2018 NCSO Elementary Event Description:
Backyard Biologist (1.E.2, 1.L.1, 2.L.1, 3.L.2, 6.L.1) Teams will be assessed on their knowledge of living organisms that they may encounter in their own backyard. In 2018, the focus will be on plants, trees and birds. Teams will be required to identify organisms from a provided list and know about the habitat and conditions required for growth of the organisms and which ones are North Carolina state symbols.
EVENT RESOURCES:
http://www.mbgnet.net/bioplants/main.html
http://www.carolinanature.com/trees/
http://www.ncnatural.com/wildflwr/flowrpg.html
http://www.insectidentification.org/
Trees (Identify by leaves, bark, and seeds):
American beech
American elm (Ulmus Americana)
Bitternut hickory (Carya cordiformis)
Black cherry (Prunus serotina)
Black Oak (Quercus velutina)
Black Willow (Salix nigra)
Eastern Cottonwood (Populus deltoids)
Eastern white pine (Pinus strobus)
Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida)*
Southern Live Oak (Quercus virginiana)
Loblolly pine** (Pinus taeda)
Longleaf pine ** (Pinus palustris)
Pecan (Carya illinoinensis)
Red maple (Acer rubrum)
River Birch (Betula nigra)
Shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata)**
Southern red oak (Quercus falcate)
Sweet gum (Liquidambar styraciflua)
Tulip/yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera)
White Oak (Quercus alba)
REPTILES
Alligators - Order Crocodylia
American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)
Lizards - Order Squamata: Sauria (Lacertilia)
Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis)
Southeastern Five-lined Skink (Eumceces inexpectatus)
Eastern Glass Lizard (Ophisaurus ventralis)
Eastern Fence Lizard (Sceloporus undulatus)
Snakes - Order Squamata: Serpentes
Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix)
Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus)
Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus)
Black Rat Snake (Elaphe obsoleta obsoleta)
Eastern Hognose Snake (Heterodon platirhinos)
Eastern Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula getula)
Banded Water Snake (Nerodia fasciata)
Eastern Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis)
Turtles - Order Testudines
Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina)
Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta)
Spotted Turtle (Clemmys guttata)
Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina)*
Yellow-bellied Slider (Trachemys scripta)
AMPHIBIANS
Frogs and Toads - Order Anura
American Toad (Bufo americanus)
Pine Barrens Treefrog (Hyla andersonii)*
Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana)
Southern Leopard Frog (Rana sphenocephala)
Salamanders - Order Caudata
Marbled Salamander (Ambystoma opacum)*
Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus)
White-spotted Slimy Salamander (Plethodon cylindraceus)
* denotes a species that is a state symbol
** Pine tree generic is the state tree of NC