Your elementary school science teacher lied to you!

The other day I went for a walk along my favorite coastal Maine trail and heard a recurring comment from many hikers I passed; "It's too bad there are so many pine trees that are dying." There were a number of theories purposed as to why there is this great die off of trees which ranged from: "I guess they can't handle the salt water" to "they must have that bug like we do back home."

As I walked I tried to figure out just why people kept thinking that the pine trees were dying. Then it dawned on me as children we are taught, by well meaning elementary school teachers, there are two types of trees deciduous trees which loose there leaves every fall and evergreens which keep their leaves (pine needles) year round. However, most teachers fail to tell us that even though evergreens keep their needles year round they do in fact loose 50% of their needles each fall leading to that thick carpet of dead pine needles under every pine tree each fall. To conserve resources pine trees do in fact loose their needles. Once the lost 50% regrow in the spring the tree will loose the other 50% of its needles and begin to regrow them. So each year pine trees loose and regrow all of their needles.

Plus this time of year the tamarack trees put on one heck of a show by turning a yellowish gold and dropping all of their needles at once. Tamaracks are the only truly deciduous pine trees in North America.

Have no fear they pine trees are not dying they are merely getting ready for winter. Get out there and see of you can find some tamarack trees in your neighborhood.






pine trees shed needels

Hemlocks

Love is in the air.....

I was watching a nature related show a few months ago on PBS and it got me to thinking about ways animals attract a mate and help to ensure the survival of their species.

Each year while I worked in Yellowstone National Park I would indulge in some wildlife voyeurism starting with the bison in late July through September. Bison will chase, bellow/grunt (to hear some audio click here), headbutt other males, and try to push the object of their desire as far away from other males as possible. They even go so far as putting on some "cologne" to make them selves smell more desirable.  This involve peeing on the ground and then rolling in it.

Wallowing Bison in Yellowstone National Park

Elk also spend a fair amount of time making themselves smell better to the opposite sex and they also grow these massive antlers which do nothing but scream look at me look at me.

Me and My Elk Rack

Heck even the little peacock spider has a flash dance to attract a mate. It really is quite impressive and if you have never seen it you need to check out this video. How can anyone say no to dancing spiders?

I feel however there is one animal who gets a bum deal when it comes to ways to attract a mate. The musk deer.

They are primitive deer (family Moschidae) and unlike white-tailed or mule deer (family Cervidae) musk deer do not have big flashy antlers which scream look at me look at me. They have fangs which can go up to about four inches long over the course of the animals life. They are used much in the same way elk or other deer use antlers to fight off other males during the breeding season. Talk about some close quarter combat! Sadly these deer are endangered in much other their natural habitat due to poaching. The musk glands are prized by perfume makers and also used in Asian medicines. A quick search of the internet found the price can be as high as, well lets just say it is way more then I make in a years time. Sadly the commercial uses of the musk glands may lead to their eventual extinction. 


Want to know more check out these links:
http://www.livescience.com/48585-fanged-deer-sighting-afghanistan.html
http://www.untamedscience.com/biodiversity/vampire-deer/
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/09/0907_040907_muskdeer.html
https://forcechange.com/15049/musk-the-deadly-truth-behind-the-common-scent/