Biota of Marrowstone Island's Journal

We are poised at 699 species submitted to our island project. Will number seven hundred be plant or animal?

A visiting botanist submitted an observation that popped up as being from Marrowstone. Alex Wright suggested that a clump of roses on the causeway is a hybrid of two species of rose. I went to have a look and have submitted my own observation. Alex said these are rare, with only one other incidence he is aware of being on Bainbridge Island. It might be of some value for any more sightings of this rose cross to be recorded.

What to look for: First impression for me was this was R.rugosa. The flower however is a bit smaller than usual, and the hips are definitely smaller than what rugosa produces, but not as small as nootkana. The foliage appears to be that of rugosa.

If you would like to become familiar with what this looks like, you can see the ones Alex and I have observed. Follow the path from the isthmus parking area, down the stairs, and out to the beach. Turn right and where the beach meets the bluff, you'll find two sizable clumps of this rose.

I just had one of my species identifications disagreed with. It was surprising, because Lion's Mane Jellies (Cyanea capillata) seemed such an easy one to ID for me. But nooooo!

I've copied @wyattp11 's explanation on a discussion thread from @wendy5 's observation of this jelly. He explains the identification thus: "Just like A. aurita, C. capillata is not cosmopolitan, they are native to the North Sea and parts of the Arctic, perhaps reaching over the pond to Nova Scotia. Recent evidence, both molecular and morphological, suggest much more diversity within Cyanea, for example a separate species was discovered in the White Sea, C. tzetlinii, and Dawson restored C. annaskala and rosea down in Australia. Much more work to be done..."

So fellow jelly identifiers, stay tuned. Perhaps we will soon have a new species we must attribute to our observations.

We no longer need to speak in hushed voices and be sworn to secrecy. Word is out in the form of a web page on the Jefferson Land Trust website: https://saveland.org/save-land/saving-a-special-place-on-marrowstone-island/

Project 1 is an iNaturalist project that has been set up to assist JLT in it's efforts to promote the preserve and efforts to raise the remaining monies to fund acquisition. About 80% of the amount needed has been raised! JLT is looking to raise the remaining $210,000 from private donations. Spread the word and help make this new nature preserve a reality.

The Jefferson Land Trust requested we make the name of Project 1 conform to other references about the effort to acquire the Fite property as a nature preserve. So now, Project 1 is the Marrowstone Island Project.

Funds Are Being Raised to Protect This Property

Funds are currently being raised for final acquisition of the 51 acre Fite property by the Jefferson Land Trust. This action would remove the property from development and preserve it as a community wild area for Marrowstone Island, WA.

With a tight time schedule, funds must be raised by mid-October to finalize the sale. Donations may be made via the website: https://saveland.org/save-land/saving-a-special-place-on-marrowstone-island/