Death... and Life

The Wetland, September 20, 2021

Thursday (9/16) when I was at the wetland, what water there was was full of life (video yet to come). Today, despite rains in the past 24 hours, the water has been replaced by the stench of death.

When I took the photo above, just after arriving at the wetland today, I imagined that the dark circle and darker area inside the circle at the center of the photo were places that were not as dry as the lighter-colored areas.  I was wrong. As I got closer, I realized that the dark areas are where all the dead tadpoles are, thousands of them.

A Closer Look at "The Dark Circle" (click to view larger)


And Closer Still (click to view larger)

In addition to the dead tadpoles, a careful look reveals snails and dead dragonfly naiads as well.I It's a miniature Central Illinois version of the LaBrea Tarpits.

But the title of this post mentions "life." In the top photo above, the vibrant green through the middle of the picture was mud flats a week or two ago and then before that for the whole summer it was covered by water, part of the wetland pond. Now it's quickly being recycled into terrestrial habitat as these non-aquatic plants rapidly take over. If you walk through that sea of new green you will see dozens, perhaps hundreds, of tiny frogs scattering ahead of your footsteps. Most of them are very small Blanchard's cricket frogs, but there are also some of the other species in the mix. And even in the midst of the dark circle of dead tadpoles, dragonfly naiads and snails, life is at work. The scavenging crew is hard at work making good use of what the wetland has left behind.

Multiple Flies Feeding or Laying Eggs Amidst Dead Tadpoles and Dragonfly Naiads, September 20, 2021

A shore bug (tentative id, greenish insect near back of large dragonfly naiad in center of photo) scavenging. Note also two other dead naiads in the photo -- one in front of and one behind the large naiad in the center.



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