On a recent trip, I observed Spanish Moss dangling from the trees that line the roads in Beaufort, SC. Is Spanish Moss a plant? Does the “moss” damage the trees on which it’s found? How does it reproduce? I learned some new facts about Spanish Moss in the videos below.
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As you scroll through these photos, what do you notice? What questions do you have about what you see and what conclusions can you draw?
Mealybugs and ants have a symbiotic relationship. In this type of symbiosis, two different species obtain a mutual benefit from their relationship. Mealybugs are soft-bodied insects that infest plants, suck sap, and produce honeydew. Ants collect and eat the honeydew and in return, care and protect the mealybugs from predators. Vintners have learned that reducing the ant population in their vineyards will help control a mealybug infestation.
Go here to watch a Study Jam about symbiosis.
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What are other examples of symbiosis? Studying symbiotic relationships is a fun adjunct to any study of living things. Identify the symbiotic relationship in this post about Spanish moss. Go here.
I share travel posts, so when you venture to new places with your families, you will linger, learn, and appreciate these natural treasures.
Watch a movie about the South, and you are sure to see the hurricane resistant live oaks. When my husband and I stayed in Beaufort, South Carolina, stately live oak trees lined the streets. They were often draped with Spanish moss which I blogged about previously. Live oaks are prized trees in the Southeastern United States and grow to massive proportions. Like all oaks, they produce acorns, but unlike other oaks, their leaves are evergreen. Live oak is the state tree of Georgia.
Click here to view full screen. Learn how live oaks were used in ship building.
Our tour guide explained that permission must be granted to trim the large limbs off of a live oak. In the photo below, the street was cut around the live oak tree.
