Sources of Curiosity
Questions from October 28 walk
What makes mud black?
The color of soil, including mud, can be influenced by many factors, such as soil chemistry, organic matter, and anaerobic decomposition. In the case of the marsh, most of the mud is composed of decaying organic matter. The mud is rich with life, including bacteria, invertebrates, and fungi.
For more information about soil color, see this publication from the US Department of Agriculture.
Why is the water in the marsh different colors?
While water is naturally clear, sometimes different materials can be dissolved in water or become suspended in the water, and these materials can change the color of the water. In the case of the marsh, organic matter such as leaves and mosses contributes tannins to the water as they decompose, giving the water a brown color and increasing its acidity. In some areas of the marsh that have recently been disturbed by vehicles such as four-wheelers, the underlying marine clay particles will become suspended in the water, giving it a milky white color. For more information, see this publication from the USGS.
What causes maple trees to die?
There are many reasons that a maple tree might die. Maple trees in our area are quite hardy, but still may die from old age, fungus infections and insect stress. The most common cause of death of maple trees in our area is changes in soil water levels. If trees are flooded, their roots cannot breath and they will die. Conversely, if the roots dry out, usually from some sort of disturbance, they may not be able to take in the necessary water and nutrients to keep the tree alive.
