Guest guest Posted July 8, 2004 Report Share Posted July 8, 2004 [i saw this unique art display of an old log in one of the lodge during my most recent vacation. I thought the word are really beautiful, that I know I just have to copy it down and share it with others] Trees play an important role in the life circle of the forest for centuries even after they die. When a dead tree falls to the ground, it adds diversity to the forest flow. Soil accumulates around it and small animals find shelter underneath. A porous decaying log can store critical moisture through long day season. Insects and fungi feed on it, and some fungi pump water from it to the roots of nearby trees. Eventually the fallen tree becomes a NURSE LOG to young seedlings that feed on its nutrients. A log can take as long to decompose as it took the tree to grow. If the tree fall into a stream, it forms pools where young tilapa can hide from would be predators. The Insects that feed on these logs serve as food for fish. The Wood also slows the stream, minimizing erosion and trapping silt which would muddy the water. Even though logs in water decomposed, somewhat faster than on land, a log that fell into a stream when the Park was established might still be there today. So when a tree falls in the forest and stays there it still matters to an Aardvark that devour the termites eating its wood, to the tilapa that swims nearby or to the African fish eagle that eats the tilapa for breakfast. A tree that remains standing after it dies is called a SNAG. Eagle and Hawks perch on it while hunting owls, Bats and woodpeckers use it to nest and store food. A large snag may stand bleaching in the sun, for as long as a century. Prepared and produced by Bettie Martin Loihook, Warden Tanzania National Park, 1995 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 8, 2004 Report Share Posted July 8, 2004 This reminds me of a hike I took several years ago on the Oregon coast. The forest I walked through had many very large trees in it, and many such trees had fallen and were in various stages of decaying. One was so big it was possible to walk into the bottom of it without even ducking my head, and I am 5'8" tall. In another area on the Oregon coast, the trees were so big, one's trunk, that had been cut down very low to the ground, was used as a dance floor. This is true. The decaying trees create a carpet of softness as they decompose. , "N. Madasamy" <ashwini_puralasamy> wrote: > [i saw this unique art display of an old log in one of the lodge > during my most recent vacation. I thought the word are really > beautiful, that I know I just have to copy it down and share it with > others] > > Trees play an important role in the life circle of the forest for > centuries even after they die. > > When a dead tree falls to the ground, it adds diversity to the forest > flow. Soil accumulates around it and small animals find shelter > underneath. A porous decaying log can store critical moisture through > long day season. Insects and fungi feed on it, and some fungi pump > water from it to the roots of nearby trees. Eventually the fallen > tree becomes a NURSE LOG to young seedlings that feed on its > nutrients. A log can take as long to decompose as it took the tree to > grow. > > If the tree fall into a stream, it forms pools where young tilapa can > hide from would be predators. The Insects that feed on these logs > serve as food for fish. The Wood also slows the stream, minimizing > erosion and trapping silt which would muddy the water. > > Even though logs in water decomposed, somewhat faster than on land, a > log that fell into a stream when the Park was established might still > be there today. So when a tree falls in the forest and stays there it > still matters to an Aardvark that devour the termites eating its > wood, to the tilapa that swims nearby or to the African fish eagle > that eats the tilapa for breakfast. > > A tree that remains standing after it dies is called a SNAG. Eagle > and Hawks perch on it while hunting owls, Bats and woodpeckers use it > to nest and store food. A large snag may stand bleaching in the sun, > for as long as a century. > > Prepared and produced by Bettie Martin Loihook, Warden > Tanzania National Park, 1995 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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