The rapid transformation of American landscapes through urban development and expansion presents one of the most significant challenges to native plant biodiversity today. As cities grow and suburban areas sprawl across once-natural habitats, the delicate balance of local ecosystems faces unprecedented pressure. The consequences of this urban growth extend far beyond the visible concrete jungles, … Read more
Sure, they were describing a failed relationship, but this anthem can easily be related to stewardship of our natural areas, with which many of us have our own relationships in much the same way. As a society and scientific community, we truly know very little about the intricate details of the natural areas and preserves … Read more
The process of photosynthesis in plants involves a series of steps and reactions that use solar energy, water, and carbon dioxide to produce organic compounds and oxygen. There are two main sets of reactions: energy-transduction reactions (commonly called light reactions) and carbon-fixation reactions (commonly called dark reactions). In the energy-transduction reactions, solar energy is converted … Read more
Just as sun angle makes the difference overall between temperatures at different latitudes of the earth, it makes a significant difference on a local scale too. If a slope is angled towards the sun when the sun is low in the sky, it gets more of a full beam and so the surface temperature of … Read more
It refers to a plant community which has grown naturally without human aid and has been left undisturbed by humans for a long time (also called as virgin vegetation). Cultivated crops and fruits, orchards form part of vegetation but not natural vegetation The virgin vegetation, which are purely Indian are known as endemic or indigenous species but … Read more