The strange case of the mysterious substance

In early November walking near the nature reserve of Mendilatz in the Irati forest(Aezkoa Valley, Navarre) I found this substance in the meadows surrounding the reserve. Overall I found two of them.

They had no smell, had some consistency, and were slightly sticky to the touch. They weren´t  bonded to the ground by any appendage.

I sent the photo to various experts  in nature of the area, but although there were different theories, none of them seemed to fit with what could be.

Some of them talk about an artificial substance, but in that place did not seem very plausible. Also did not have any odor that could remind some chemical.

Other said it could be some kind of excrement, having ingested some gelatinous substance, like frog eggs (not yet exist) or even mistletoe fruits, but it was too dense to be something of that nature.

Another assumption was that of a kind of gelatinous fungus uncommon. It is true that there are very similar to the photography, (Myxarium nucleatum or Exidia thuretiana)

You can see something similar in these links:

www.fungipedia.es/.../32325-myxarium-nucleatum
www.asociacionvallisoletanademicologia.com/
The following link is interesting, because once one like it was related to the fall of a meteorite!
www.aforteanosla.com.ar/afla/.../amherst.htm

But do not think that is exactly none of these species, although probably will be a fungus. Nor growing on dead matter of some branch or organic waste.
If someone could give me your opinion would be very grateful, in order to be able to know more about the surprising nature that surrounds us.
You can leave a comment on the blog or write to:
Itarinatura@itarinatura.com

1 december 2012

Few days ago, Javier, from the Ultzama mycologic park, told me maybe could be a fungus of tremellaceae family , but he coudn´t be sure with a photo.

Irati last colors and .. not buy helium balloons!

It is difficult to determine which is the time when the forest is more beautiful, but we can certainly say that now is precious. This year's leaf fall has been delayed more than last year (you can look at the blog at this time one year ago), but from here on out, sooner or later, the leaves will fall.In fact, they have already start  to do, and there are very big thicknesses in many places.

In this picture we can see the middle zone of the forest of Irati.Greens are losing every day, and give way to the yellow first, and then red and gold, which are most prevalent now.Why there is this color change?
Green indicate the presence of chlorophyll , where the plant is fed with normal light conditions.When it is decreasing, the green chlorophyll is replaced by the  yellow xanthophylls, which are activated with a shorter wavelength, and that can continue making photosynthesis more time, before being replaced by the carotenes, which are what give red in nature.When the amount of light continues to decline, even carotenes serve them to make photosynthesis, and finally they fall.If you want to know more Try these links:

www.botgard.ucla.edu/.../xanthophyll...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xanthophyll



Arrazola( Irati forest,Aezkoa)10 october2012

There are other factors such as protection against the cold, so in warmer areas are larger leaves to evaporate more water while in the colder, the leaves surface are reduced like simple needles, as in the Siberian taiga.

Now I will tell you the reason for my request about the balloons with helium.

This balloon hanging from a branch, in the middle of Mendilatz Nature Reserve, in the valley of Aezkoa, tells of a child who lost his balloon into the past holiday from somewhere distant. Air currents drag them tens, hundreds, or even thousands of miles to settle in places where the happiness of the party becomes human waste that causes problems.



We can see the silver ballon hanging from a branch.

We can find them in the lake of Pitillas(Navarre), in the gorges of the pyrenees, and anywhere else you can think like precious.5 years ago appeared in the branches of a beech  of Irati a Mexican probe balloon with a small capsule of polystyrene where there was a small gadget with an explanation for who met him, saying it was not dangerous. He crossed the ocean through the jet stream in the stratosphere to Irati!