A few months ago I wrote a report about the Janghang Wetland and told you about the symbiosis between the bean crab (Ilyoplax deschampsi) and the willow. However, the weather was quite chilly and there wasn?t enough crabs around to take a clear photo. Furthermore, it was difficult to observe any birds or other living creatures. Today, I would like to show you the changes in the Janghang Wetland and the summer plants.

           First of all, I would like to point out that the wetland is now covered with lush trees instead of reeds as it is now summer. The willows trees are especially outstanding they have grown thick with leaves, which just used to be weak sprouts just a few months ago. Therefore, it is quite hard to get a clear view of the wetland from the outside. Yet this means that the trees are producing much more oxygen, which enables a much more active symbiosis between the bean crab and the willow.

           I could observe much more bean crabs than last time, and it was actually under the mud, living on the surface of the root of the willow. It was much bigger than the one I had expected, and the surprising thing was that its legs were covered with hair. I first mistook it as pieces of the roots of the willow trees and tried to remove it from the crab, and discovered that it was actually a part of the crab?s body.

           The plant life had grown so much that it covered the bankside near the Han River, which was just a muddy beach just a few months ago. Additionally, I could see that the trash had decreased thanks to the work of KYEM, the volunteer group that I introduced to you last time. A lot of TV programs about the Janghang Wetland have been recorded, and we also held a photo exhibition at two large public libraries in Goyang in order to raise the awareness of the wetland. I have posted a map of the wetland below.