Spring Creek & Biodiversity
This poster is about life--the biodiversity of the Spring Creek watershed. Spring Creek is aptly named for the springs, streams, and wetlands that provide habitat for a diverse community of plant and animal species. A few of the plants, prey, and predators that inhabit Spring Creek are portrayed here. These species live in the watershed, so they depend on clean water and a healthy environment. The live in a place known as riparia--an area of transition between water and land. Learning about the biodiversity of Spring Creek can be an adventure and it can also call attention to ways we can protect riparian species from harmful impacts.
The
Spring Creek watershed is located in the center of Pennsylvania. It
flows from south to north through two major towns, State College and
Bellefonte. Spring Creek forms part of the headwaters of the
Susquehanna River, the largest river of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
The drainage area of headwaters greatly exceeds the area of the river
itself. Just as the salt marshes and shallow bays nurture the
Chesapeake Bay, headwaters such as Spring Creek nurture larger rivers like
the Susquehanna. Coarse and fine bits of leaves and twigs fall into
these small wetlands and tributary streams. As they move downstream,
these organic particles, known as detritus, are transformed into nutrients
that support a complex food web.
We begin our journey in the upper reaches and will work our way downstream. Beginning with tiny aquatic invertebrates, like the rare amphipod, Stygobromus stellamacki, (1) that dwells in the cold spring waters of Thompson Run, a food supply is built up for other inhabitants. The Louisiana Waterthrush, Seiurus motacilla, (2) is a migratory songbird that makes use of this type of food. The waterthrush feeds mostly on small aquatic insects, crustaceans, and worms found in headwater streams and wetlands if large continuous forests surround them. During the spring and summer, they nest in secretive places along the streambeds, but by autumn they have disappeared from the Spring Creek watershed. Where do they go?
As tiny springs and small rivulets join forces and become larger streams, fish appear. The Brook Trout, Salvelinus fontinalis, (3) once found throughout the watershed, now is found primarily in the clear waters of tributary streams flowing off of the forested ridges. Trout feed on minnows, such as the Common Shiner, Notropis cornutus, (4) and aquatic insects, like the species of mayfly known as the Green Drake, Ephemera guttulata, (5). Fly fishermen know about the legendary hatches of the Green Drake, when millions of individual adult mayflies exit out of the water during a few evenings in late spring. In their quest for trout, fly fishermen tie "flies" to mimic the pattern of this stage of the species' life cycle. Both the tied fly and the male dun are illustrated here. Green Drakes don't inhabit Spring Creek anymore. Why not?
Fishermen
are not the only creatures walking along the riparian banks of the streams.
Red-backed Voles, Clethrionomys gapperi, (6) are common, but seldom
seen mouse-like mammals that scurry along streambanks lined with hemlock
trees and rhododendron shrubs. They feed on many items, including
seeds, roots, snails, and terrestrial insects. A little farther from
the stream, Spotted Salamanders, Ambystoma maculatum, (7) may be
crawling through the forest leaf litter on their way to and from isolated
pools and wetlands where they breed during damp nights in early spring.
As we travel further downstream, we encounter other species. Crayfish, Cambarus bartoni, (8) are scavengers that clean up bits of dead animal and plant material on the stream bottom. Freshwater mussels, such as the Eastern Elliptio, Elliptio complanata, (9) filter out even smaller particles from the water column from their sedentary homes among the rocks and cobbles of the stream bed. River Otters, Lutra canadensis, (10), large members of the weasel family, live in larger streams and rivers or where beavers have dammed small tributaries. Otters feed on many different species of fish, and also eat crayfish and mussels. River otters are returning to some watersheds in Pennsylvania, after being eliminated from many streams during the early years of this century. What happened back then? Have otters returned to Spring Creek?
In the pools, ponds, and wetlands of Spring Creek, Painted Turtles, Chrysemys picta, (11) can be seen basking in the sun on logs or rocks. If you want to observe them, approach cautiously or they will slip into the water quickly and only ripples will remain. A common resident of Spring Creek during all seasons is the Belted Kingfisher, Ceryle alcyon, (12). This chattering bird can be seen perching on branches and utility lines that hang over the water. They swoop down from their perches to feed on small fish and crayfish. You won't see kingfishers flocking together because they defend breeding and feeding territories along the creek. Have you ever seen a kingfisher's nest? Where would you look for one?
Sharing logs with turtles and higher perches with kingfishers, you might see a pair of Wood Ducks, Aix sponsa, (13) including this colorful male exploding off of the water. Wood ducks nest in natural tree cavities or nest boxes usually in riparian corridors. They also feed and rest along floodplains during migration.
In the skies above the watershed, Ospreys, Pandion haliaetus, (14) are making a comeback. The occurrence of nests in the watershed is uncertain today, but they can be seen plunging into the waters of Spring Creek and nearby lakes to catch fish, including the snake-like fish in its talons, an American Eel, Anguilla rostrata, (15). Eels live most of their lives in freshwater rivers, but many of them return to the ocean to breed. While in the rivers, eels usually feed at night on crayfish, aquatic insects, and small fish.
Dragonflies - Shadow Darter, Aeshua umbrosa, (16); Common Green Darner, Anax junis, (17); Common Whitetail, Libellula lydia, (18); Rusty Snaketail, Ophiogomphus rupinsulensis, (19), and damselflies--Black-winged Damselfly, Calopteryx maculata, (20) an be seen flitting from perch to perch near streams and wetlands throughout the watershed. These predatory species live as aquatic nymphs in the water, and then emerge as winged adults that feed on smaller insects such as mosquitos. Flanking these members of the animal community are a small sample of the plants found along Spring Creek. The yellow blossoms of the Marsh Marigold, Caltha palustris, (21) are a welcome spring sight in the springs and seeps of the watershed. Turk's-cap Lilies, Lilium superbum, (22) bloom in the shaded sections of the forested floodplain in the late summer. Another late season bloomer is the stunning Cardinal Flower, Lobelia cardinalis, (23) which frequently adorns the banks or islands of the stream.
These plants and animals, along with thousands of other species, form the ecological community of Spring Creek. You too can be part of a community--The Spring Creek Watershed Community--citizens of the human species, Homo sapiens, who are working together to protect the health and beauty of this precious natural resource for all of us for generations to come.
Artist: Nils Obel. Concept, text, and production: Robert P. Brooks. Sponsors: Penn State Cooperative Wetlands Center, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, Spring Creek Watershed Community. Photography: Sheckler Photographics, University Photo/Graphics. Typography: James McClure. Printing: J. S. McCarthy, Augusta, Maine. Dragonfly and damselfly information: Clark Shiffer. Fly fishing and mayfly information: George Harvey and Tom Swimley. Posters are available from the College of Agricultural Sciences, Agricultural Publications Distribution Center, 112 Agricultural Administration Building, University Park, PA 16802. Copyright 1997 The Pennsylvania State University. Written permission for reproduction of the illustrations is required.
Purchasing Information
The Spring Creek Biodiversity Poster and its associated teaching guide are available for purchase from the ClearWater Conservancy for $10 each. Please contact us to place your order.