Definition An epiphyte is an organism that grows on another living organism. Highly diverse, occurring from forest floor to tree crowns. These plants only receive physical support from the host, but not nutrients, although they may injure it. Fully autotrophic plants are referred to as true epiphytes, but there are also epiphytic bacteria, fungi, algae, …
Riparian area is a transitional semiterrestrial/semiaquatic biome, the interface between land and river or stream extending from the edges of water bodies to the edges of upland regions. This area includes flood plains and landscapes closely surrounding streams, rivers, vernal pools, ephemeral streams, ponds and lakes. Plant habitat along water bodies is riparian vegetation, consisted of hydrophilic …
Caterpillar is the larval stage of butterflies and moths. These animals are widespread in various ecosystems. Upon contact with the skin, some caterpillars release venoms and cause reactions, such as itching, pain, even a systemic response. Actual symptoms depend on the species, the amount of toxin that enters the body and the victim’s physical condition …
One way on how we are directly impacting the existence of snow leopards. Snow leopards inhabit mountain ranges of 12 countries across Central and South Asia. Between 4500 and 10000 of these majestic animals are estimated to live on this planet and a decline is still expected. We don’t know more exact numbers, because these …
In the first post we went through the strategy of growing date palms from seeds by propagating them in moist temperate or warm environment. This second way I made an experiment by simply putting the seeds directly in the soil. I kept the pots in a temperate environment; about 21 °C, same light conditions (by …
Bioluminescence is light produced by a chemical reaction. This reaction is a type chemiluminescence that runs inside a living organism. As all metabolic activities running in a cell, this process is precisely coordinated and controlled. Thus it is a cold light, this means that it’s more than 80 % effective and less than 20 % of the …
Vitamins are organic compounds essential for normal physiological and metabolic functioning of the body in small quantities. Vitamins are a large group of micronutrients, mostly derived from diets with a few exceptions. These micronutrients usually exist in complexes and thus cannot be obtained from a single dietary source. Functionally, vitamins are involved in various metabolic …
Fungi have existed roughly 5/6 of the earth’s existance. They have had a lot of time to adapt to every environment on earth. For comparison, the humanoid species has existed 0,01 % of earth’s time (from the first speciments of the genus to Homo sapiens). Fungi are everywhere – they are so widespread, they make …
The photos will tell the story.
An easy hike away from our little town, up through a forest to a spot where the forest opens up and a view of the valley comes into sight, there are 4 beautiful princesses (as I call them) or brides (as my mother calls them). We are, of course, talking about trees, birches. Birches (Betula …
