Living Under a Rock
Did you know that something as simple as a large rock, rotting log, yard junk or a sheet of plywood in your yard can host a huge network of interacting wildlife? Summers in the Southern U.S. can bake the ground to a crisp. Beneath a rock or log, however, temperatures remain cool and the soil stays moist, providing a hiding place for many small creatures. Worms, slugs, snails, earwigs, termites, ants, crickets, beetles, millipedes and pill bugs all help digest organic debris or plant matter. They become prey for centipedes and spiders. The centipedes and spiders are eaten by snakes, salamanders, newts, toads, frogs and lizards. This environment can be a fascinating and interesting place—maybe living under a rock isn’t so bad, after all!
Viewer Tip: A great summer activity for kids is to make a “plywood habitat.” Simply place a large piece of plywood on the ground and cover it with leaf matter, grass clippings or pulled up weeds. Water around it twice a week and leave it out for a month or two. Then, just uncover it and lift it up, being sure to wear boots, jeans and gloves for safety. The creatures beneath will immediately scurry for protection, but can be easily identified with a trained eye. What creatures will you find?
Season: Summer
This information is provided by Georgia Wildlife Federation. Learn more at www.gwf.org.
(Source: The Field Museum, http://www.fieldmuseum.org/undergroundadventure/teachers/looking_for_life.shtml)