mosses of the Northeast and Appalachians (p 17) - Pleurocarp - ovate, no vein - Key XI (p 369-375) 1: Branches not flattened; leaves appear to come off all around stem, more or less 3-D - 12 12: Leaves mostly a single color - 13 13: stem green to brown, not particularly contrasting with leaves; mosses of various sizes -17 17: Plants of dry to very moist habitats, not submerged or kept constantly wet- 23 23: Branches appear fuzzy or bristly, wet or dry; leaves wide-spreading nearly at right angle to stem -24 24: Plants very small; leaves < 1mm long, tip furrowed to form U-shaped channel - (p 307) - Campylophyllum hispidulum
Source Key Used: McKnight, K. B. & Rohrer, J. R. & Ward, K. M. & Perdrizet, W. J.(2013). Common Mosses of the Northeast and Appalachians. Princeton: Princeton University Press. Retrieved October 12, 2016, from Project MUSE database.
Family name retrieved from:Campylium hispidulum. (2015). Retrieved October 11, 2016, from http://explorer.natureserve.org/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Campylium hispidulum

Liverwort 2 - Aneura pinguis

Figure 1:   Aneura pinguis growing on rocks 
Name: Aneura pinguis
Common Name: Greasewort
Family: Aneuraceae
Collection Date: 9/22/2016
Habitat: Growing on rock surface
Location: South Chagrin Reservation - Chagrin Falls Ohio
Description: Liverwort appears shiny / "greasy" bright green growing on rock surface
Key Used: Bosanquet, S. (n.d.). Field Key to common and/or distinctive mosses and liverworts. (p21-58)
Keying Steps: 1: Plant without distinct leaves-5 5:thallus without gemmae in receptacles -8 8: Upper surface without polygonal markings and pores -11 11: plants deep or vivid green; growing in various habitats-15 15:Thallus 3mm wide or more-19 19:Mid rib not well defined-23 23:Plants vivid mid-green with greasy appearance; thalli parallel-sided; margins curved upward ... Aneura pinguis
Keying Guide Source: Bosanquet, S. (n.d.). Field Key to common and/or distinctive mosses and liverworts. (p21-58)

Liverwort 1 - Conocephalum concium

Figure 1:   Conocephalum concium Growing on rock surface

Name: Conocephalum concium
Common Name: Snakeskin Liverwort
Family: Conocephalaceae
Collection Date: 9/22/2016
Habitat: Growing on rock surface
Location: South Chagrin Reservation - Chagrin Falls Ohio
Description: Liverwort appears scale with very visible polygonal structures centered by a dot (pore).  Drake green towards center and brighter green on outer edges.

Figure2 : Conocephalum concium close - up with polygonal markings
Key Used: Bosanquet, S. (n.d.). Field Key to common and/or distinctive mosses and liverworts. (p21-58)

Keying Steps: 1: Plant without distinct leaves-5 5:thallus without gamma in receptacles -8 8: Upper surface with polygonal markings; a more or less raised pore in the center of each polygon-9 9: Thallus usually >1cm wide; pores on upper surface easily visible to naked eye; scales on lower surface not overlapping one another - Conocephalum concium
Keying Guide Source: Bosanquet, S. (n.d.). Field Key to common and/or distinctive mosses and liverworts. (p21-58)

Algae - Microcystis

Figure 1: Microcystis under scope

Name: Microcystis

Common name: Cyanobacteria
Family: Microcystaceae
Collection Date: N/A- provided unknown sample by lab professor
Habitat: Pond
Location: James H. Barrow Field Station Duck Pond
Description: Colonial green cells without any apparent organelles.  Random shape of colony, somewhat circular.  

Key Used: Landcare Research online guide- identification - freshwater algae- http://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/resources/identification/algae/identification-guide/identify/guideIdentification
Process Steps:  a.)Selection of habit: Alga are colonial b.)Colour of cell contents: Green or blue-green c.)Do the cells contain organelles?: Cells lack organelles d.) Colony Type: Cells small irregularly dispersed in homogenous jelly.  

e.)Cells Small irregularly dispersed in homogenous jelly: cells small, packed densely in mucilage, forming randomly shaped colonies.
Key to Identification :Freshwater Algae. (1996-2016). Retrieved September 7, 2016, from http://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/resources/identification/algae/identification-guide/identify/guide
Family Name: M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 2016. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. http://www.algaebase.org; searched on 13 October 2016.