Duckweed

Yesterday, we inadvertently mixed up a photo with a description that had been written by our science staff for a different WPC Daily. Because the photo by WPC Volunteer John Karian was pretty remarkable, we felt it warranted righting our glitch and explaining exactly what you are seeing.

Today's photo shows a species of duckweed (Lemna sp.) in a vernal pool, alongside WPC's land at Sandy Creek, Venango County, Pa. Duckweed can form a dense "blanket" which serves as a nutritious, protein-rich food for surface-feeding waterfowl, as well as a site for deposition of eggs and shelter for a large variety of invertebrates and other small life forms. The French have an interesting name for these small plants: "frog droppings."

We still are at a loss as to why the slip-up occurred and apologize for any confusion it may have brought to your day.

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