Keeping It Weird in the Pacific Northwest (Part 3): Fish-Eating Forests
Tue, Aug 9, 2022
LIVE at 3:00 PM ET / 2:00 PM CT / 1:00 PM MT / 12:00 PM PT
Nat Hab Expedition Leader Kristina Disney is back with more fascinating facts about the astounding (and sometimes odd) creatures that have evolved in the Pacific Northwest. Picking up where Part 2 left off (an up-close look at the PNW’s mighty cedar trees), today Kristina will look at the integral role the salmon lifecycle plays in this coastal ecosystem. Did you know, for example, that salmon is an important ingredient in a coastal tree’s diet? When salmon spawn, they carry ocean-derived nutrients with them. When bears and other carnivores feast on the salmon and leave droppings behind, or when carcasses are left on the ground, those nutrients are deposited on the landscape and incorporated into plant life, which in turn supports the entire forest food chain. So it's not just Venus fly traps and pitcher plants that rely on a somewhat carnivorous diet – the trees need their portion, as well. With her background in earth and ocean sciences, Kristina is well versed to share with you the fluid connection between the Pacific Northwest’s marine and land ecosystems and will clearly illustrate how incredibly dependent the West Coast is upon salmon survival.
*Required field