Lee, I have seen pictures of them. What a fishing crawler!
JP On Dec 16, 9:25 am, Lee Frelich <[email protected]> wrote: > Bob: > > The Giant Gippsland Earthworm of Australia (Megascolides australis) can > be over 1 m in length and 1 inch in diameter. I doubt that your > earthworms are that big. > Also, earthworms eat by suction, not chewing. They don't have teeth. > > It is possible for earthworms in temperate forests to lower the soil > surface by about 6 inches, through disappearance of the duff, which is > eaten by those species of earthworms that are detritivores (Lumbricus > terrestris, nightcrawler) and L. rubellus (leaf worm). The endogeic > species (dwell in the soil, unpigmented) such as angleworms > (Aporrectodea species) might be able to lower the top surface of the > mineral soil (A horizon) 1-2 inches through increasing the bulk density > (i.e. compaction). > > Lee > > [email protected] wrote: > > Will, > > > Dang, I guess you are right. One of them suckers grabbed on to my leg > > yesterday. Luckily I had a big staff and knocked it off before it could > > chew off my leg and Lord knows what else. Earthworms in these parts grow > > big. Wow, this coffee is strong! > > > Bob > > > -------------- Original message ---------------------- > > From: "Will Blozan" <[email protected]> > > >> Bob, > > >> Duh, it's the earthworms lowering the soil level. > > >> Will F. Blozan > >> President, Eastern Native Tree Society > >> President, Appalachian Arborists, Inc. > > >> -----Original Message----- > >> From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On > >> Behalf Of [email protected] > >> Sent: Sunday, December 14, 2008 12:22 PM > >> To: [email protected] > >> Subject: [ENTS] Re: Shrub-layer an empty niche? > > >> ENTS, > > >> On the short daylight hours of winter, what does one do with one's > >> time? > >> Why, Bob, you say, what a silly question! Why, measure trees of course. > >> And, that folks is exactly what I've been doing, but with a specific > >> purpose > >> in mind. I am comparing summertime with wintertime measurements of trees in > >> our wooded lot. One tree occupied the spotlight this morning - the Monica > >> Tuliptree. In summer, the crown is full and prevents full laser penetration > >> to the higher, farther twigs. This is the rule rather than the exception > >> with tuliptree and makes the species difficult to measure to the absolute > >> top. > >> My summer measurements of the Monica tuliptree range from 121 to 123 > >> feet, depending on my exact location, with 123 utilizing the most > >> optimistic > >> readings from my instruments. Today's winter measurement were taken from > >> the > >> second floor of our home, looking out a window that provides an > >> unobstructed > >> view of both base and crown. At the point of measurement, I was 43.5 feet > >> above the base of the tree. The height I got (with repetition) was 125.4 > >> feet. By being at a higher location than on the deck by 10 feet and > >> shooting > >> in the winter, I am able to see twigs farther into the crown and hit higher > >> points. BTW, I used both the Prostaff 440 and Prostaff 550 and got > >> measurements that were in agreement. > >> In our discussions about tree measuring, we have often acknowledged > >> that winter is the best time to measure hardwoods and I can certainly > >> verify > >> that. Monica's tuliptree gets frequent re-measurements and is one of > >> several > >> dozen trees I use to keep tabs on the range of readings I can get from > >> casual measurements taken at different times of the year. > >> The wintertime measurement of Monica's tuliptree puts the slender > >> tree > >> in the 125 Club. It shares this distinction with 3 other trees, two white > >> pines and another tuliptree. Altogether, there are 6 trees on Monica's > >> property that exceed 120 feet in height. None of our surrounding neighbors > >> with private property can lay claim to the same. Not bloody bad, folks. Not > >> bloody bad. > > >> Bob --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Eastern Native Tree Society http://www.nativetreesociety.org You are subscribed to the Google Groups "ENTSTrees" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/entstrees?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
