Transcript What percent of all energy is “green” in Texas?

• Does not obtain any
nutrients from the
tree
• Mistletoe ( shown
here) IS a parasite.
• Parasitism –when 1 species (parasite)
feeds on part of another species (host)
by living on or in it for a large portion
of host's life.
• Mutualism – both species benefit by
associating with each other.
• Commensalism – One species benefits
by living in proximity to another
species. The other species is neither
helped nor harmed.
Non-mutual relationship between organisms where
one organism, the parasite, benefits at the expense
of the other, the host.
Two organisms of different species exist in a relationship
in which each individual benefits
Relationship between two organisms where one
organism benefits without affecting the other.
• Some species interact
in a way that helps
one species but has
little or no effect on
the other.
Figure 7-10
Ball moss is :
• A true plant with flowers
& seeds.
• An epiphyte- a plant
which grows on another
plant but does not
depend on it for water or
nutrients. Water and
nutrients are derived
from the air, rain, dust,
etc.
• Yes, Ball Moss is
related to the
Pineapple….and to
other beautiful
Bromeliads.
• Water and nutrients are
absorbed from the rain
and air by the leaves and
stems.
A ball moss ….
• Prefers low light intensity
• Low air movement
• High relative humidity
….just the conditions found
under the canopy of shade
trees!
• Ball moss fixes nitrogen from the atmosphere
and eventually adds it to the soil.
• Ball moss harbor little bugs which are food for
several kinds of small birds.
• Provides home for a variety of insects and small
animals.
• Can be used as feed for livestock animals.
• Nitrogen is an essential nutrient to all plants.
Nitrogen (N2) from the atmosphere is converted, by
nitrogen fixation, to a form plants can use:
ammonia. Normally plants cannot do this
themselves; it is done by bacteria in the soil. There
are some nitrogen fixing plants; mostly legumes.
• So…the nitrogen fixing ball moss actually enriches
the soil with usable nitrogen when it falls to the
ground and decomposes.
• Ball moss has shown significant anti-tumor and HIV/AIDS
applications in vitro as well as in animal studies. Dr. Henry
Lowe of Jamaica has applied for a U.S. patent for a ball moss
extract which induces tumorous cell death.
Some experts believe that heavy infestations
of ball moss might possibly:
• Block sunlight to lower tree limbs
• increase limb breakage from added weight
• reduce production of new shoots.
• It is typical to find ball moss on the interior dead
branches of older live oak trees. At first
observation one could easily assume the ball moss
were causing the death of these branches.
However, these interior branches most likely died
from lack of sunlight ( due to shading by the canopy
leaves) not as a result of ball moss attachment.
The ball moss are merely colonizing an area
suitable for their growth. Tree death may be
caused by root damage, drought, disease or other
factors.
Some people
believe ball moss
detracts
from the tree’s
natural beauty.
Ball Moss Lab
• Safety first! Be a good member of the “Land Ethic”
community …second.
• Sketch Ball Moss in Ecosystem. Note observations.
• Collect specimens
• Return to class for dissection and observation.
• Return organisms and Ball Moss to outside. Clean up!