Appreciating Nature

[Blog of Reason]

Discussion thread for the blog entry "Appreciating Nature" by Laurens.

Permalink: http://blog.leagueofreason.org.uk/science/appreciating-nature/

 

[Laurens]

This is something I wrote a while back. I just though I'd add an interesting insight. I wrote a paper about coniferous woodland during my studies, and I conjectured that the layer of pine needles created by the pine trees was a useful evolutionary defence against competition. Because the layer of slowly decaying needles acidifies the soil, deprives it of nutrients and thus makes competition very difficult for anything that can't survive under such conditions. The annual canopy cover of coniferous trees also gets rid of anything that is intolerant to shade. I'm not sure how well supported this is, but I think it makes sense...