I've missed the weekly readings we used to have at the start of each Ramble. You may not have had a reading since early March, either, so I'm happy that Jan Coyne sent me this link to a poem by Robyn Schiff titled: Oak Gall Wasp. (There is also a link on that page to the author reading the poem herself.) While you're there you could explore a little and find some other, worthy, nature-related poems and send the link to me.
Dan Williams is back! Many of you will remember Dan. For several years before he retired he conducted free tree identification classes at the Oconee forest (Lake Herrick) on the UGA campus. He also presented geology courses for OLLI and the State Botanical Garden. Now he is back with a You Tube series: "The Geologic History of Georgia." This is a series of short (~15 min) videos that, in Dan's own words: "Begins with Rodinia's rifting and will cover all 3 major mountain building events affecting Ga. and the eastern U. S. Brevard fault zone mystery is explained and the diagnostic stages of mountain building. It's quite informal, with a few old man burps, but should be informative to rock fans."
Dan Williams is back! Many of you will remember Dan. For several years before he retired he conducted free tree identification classes at the Oconee forest (Lake Herrick) on the UGA campus. He also presented geology courses for OLLI and the State Botanical Garden. Now he is back with a You Tube series: "The Geologic History of Georgia." This is a series of short (~15 min) videos that, in Dan's own words: "Begins with Rodinia's rifting and will cover all 3 major mountain building events affecting Ga. and the eastern U. S. Brevard fault zone mystery is explained and the diagnostic stages of mountain building. It's quite informal, with a few old man burps, but should be informative to rock fans."
"A World of Plants" symposium sponsored by the National Geographic Society is now available in a special issue of Plants, People, Planet journal from New Phytologist Foundation. You can find the full special issue, at this link.
How You Can Help Count and Conserve Native Bees. Honeybees and their problems get the most attention, but scientists are using tactics learned from bird conservation to protect American bees.
Many good stories are to be found in this week's Hakai Magazine; the highlights are:
1) On the Trail of the Giant Squid. Advances in genetic research are creating new ways to hunt for this most mysterious of creatures. 950 words / 4 mins
2) Gods of the Storm Two books offer perspectives on how humans shape the fate of whales and influence the weather. 1,300 words / 6 mins
3) Who Will Save the Slender Yoke-Moss? In the crush of conservation priorities, scientists grapple with how to help an endangered species with no obvious value. 1,000 words / 5 mins
4) The Military Wants to Hide Covert Messages in Marine Mammal Sounds. The human fascination with hiding military messages in whale and dolphin sounds has led to US military Cold War experiments and modern Chinese research. 1,200 words / 6 mins
5) Sunflower Stars Now Critically Endangered. Though sunflower star numbers have plummeted, scientists are holding out hope for these once-common denizens of the Pacific. 2 min 40 sec
6) Plus six more links to articles from The Conversation, Washington Post, National Observer, The Intercept and New York Times .
Video: Fire and the Future of Pinyon-Juniper Woodlands; presentation by Dr. Lisa Floyd-Hanna. Dr. Floyd-Hanna has done extensive research on the impact of fire in the Mesa Verde region of SW Colorado. Presentation begins at 9:44; duration 1:13:44, including Question & Answer at end.
How You Can Help Count and Conserve Native Bees. Honeybees and their problems get the most attention, but scientists are using tactics learned from bird conservation to protect American bees.
Many good stories are to be found in this week's Hakai Magazine; the highlights are:
1) On the Trail of the Giant Squid. Advances in genetic research are creating new ways to hunt for this most mysterious of creatures. 950 words / 4 mins
2) Gods of the Storm Two books offer perspectives on how humans shape the fate of whales and influence the weather. 1,300 words / 6 mins
3) Who Will Save the Slender Yoke-Moss? In the crush of conservation priorities, scientists grapple with how to help an endangered species with no obvious value. 1,000 words / 5 mins
4) The Military Wants to Hide Covert Messages in Marine Mammal Sounds. The human fascination with hiding military messages in whale and dolphin sounds has led to US military Cold War experiments and modern Chinese research. 1,200 words / 6 mins
5) Sunflower Stars Now Critically Endangered. Though sunflower star numbers have plummeted, scientists are holding out hope for these once-common denizens of the Pacific. 2 min 40 sec
6) Plus six more links to articles from The Conversation, Washington Post, National Observer, The Intercept and New York Times .
Video: Fire and the Future of Pinyon-Juniper Woodlands; presentation by Dr. Lisa Floyd-Hanna. Dr. Floyd-Hanna has done extensive research on the impact of fire in the Mesa Verde region of SW Colorado. Presentation begins at 9:44; duration 1:13:44, including Question & Answer at end.
By
now almost everyone has heard of the wildfires that have swept across
California this year, threatening beloved ecosystems like the redwood
and giant sequoia forests. Other, less iconic, areas in the arid
southwest are also threatened by fire. This video
discusses the effect of fire and its frequency on the widespread
pinyon-juniper woodlands. (The P-J woodland covers much of the 4 corners
states: Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and Utah, as well as Nevada and
Oregon.)
How Non-Native Plants Are Contributing to a Global Insect Decline.
The impact of introduced plants on native biodiversity has emerged as a hot-button issue in ecology. But recent research provides new evidence that the displacement of native plant communities is a key cause of a collapse in insect populations and is affecting birds as well.
The impact of introduced plants on native biodiversity has emerged as a hot-button issue in ecology. But recent research provides new evidence that the displacement of native plant communities is a key cause of a collapse in insect populations and is affecting birds as well.
Natural Debate: Do Forests Grow Better With Our Help or Without?
Nations around the world are pledging to plant billions of trees to grow new forests. But a new study shows that the potential for natural forest regrowth to absorb carbon from the atmosphere and fight climate change is far greater than has previously been estimated.
Nations around the world are pledging to plant billions of trees to grow new forests. But a new study shows that the potential for natural forest regrowth to absorb carbon from the atmosphere and fight climate change is far greater than has previously been estimated.
The Missouri Prairie Foundation has recorded 3 webinars that may be of interest to Nature Ramblers. This link will take you to their You Tube channel where you can view all their webinars. The most recent are on Growing native plants, Gardening for beneficial insects, and Identifying winter sparrows.
