Plants
What do plants fight over and how do they fight about it?
Plants fight over sunlight and they do it by shading other plants so they can get the most energy and grow big.
What do worms eat?
-Dead Plants
-Fallen Leaves
- Fungi
-Bacteria
-Dead Animals
Cool Fact: When worms eat, they recycle these organic materials^ within the soil. This in turn fertilizes and feeds the earth.
Name 5 animals that burrow.
Gophers, Moles, Rats, Foxes, Skunks, Voles, Chipmunks, Rabbits, Armadillos, Ants, Squirrels, Raccoons, Owls, Groundhogs, Mice, Opossums, Woodchucks, Beavers, Earthworms, Prarie Dogs.
What is a harmful microorganism called?
Bonus : What is a positive microorganism called?
Pathogen.....EWWWW
A POSITIVE one is a NON-PATHOGEN
(Scientist are sooooooo creative)
What is the leading cause of erosion?
Agriculture is the leading cause......
What plant physically fights other plants, not just for sunlight, but also for territory?
- Venus Fly Trap
- Carnivorous Sundew
- Amazonian Giant Water Lily
- Carnivorous Pitcher Plant
- Golden Club 'Orontium Aquaticum'
The Amazonian Giant Water Lily will club other plants away from the water's surface.
How many species of worms are there?
In between 10,000-20,000.
I want the guess to be within a couple hundred.
Bonus: What is Molly's Favorite Worm? (For double points)
20,000! LIVE, LOVE, LAUGH WORMS
EARTHWORMS WOOHOO
What is considered the biggest burrowing creature?
BEARS ARE!!!!!!!!!
What percentage of the earth's species inhabit the soil?
A quarter, 1/4th, 25%
Soil supports forests, prairies, and agriculture.
What animals can be harmful to gardens? Name 3.
Deer, Rabbits, Voles, Birds, Groundhogs, Racoons, Rats, Gophers, Chipmunks, and Squirrels.
How long can trees live for? What types of trees live the longest?
How many types of earthworms are there?
In between 100-10,000
I want the guess to be within a couple hundred.
3,000-7,000 species of earthworms.
Which animal has a lookout point near the exit of their burrow?
The prairie dog! Prairie dogs are found in the grasslands of North America. They can have as many as 30-50 exits and entrances to their burrows (per acre). Their lookout spot allows them to watch for predators, such as the black-footed ferret.
What is a way that underground organisms help plants?
Microorganisms break down the nutrients in the soil in a way that allows plants to absorb them.
What's the most important aspect that keeps soil safe?
Protecting it from the elements such as rain and wind by using cover crops.
How do plants warn each other about threats?
Plants communicate via networks of underground fungi. They warn each other of threats such as insect infestation and droughts.
Worms provide an important source of food to which animals?
Birds, hedgehogs, and frogs
What burrow critter is at the top of the soil food chain?
Millipedes are! Woohoo! Go millipedes!
Millipedes are scavengers that eat dead plant matter (their fave), dead insects, and live plants.
How many bacteria can be found in a single teaspoon of soil?
Hint: It's a HUGE number.
1 billion bacteria per teaspoon!
How many layers/horizons does soil have?
Bonus : Can you name all six????
Hint : They are all 1 letter.
Soil has six layers, or horizons, called O, A, E, B, C, and R. Horizon O is the topsoil, and R is bedrock.
What plant knows how to count?
The Venus Flytrap! They attack not the first fly that brushes against its hairs, but the second fly. They do this as a way to conserve energy.
How do worms help soil structure?
They create space in the soil for water to drain, which prevents erosion and flooding. Worms slay again.
What may be the earth's most resilient animal?
The tardigrade, which is more commonly known as the water bear! On top of breaking down nutrients for plants to absorb, they protect plants from microbes and nematodes!
How do microorganisms fight climate change?
They pull greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere and turn them into food and oxygen.
Why is lobster fertilizer/soil special and important?
Synthetically made fertilizers can have damaging effects on the environment when overused or not disposed of properly. Lobster and other seafood waste, however, can be used as fertilizer in a closed-loop system, reducing waste and build-up. Lobster soil doesn't leach out of the soil, it doesn't pollute waterways the way soluble nitrogen fertilizers do