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Hi Jim & All, May 20, 2008
Dutchman's Breeches used to be (now likely done in by years of all
summer cattle) fairly common both on the south facing side of the
Cornwallis esker at Cambridge and on the north facing bank above the
meadow. On these light soils they were if anything more likely to be
found at maximum distances from tree trunks. Also the red trillium in
North Alton have no evident preferences with respect to tree trunks.
So I suspect that your clustering near tree trunks is a radiation
effect that becomes more important as one moves from average site
conditions to those with chill air and 'foggy, foggy dew'. The
additional heat captured by the new top growth would tend to increase
the rate of heat-limited shoot growth, as compared to a similar shoot
twice as far away where radiation intensity would be halved, and give it
a better head start to capture photosynthate before the canopy closed in.
Radiation effects are a fairly common component of microclimate but
I don't recall now whether Geiger (~1915) included this in his classic
'Climate near the Ground'.
By way of an example that is literally close to home, bud break and
bloom of a Sugar Maple and a Sweet Cherry seedling on branch ends
nearest our house are usually about one week ahead of shoots of the same
tree most distant from the house.
Yt, Dave Webster, Kentville
James W. Wolford wrote:
> Below Eric Mills mentioned"...frequent clumps of Dutchman's Breeches
> at the bases of
> trees, and many Red Trilliums...".
>
> During our walk there on May 17, we observed this very frequently, and
> I said I would unabashedly wonder about this on NatureNS. What is it
> about the bases of the tree trunks that is so hospitable for extremely
> lush growths all around in a circle on the ground, of both the
> Dutchman's breeches and red trilliums and perhaps other plants? I
> feel embarrassed to ask for an explanation, which probably should be
> obvious to me as a career biologist!
>
>
> Comments welcome....... Cheers from Jim in Wolfville
>
> Begin forwarded message:
>
>
>> From: Eric Mills <e.mills@dal.ca <mailto:e.mills@dal.ca> >
>>
>> Date: May 18, 2008 9:59:24 PM ADT
>>
>> To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca <mailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>
>>
>> Subject: [NatureNS] Turkey Vultures, Cape Split, Kings Co.
>>
>> Reply-To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca <mailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>
>>
>>
>> The only birds of real note today during a full day along the Cape
>> Split trail were 3 Turkey Vultures overhead in late
>>
>> morning near the tip. They must have been migrating - but from where
>> and to where?
>>
>>
>> It was an exquisite hike. Along the several km of trail through
>> deciduous forest W of the spruce/hemlock forest the
>>
>> forest floor was a continuous carpet of Spring Beauty, with frequent
>> clumps of Dutchman's Breeches at the bases of
>>
>> trees, and many Red Trilliums. Deciduous trees were not out in the
>> Acadian forest, but a horde of Black-throated Green
>>
>> Warblers, along with many Blue-headed Vireos and Myrtle Warblers were
>> in song. I heard one each of Least Flycatcher,
>>
>> Am. Redstart, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler and
>> Pileated Woodpecker.
>>
>> ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
>>
>> Eric L. Mills
>>
>> 286 Kingsburg Road
>>
>> RR#1, Rose Bay, Nova Scotia B0J 2X0, CANADA
>>
>> E.Mills@Dal.Ca <mailto:E.Mills@Dal.Ca>
>>
>> ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
>>
>>
>
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