|
- Tropical Fossils in Alaska | Geophysical Institute
Paleobotanist Jack A Wolfe of the United States Geological Survey at Menlo Park, California, has found a number of tropical rain forest fossils along the eastern Gulf of Alaska These include several kinds of palms, Burmese lacquer trees, mangroves and trees of the type that now produce nutmeg and Macassar oil
- Northern Tree Habitats | Geophysical Institute
Why take a chance with exotics, when native trees have proven their ability to survive? Several reasons prompt testing of foreign tree species Human activities often create and maintain new, sometimes artificial habitats that native trees are not adapted to Exotics may have strong wood, large fruits or straight boles that are lacking in the
- Formerly Frosty Footing Causes Drunken Forests
In a drunken forest, trees--often pipe-cleaner black spruce--tilt in all directions like a group of rowdy revelers stumbling along the street Unlike pendulous pub patrons, drunken forests aren't caused by beer, but by unique soil conditions found in the north Melting permafrost is the most common cause of the drunken forest
- The secret life of red squirrels | Geophysical Institute
Stan Boutin has climbed more than 5,000 spruce trees in the last 30 years He has often returned to the forest floor knowing if a ball of twigs and moss within the tree contained newborn red squirrel pups Over the years, those squirrels have taught Boutin and his colleagues many things, including an apparent ability to predict the future
- Alaskas Gift--The Pine | Geophysical Institute
Greek scholars knew a great deal about pines, for these trees occupied a prominent place in the landscape The oldest known living organism is a bristlecone pine found in California--it is over 5,000 years old
- Burls - Geophysical Institute
Burls weaken trees but do not kill them The weakening effect, however, makes the trees vulnerable to other diseases which can kill them Relatively little is known about burls, for several reasons: It takes a long time for a burl to grow--nearly as long as the tree on which it is found--so research is stretched out over a long period of time
- Maverick red aspens in a world of gold | Geophysical Institute
From the solution of liquid leaves, they determined that a sugary red pigment was indeed present in red and orange aspens, but not in yellow aspens The scientists hinted that the red occurs on only some trees, meaning it is probably a genetic trait — a red aspen is sort of like a person with red hair
- Tamarack -- Not A Dead Spruce | Geophysical Institute
When one of these trees finds itself on a better site, however, it shows a remarkable change of pace Individual tamarack growing in white spruce stands may achieve a size comparable to white spruce 100 to 150 years old The current record tamarack in Alaska stands near mile 311 of the Richardson Highway
|
|
|