The University of Nottingham is diverse in both its people and wildlife
Welcome to a short guide to some of the flora and fauna you might find out and about on University Park Campus. The different habitats that the diverse landscape of University Park provides means the species available include all manner of vertebrates, fungi, invertebrates and plants. Download a handy print-out guide at the bottom of the page!
Smooth Newt out of water (Lissotron vulgaris)
Smooth/Common Newt (Vertebrate)
Taxonomy Phylum: Chordata, Class: Amphibia, Order: Urodela, Family: Salamandridae, Genus: Lissotriton, Species: Lissotriton vulgaris
To identify: Can vary in colours and patterns on the skin. Most mature smooth newts will be grey-brown, with an orange/yellow belly and black spots all over. They are 7-11cm in length, have smooth skin texture and possess a long thin tail, in contrast to other newt species such as the palmate newt, which they look similar to, but which has a thicker tail, an additional tail filament and can often be found in dryer conditions (Froglife, 2022). Both palmate and smooth newts have external gill frills behind their head. So, smooth newts can primarily be identified by their smooth, velvety texture and belly colour (Froglife, 2022).
Smooth Newt in water (Lissotron vulgaris)
Where to find: Distributed throughout most of UK. In ponds, woodlands, wetlands, freshwater, farmland and grassland (The Wildlife trusts, n.d.). At University Park Campus, you are most likely to find smooth newts in the pond outside LakesideArts Centre and in the Highfields park lake
When to find: Spring-Summer! They come out to mate in the spring through to summer, but spend most of Autumn and Winter feeding on invertebrates in woodland and grassland, or hibernating underground (The Wildlife Trusts, n.d.). Most active at dusk and dawn (Froglife, 2022)
Fun fact: males and females look quite different! Females only have throat spots and lack exciting spotting patterns that males possess all over their bodies. Males also have a smooth crest along their body in breeding season (Froglife, 2022)!
Fly Agaric Mushroom (Fungus)
Taxonomy Phylum: Basidiomycota, Class: Agaricomycetes, Order: Agaricales, Family: Amanitaceae, Genus: Amanita, Species: Amanita muscaria
To identify: Fly Agarics will always have a bright red cap, which will be more globose (domed) when immature, then flatten out to a plate shape as they age (can reach up to 20cm in diameter). They can also be identified by the white spots, which are remnants of the ruptured veil, on their caps and the white gills underneath the cap. The gills are tightly packed and not joined to the stipe. The stipe is white and can grow up to 30cm tall (Woodland Trust, n.d.). Sometimes they could be misidentified as ‘The Blusher’ mushroom if the cap colour is to fade with age to a light brown colour. However, they can be differentiated by veil remnant colour (Fly Agaric: white, Blusher: grey) and that Blusher will turn pink when bruised and Fly Agaric will not (Woodland Trust, n.d.).
Fly Agaric Mushroom (Amanita muscaria)
Where to find: Native to the UK. Often in lighter soils in woodlands, usually near host trees like birch, pine and spruce (Keating, 2017). The fungus forms mycorrhizal associations with the tree roots (Woodland Trust, n.d.). At University Park, find them under the trees behind the George Green Library bus stop!
When to find: Late summer through to early winter (Keating 2017), a sign that Autumn is coming!
Fun fact: Most recognisable mushroom in the world, notorious for being poisonous and hallucinogenic if consumed (Woodland Trust, n.d.)
Fly Agaric Mushroom gills and stipe (Amanita muscaria)
Two Green Cellar Slugs (Limacus maculatus)
Green Cellar Slug (Invertebrate)
Taxonomy Phylum: Mollusca, Class: Gastropoda, Order: Stylommatophora, Family: Limacidae, Genus: Limax, Subgenus: Limacus, Species: Limacus maculatus
To identify: Has green and yellow speckled patterning on body, ash coloured sole, clear mucus trail and blue/grey tentacles, similar to yellow cellar slug, which is more yellow, with yellow stripe down tail (Royal Horticultural Society, 2022). Between 8 and 13cm in length (Hillman, 2016). Easily mistaken as leopard slug due to speckled patterning, but not a leopard slug as these are larger (10-15cm) and have heavily striped tails, large frilly soles and darker brown blotches (Hillman, 2017).
Green Cellar Slug (Limacus maculatus) taking a shine to a paintbrush
Where to find: Common and widespread in UK and Ireland, around gardens, houses and cellars (hence the name 'cellar slug'). Prefers moist, dark environments (Hillman, 2016). On University Park, look around drainpipes near buildings such as Life Sciences, or any moist, dark areas under objects.
When to find: Nocturnal, so are more active after dark, as they rely on the moisture at night to prevent drying out. During the day they are likely to be found hiding under drains, logs and paving (The Royal Horticultural Society, 2022). You may also see them more after rainfall or when humidity is higher.
Fun fact: They are highly sociable organisms and are often found in 'huddles' with each other to conserve moisture! May also huddle and form hybrids with Yellow Cellar Slugs (The Royal Horticultural Society, 2022).
The Canadian Red Maple Tree (Plant)
Taxonomy Phylum: Tracheophyta, Class: Magnoliopsida, Order: Sapindales, Family: Sapindaceae, Genus: Acer, Species: Acer rubrum
To identify: The Canadian red maple is a deciduous tree that can grow up to 30 metres tall and over 8 metres wide. The tree has a domed shape to its head. Small red flowers are present in clusters on the tree only in spring, before the leaves appear. The flowers are followed by red samara fruits containing seeds (Gardenia.net, 2022). Leaves are palmate, having 3 major pointed lobes, with two smaller lobes closer to the stem. The leaves have a silvery/whitish underside and are dark green in spring/summer, then turn bright red in Autumn (Royal Horticultural Society, 2021). Bark of the trunk is usually smooth and grey, but can become ridged with age (Gardenia.net, 2022). A. rubrum is most often characterised by its bright red leaves, and can be told apart from other maples by its pointier toothed leaves compared to the smoother ones of e.g. Sugar maples (Signs of the Seasons, 2020).
Where to find: Native to North Eastern USA. Not native to the UK, but often bought and planted in domestic or ornamental gardens. Areas with moist, but well-drained soil containing chalks and clays and a neutral or acidic pH. Very hardy but prefers shelter (Royal Horticultural Society 2021). Find them outside the Physics building on University Park
The Canadian Red Maple Tree (Acer rubrum)
When to find: All year round, but find it with dark green leaves in summer, bright red leaves in Autumn, leafless in winter and dark green leaves with red flowers in spring (Royal horticultural Society, 2021)!
Fun fact: The fruit they produce, samaras, are 'winged seeds' that you might more commonly know as 'helicopters', due to how they spin when they fall to the ground (Signs of the Seasons, 2020).
The Canadian Red Maple Tree (Acer rubrum) characteristic leaves with silvery undersides
References:
Froglife.org. 2022. Smooth Newt. [online] Available at: <https://www.froglife.org/info-advice/amphibians-and-reptiles/smooth-newt/> [Accessed 14th January 2022].
Gardenia.net. 2022. Acer rubrum (Red Maple). [online] Available at: <https://www.gardenia.net/plant/acer-rubrum> [Accessed 16 January 2022].
Hillman, P., 2016. Green Cellar Slug. [online] Nature Journeys. Available at: <https://petehillmansnaturephotography.wordpress.com/2016/12/26/green-cellar-slug/#comment-2954> [Accessed 12 January 2022].
Hillman, P., 2017. Leopard Slug. [online] Nature Journeys. Available at: <https://petehillmansnaturephotography.wordpress.com/2017/01/08/leopard-slug/> [Accessed 12 January 2022].
Keating, H., 2017. Types of UK mushrooms: common identification guide. [online] Woodland Trust. Available at: <https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2017/08/types-of-mushroom/> [Accessed 13 January 2022].
Rhs.org.uk. 2021. Acer rubrum | red maple Trees. [online] Available at: <https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/276/acer-rubrum/details> [Accessed 15 January 2022].
Rhs.org.uk. 2022. RHS Cellar Slug Hunt. [online] Available at: <https://www.rhs.org.uk/science/help-our-research/slug> [Accessed 14 January 2022].
Signs of the Seasons: A New England Phenology Program. 2020. Red Maple (Acer rubrum) Fact Sheet. [online] Available at: <https://extension.umaine.edu/signs-of-the-seasons/indicator-species/red-maple-fact-sheet/> [Accessed 16 January 2022].
Wildlifetrusts.org. n.d. Smooth newt | The Wildlife Trusts. [online] Available at: <https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/amphibians/smooth-newt> [Accessed 14 January 2022].
Woodland Trust. n.d. Fly Agaric. [online] Woodland Trust. Available at: <https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/fungi-and-lichens/fly-agaric/> [Accessed 13 January 2022].
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