Forestry and Land Scotland’s Post

How many fishermen create more fish than they catch? I usually think of fisherman as compulsive takers, not givers. But here's a guy who coordinated the creation of the largest artificial reef in the Gulf to regenerate red fish populations, who also just happens to fish. The RGV reef not only provides habitat for all levels of red fish development, but other species as well including the endangered Ridley turtle. Seven years of dedication, passion, and vision have transformed the ocean’s landscape, thanks to Gary Glick. https://rgvreef.org/

Did you know prairie dogs are a keystone species?! In other words, their presence (while physically small) is critical to their habitat. Native to North American grasslands, these mini mammals support 130+ other species within their ecosystem, providing key nutrients to the soil via digging . . . and as a vital food source.🫣 Without prairie dogs, grasslands get overrun with woody plants (like trees and shrubs), which drastically alter the habitat. Learn more about keystone species from EarthShare partner Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) >>> https://lnkd.in/egfn_V58

July is #NationalBisonMonth! Bison are a keystone species in their Great Plains habitat, aerating soil with their hooves to aid plant growth and disperse native seeds. Learn more about bison here: #WildlifeWednesday

Bees come in more colors than black and yellow, and this beautiful metallic green specimen adds a wonderful contrast against a vibrant purple flower in one of our Florida forests. While some bees don't look like what we typically imagine when we think of the word 'bee', they still act as important pollinators and play a critical role in our ecosystems. Learn more about why pollinators thrive in our working forests: https://hubs.ly/Q02DrRws0

#1: Can clownfishes count? According to a recent study [1], clownfishes may be able to count. Well, up to number 3. They are known to aggressively defend their home among sea anemones, first of all against conspecifics who do not belong there. There are dozens of clownfish species who look similar but differ in number, pattern and colour of the stripes on their bodies. An experiment showed that clownfishes of the “Finding Nemo” species with three white stripes chase away those with the same pattern more aggressively than individuals of other clownfish species with one or two stripes. The researchers assume they do this by counting, but further investigation is needed to confirm that they really do count. [1] https://lnkd.in/d6mmAxMu? ——— #2: Sea otters fight shore erosion You may know that beavers protect specific landscapes. Sea otters do something similar: they protect the vegetation that bands sandy shorelines that might otherwise crumble. They also protect salt marshes, an important habitat for many species, by feeding on crabs who in turn feed on the roots of Salicornia which help to fix the sandy banks. Protection against erosion is becoming increasingly important to mitigate the effects of rising sea levels. Studies [2] show that the presence of sea otters maintains riparian vegetation in many circumstances. [2] https://lnkd.in/damrqq7g

Did you know? There are roughly 16 different species of yellowjackets in the United States alone! 🐝👀 Luckily, EcoShield can help protect your home and family from every yellowjacket species and MORE. 💡 Learn about EcoShield's stinging insect service here: https://hubs.la/Q02z3vT10

Dragonflies eat mosquitoes, so inviting them into your yard can help keep the little pests under control. All you need is some vegetation, pollinator plants, and a water source. Learn more - "3 Steps to Attracting Dragonflies to Your Yard" via Better Homes & Gardens https://bit.ly/3ya4z4o

𝐇𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲: A White-tailed deer's habitat includes much more than the vegetation in their area. Deer habitats require the following primary resources: food, cover, space, and water. Habitats are a crucial factor for deer survival and reproduction. "White-tailed deer shift diet composition and utilization of cover, space, and water with changes in environmental conditions, such as soil properties and climate, especially temperature and timing and amount of rainfall" (Fulbright & Ortega-S, 2013, p. 5). #EastFoundation #HabitatThursday #Research #WhiteTailedDeer https://lnkd.in/gqjmEb7T

Did you know that Pennsylvania is home to 17 million acres of forest? More than half a million of those acres are in Allegheny National Forest. We are happy to have contributed to the health of vitality of the ANF through our extensive work and partnerships there to improve water quality and conserve land for wildlife and future generations This map, created for Conserve magazine in 2019, shows locations of WPC's forest tree plantings through 2019, including some in the ANF. And it shows the distribution of eight forest types in PA. (Visit the issue for a closer look: https://lnkd.in/gsPE-S-M) How are you celebrating National Forest Week? #FindYourAWEsome #NationalForestWeek #ANF

Minnesota has some 30 lakes with populations of the invasive rusty crayfish. And like any of the 353 crayfish species in the U.S., rusties dine on aquatic vegetation. The problem is that once this particular species gets into a lake, their population explodes and they push out the native crayfish. Then the rusty crayfish chomp away. That adds one more threat out of many to Minnesota’s culturally and ecologically important wild rice. https://lnkd.in/gcGrueXu