26 NEBRASKAland • APRIL 2016
Digging Deeper
I have always been fascinated by reptiles and
amphibians, which I consider a key part of the
unnoticed microcosms at our feet. It was during
my time searching for these animals, though, that
I couldn't help but notice all of the other aspects
of their environments that make life possible.
The insects, spiders, flora and fungi in these
areas seemed to have no limit to their diversity
and I continually discovered things that I knew
absolutely nothing about. The more I looked, the
more I felt as though I were missing the bigger
picture and focusing on only a small piece of the
puzzle. Digging deeper (literally and figuratively),
I developed a new fixation: trying to find and
identify every piece that I could and form a deeper
understanding of this ecological network.
While everyone may not have the time or an
interest in searching for the small species that are
the basis of an ecosystem, you would be surprised
at how much you can see just through casual
observation. Insects alone make up 80 percent
of the animals in the world, and there are over
10,000 species that can be found just in the state of
Nebraska. With these odds, the casual observer is
sure to find something new and interesting on a
regular basis. All it takes is a good pair of eyes (or
a magnifying glass) and curiosity. Insects are not
the only things that can be encountered on these
small-scale safaris. Fungus, though not something
that people generally identify as glamorous, can
be found almost everywhere. There is such a vast
array of colors and shapes that mushrooms and
other fungi display, it's hard not to deem some of
them at the very least interesting, if not beautiful.
Even certain species of plants can be easy to miss if
not looked at closely. Keep your eyes peeled and if
you see something familiar, take a closer look
and you may be surprised with what more you will
find.
