Signs of Spring

 

Signs of Spring

Written by Kristine Manganelli (Somerset County 4-H Coordinator)

Skunk Cabbage

Skunk Cabbage

March may have come in like a lion, but everywhere you look, there are signs of spring! Not only have our white surroundings slowly turned back to green (or brown from mud, lots of mud), but tiny buds are poised on branches all around, just waiting to burst open. Spring sneaks up on me every year. Slowly I notice the sounds of birds singing in the morning, see the squirrels actively running around, and realize they had been missing all winter.

By the time the Spring Equinox arrives on March 20, we will have reached the point of equal parts day and night. From now until the Summer Solstice, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the sun, ushering in increasing daylight hours and warming temperatures. Light and warmth set spring in motion; here are a few clues that indicate winter’s end.

Skunk Cabbage is one of the very first native plants to emerge in New Jersey, as early as February or March, when snow may still be on the ground. This plant has the unique ability to create its own heat which allows it to bloom when the ground is still frozen. It maintains an average of 20 degrees Fahrenheit, but can be up to 70 degrees warmer than the air temperature, melting the snow around it. Skunk cabbage heats itself through a process called thermogenesis; the ability to generate heat through cyanide resistant cellular respiration.

This special adaptation makes skunk cabbage an important early food source for insects like flies and beetles. These types of insects are attracted to the foul fragrance, which helped to earn the name skunk cabbage. Skunk cabbage has another unique adaptation to help it survive when it is one of the only green plants in early spring. Early spring plants are normally a treasured food source after a long winter for hungry critters, however their leaves are toxic. They contain calcium oxalic crystals that create a burning sensation when eaten. This painful side effect deters most animals from dining on this plant.

Skunk cabbage can be found growing in wetlands, and woodlands near creeks and streams. Considered an ephemeral plant, it will fade away by the time the leaves fill in the canopy, and block the sun from reaching the ground.

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Vernal Pools

Vernal Pools

Another short-lived, or ephemeral spring sighting are vernal pools. It is estimated that 3,000-5,000 vernal pools occur annually in New Jersey. Ranging in size from small puddles to shallow lakes, these are areas of isolated depressions that hold local surface water run-off for at least 2 consecutive months, and only exist in late winter and early spring. Vernal pools are an example of seasonal hydrology because they dry out during the summer, but are prevalent this time of year as the snow melts. Because they are temporary, vernal pools are unsuitable for fish, making them a safe space for other critters to spawn eggs, and for juveniles to grow without risk of predatory fish.

Although they don’t look like much, it turns out that vernal pools are critical habitat for many New Jersey wildlife species such as plants, amphibians, reptiles, insects, and birds. All of New Jersey’s 18 species of frog use vernal pools to breed. In fact, 2 frog species and 5 salamander species are considered obligate vernal pool breeders. This means they breed exclusively in vernal pools, and require a predator free habitat to reproduce successfully. Over time these creatures adapted an instinct to exploit the fish-less bodies of water for safe breeding.

Check out our past blog post about the spotted salamander for more details on this critter’s annual journey.

Get Outside

Go on a “Signs of Spring” scavenger hunt using this guide.

Sources:

 
Somerset County 4-H