Celebrating Plants and the Planet:

 

Happy 2007 to all!

 

Beginning my second year sharing tales of plants, animals, humans and the environment, here are January’s Zoo Botanical News links (at www.zooplantman.com).

 

Animals shape plants and plants shape animals. The first link reports on field experiments to determine why giraffe’s necks are so long, while the second examines the mysterious relationship between squirrels and trees. Who’s outwitting whom? Next, a look at how changing pollinator populations are affecting one plant species’ appearance.

 

When I was working on the “Congo Gorilla Forest” exhibit for the Bronx Zoo, I became interested in Afromomum, a ginger relative at the center of the lowland gorilla’s diet. Now researchers have realized that one species holds huge possibilities for human medicine (watch out gorillas – this can’t go well for you!).

 

Finally - well, I have been remiss in not sharing stories for the Aquarium community - so the final link is about how the environment is changing phytoplankton populations and the phytoplankton is changing the environment.

                                                                            

Over three dozen News stories from past months remain active on the page (it’s becoming quite a repository). 

Please visit www.zooplantman.com News page.

If a link doesn't open, your pop-up blocker may be stopping it.

 

Please share these stories with associates, staff, docents and - most importantly - visitors!

 

Rob

Zoo Horticulture

Consulting & Design

   

19 Meadowbrook Drive

Ossining, New York 10562-2910

    914.762-6569

    FAX  914.945-8915