June 21: Ecological Self Maps and Natural Areas Observations

Ijams Nature Center

Unplug

    The first thing that hit me was the amount of green, so much vibrant green. As the objects became clearer, I distinguished the trees-the brown bark dressed in green leaves, the brown trail scattered with twigs outlined by green bushes. I felt the moisture from the humidity, but the tall trees provided shade from the shining sun and I felt a light breeze throughout my day. Even with the entire Governor's School populace at the center, it was relatively quiet. Though the birds were chirping and students discussed around me, the sound wasn't overpowering, and instead just the right amount of noise to make me feel included in society but also giving me alone time. Despite my conjested nose, I could smell essential oils such as sunscreen and bug spray.

    As an anxious person who plans for everything, being at the nature center made me live in the present. There was no "what happens next", only what I'm looking at now. I think I didn't feel anything, but that's not a bad thing. Rather, it means I was at peace, simply living.

Animals

    I noticed an insect jumping on the pond water. It could've been looking for food, or maybe shade, but I can only assume. Though the animal meets the qualities of personhood such as sentience, rationality, and self-awareness, I did not observe any communication, emotions, or morality displayed by the insect. The insect only interacted with the abiotic water of the pond; it didn't even jump on a lillypad, it could "swim" on it's own I guess. Though there was a frog in the pond, it didn't stick out it's tongue to consume the insect, but from the food cycle, that is what I would assume would happen to the insect. Maybe that's why the insect was gliding through the pond...I do believe that every action displayed by the insect was intentional, but for what purpose I don't know.

Artifacts

    I felt many spiderwebs on my legs and arms as my group walked through the center. We observed one web that actually had a spider in it, too. The web is made out of silk which comes from the spider's abdomen, which the spider will weave using its legs. Though the web provides a sanctuary for the spider, it works as a trap for other animals, providing the spider food.

Explanatory Paradigms (Spiderweb)

• Anthropocentric Hierarchy: The spider is second to humans; however, the web is the lowest on the hierarchy as it is inorganic. The purpose of the web is to capture insects for the spider, but I believe the web provides biodiversity as it works as "insect population control" for humans
• Natural Selection: The spider has adapted to be superior by establishing webs to trap other insects for consumption.
• Ecocentrism: The web is not any less worthy than the spider that created it or the people that observe it.
• MSE: The spiderweb is made from silk, which is a natural polymer. Spiderweb silk has tensile strengths comparable to steel. Because of the disorderly arragnement of the glycine-containing protein molecules, spiderweb silk has good elasticity and stretchability.