Mudfooted
Time 2021-10-12 12:07:34Web Name: Mudfooted
WebSite: http://mudfooted.com
ID:202695
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keywords: description:A zoologist blogging about our fascinating natural worldIn between slabs of concrete and electricity lines, this tree has grown a unique system of roots that has enabled it to thrive along one of Bangkoksbusiest roads. Like most city trees, it has to compete for space with the concrete jungle that we humans create around us. By letting its roots slowly zigzag around the circular pavement stones, this fig tree has developed a beautiful, almost mathematical pattern of roots.
For most tree species, more thana thirdof the tree can actually be found underneath the soil. The intricate root systems are vitally important by gathering water and nutrients and providing important support. While this tree only had a tiny surface area to grow on, it somehow has managed to survive and stay upright, perhaps partly by having its branches tangled with electricity lines.
I am not sure how much its roots trailing between the pavement stones are actually helping the tree in terms of nutrients or support. But hopefully it will stop passers-by in a moment of awe and thereby makes people aware of the space that plants and trees around us need to survive.
Note: This post was originally published on Mudfooted.com in July 2014, but was part of a selection of posts to reappear on Mudfooted and rewritten and published in Dec 2018.Qualicum Beach is just an ordinary beach town on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. What is unusual though is that a considerable number of white ravens have been sighted in the area for well over a decade. Yes that’s right, not even just one white raven but a whole number of them! The white condition is a result of a very rare genetic disorder called leucism, which is reduced pigmentation rather than complete albinism. Leucism is extremely rare in itself, let alone being a characteristic of a whole group of birds.
In most cases, leucistic and albinistic animals have a pretty large disadvantage, foremost in terms of being targeted by predators. Therefore, the likelihood of their leucistic genes passing to the next generation is relatively small. However, such genetic disorders are much more likely to be passed on by incestuous matings. As this is not unheard of in corvids, this may potentially explain the existence of this unique population of white ravens.
The great photos above of the unique birds were taken by Mike Yip, an enthusiastic birder in the area. Indeed, asking him more about this special group of birds he explains that the two initial white ravens formed a pair already more than a decade ago and have been producing many generations of white ravens ever since, with at least 1 to 3 white birds each year. Nevertheless, the white ravens apparently do seem to have a disadvantage by not living as long or having as high breeding success as their black cousins, so it is not clear how long the population of white ravens of Qualicum Beach will be able to persist.
Note: This post was originally published on Mudfooted.com in February 2016, but was part of a selection of my favourite posts to reappear on Mudfooted and rewritten and published in Dec 2018.