Now that the weather has cooled down over much of the United States, insects have died back or gone into… Read more What Are Mosquitoes Good For?
Category: Ecology
As the World Falls Apart: Why Is Extinction Such a Big Deal?
You’ve probably seen headlines about how we are currently in the sixth mass extinction that the Earth has seen (though… Read more As the World Falls Apart: Why Is Extinction Such a Big Deal?
Why Forests Need Salmon
One of my favorite fall activities is to check local streams for salmon runs. Here in the Pacific Northwest, and… Read more Why Forests Need Salmon
To Know Nature is to Love Nature
Okay. Today I’m going to set facts and information aside, and write something that wells up from the cool, clear… Read more To Know Nature is to Love Nature
The Green Curtain: What is Plant Blindness?
Imagine driving down a highway in a rural area with a group of other people. With every mile you pass… Read more The Green Curtain: What is Plant Blindness?
The Ivory-Billed Woodpecker and the Spark of Hope
Earlier this spring, yet another claimed sighting of the ivory-billed woodpecker (Campephilus principalis) made the news. This one was particularly… Read more The Ivory-Billed Woodpecker and the Spark of Hope
Photosynthetic Animals
Photosynthesis is an incredible process if you think about it. Using special cells called chloroplasts, photosynthetic beings are able to… Read more Photosynthetic Animals
Invasive Species and Climate Change
I’ve spent years battling invasive species, particularly plants, with the goal of habitat restoration. It’s an imperfect process, of course.… Read more Invasive Species and Climate Change
The Last Rattlesnake Roundup: Toward a More Sustainable Attraction
Recently I read that the last rattlesnake roundup in Georgia is being renewed as a wildlife-friendly festival. Looking at the… Read more The Last Rattlesnake Roundup: Toward a More Sustainable Attraction
What Are Decomposers and Why Should We Thank Them?
Last week I wrote about detritivores, those animals (and occasional plant) that ingest decaying matter and thereby help control diseases… Read more What Are Decomposers and Why Should We Thank Them?