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Why Do Some Leaves Persist On Beech and Oak Trees Well Into Winter?
by Michael Snyder | Winter 2010
Those dead, bleached-brown beech and oak leaves rattling in a January wind – but somehow still clinging to their twigs – are symbolic. Like ecological… -
Why are Paper Birches so White?
by Michael Snyder | Autumn 2010
Certainly there’s much to admire about paper birch trees, also known as white birch (Betula papyrifera). Ecologists marvel about how adaptable they are, growing natively… -
What is Shade Tolerance and Why is it so Important?
by Michael Snyder | Summer 2010
Shade tolerance is the relative capacity of tree species to compete for survival under shaded (which is to say, less-than-optimal) conditions. It is a tree… -
What Is Forest Stand Structure and How Is It Measured?
by Michael Snyder | Spring 2010
Once upon a time, forest stand structure meant age structure. Areas of forests containing similar-aged trees were called even-aged stands, and areas with trees of… -
Do Tree Stems Freeze in Winter?
by Michael Snyder | Winter 2009
Trees are about half water, maybe a little less in winter. And if the temperature drops low enough, the water in even the most cold-hardy… -
What are Indicator Plants?
by Michael Snyder | Autumn 2009
Indicator plants are peculiar to a certain place. Though they aren’t necessarily rare, they don’t grow just anywhere. They tolerate only a narrow range of… -
How Do I Choose Which Trees to Cut?
by Michael Snyder | Summer 2009
“I want to cut some firewood but don’t want to jeopardize my valuable timber trees. How do I choose which trees to cut?” You can… -
Why Are Some Trees Pollinated by Wind And Some by Insects?
by Michael Snyder | Spring 2009
Pollen is to trees what sperm is to animals. It carries the tree’s male genes; it is the male fertilizing unit of woody plant reproduction.… -
What Causes Those White Splotches on Tree Bark? Are They Bad For The Tree?
by Michael Snyder | Winter 2008
Those white paint-like bands across the bark are lichens, and they are as normal and natural a part of healthy forests as are warblers. There… -
Why Is the Treeline at a Higher Elevation in the Tetons than in the White Mountains?
by Michael Snyder | Autumn 2008
Trees grow where they can. And they are surpassingly capable, making do in an impressive array of conditions around the globe, including many harsh places.… -
Does an Acre of Hilly Land Contain More Land Than an Acre of Flat Land?
by Michael Snyder | Summer 2008
Every acre contains the same measure of land regardless of whether it is steep, bowl-shaped, or the Great Plains. This is due to long-standing conventions… -
What Is the Difference Between Red Knots and Black Knots?
by Michael Snyder | Spring 2008
Knots in trees occur where a branch has been surrounded by continued growth of the bole. When the bole is sawn into lumber, or peeled… -
What Do Tree Roots Do in Winter?
by Micheal Snyder | Winter 2007
Tree roots are inscrutable. While their importance to the aboveground parts of trees and forests is well appreciated by forest scientists, tree roots have always… -
What Is the Difference Between Sapwood and Heartwood?
by Michael Snyder | Autumn 2007
Sapwood is the living, outermost portion of a woody stem or branch, while heartwood is the dead, inner wood, which often comprises the majority of… -
Is it Best to Stake and Tie Newly Planted Trees?
by Michael Snyder | Summer 2007
Trees are made to sway in the breeze. They need to, really. Trees and wind have been doing this dance for a long time, and… -
Why Do Leaves in Spring Sometimes Appear More Red Than Green?
by Michael Snyder | Spring 2007
We don’t want to shock the tourists, but the spring woods do bring some color beyond green. While spring displays of herbaceous plants flowering on… -
Sugaring with Vacuum Pumps
by Michael Snyder | Winter 2006
Does Sugaring with a Vacuum Pump Hurt the Trees? Sap flows out of tap holes in sugar maples when the spring days are warm and… -
What is a Climax Forest?
by Michael Snyder | Autumn 2006
A climax forest is a good place to start an argument with an ecologist. To some, it is a nice name for forests that have… -
What is DBH?
by Michael Snyder | Summer 2006
DBH is shorthand for the diameter of a tree’s trunk measured at breast height. Setting aside the interesting and potentially delicate new questions the latter… -
Are All the Leaves On a Tree Pretty Much the Same?
by Michael Snyder | Spring 2006
Everybody knows that tree species vary in their ability to tolerate shade. It’s easy to find shady places in the woods where shade-tolerant species such…