THE HIDDEN LIFE OF THE SPRING FOREST

When we take a walk in the woods in spring, we draw inspiration and energy from all the newly emerging greenery and the peaceful solitude. But there is much more than meets the eye, which can come to the fore when an experienced forest ranger serves as our guide and explains what is going on beneath the surface. Because the woods are seething with activity when spring takes the reins from Old Man Winter…

WITHOUT THE ORGANISMS THAT LIVE IN THE SOIL—EVERYTHING FROM MICROSCOPIC CREATURES TO SMALL MAMMALS—THE FOREST COULD NOT SURVIVE. A SINGLE BEECH CAN PUMP OVER 100 GALLONS OF WATER PER DAY TO ITS TWIGS AND LEAVES—AS LONG AS THE SUPPLY BELOW GROUND IS BIG ENOUGH… THE SPRING FOREST TEEMS WITH ACTIVITY AND SOON ERUPTS IN A RIOTOUS DISPLAY OF NEW AND RENEWED LIFE. From the outside it looks like an ordinary beech tree trunk. There is nothing that indicates any raging activity inside. But underneath the bark things are in a state of utter turmoil: “The water is shooting—in defiance of gravity—from the roots up to the crown of the tree. You can even hear the rushing sound with a stethoscope. This beech has spring fever!” But just how does a tree know that…

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iD (Ideas & Discoveries) (Digital) - 1 Issue, May 2018

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