Happy Wild Out Whiskers Wednesday, Missians!
It's time for another June Jumping Jack Facts blog post. Before I get started, I want to thank everyone who tuned in to our Jumping Jack Facts, Missy Show Episode, "Helping Your Pet Beat the Summer Heat." Our next episode, "Fourth of July Pet Safety Tips" will air Saturday, June 30th. Now, with all that out of the way, let's talk rodents! If you're like most people, you don't really care for rodents, (much in the same way, people are leery of bugs); but we have to remember that rodents have a role too! So, what are some of the positive elements to their existence, (besides the fact that mice can be at least a little cute)? Keep reading to find out...
Today's Rodent Facts are courtesy of the mom.me article by Jennifer Mueller:
http://animals.mom.me/rodents-ecosystem-7390.html
Nearly every kind of animal preys on rodents to some extent, including birds, reptiles, amphibians, other mammals and even fish. Rodents also play host to a number of parasites such as mites and ticks, creatures people may find just as problematic as the rodents themselves. All over the world, people have hunted and killed various rodent species for food. In Africa, poachers kill larger rodent species for meat when larger game has been exhausted.
Biologists have long known that tropical forest rodents play a key role in spurring growth of new trees in the forest by spreading seeds. At least one African rodent, the Kivu giant pouched rat, has an equal responsibility in encouraging plant growth by dispersing seeds. They scatter-hoard larger seeds, as well as build sizable caches of seeds for later consumption that are often not consumed. Where the seeds germinate, they grow into new vegetation. Similar rodent behavior occurs in North America, where seeds sprout from stores made by burrowing rodents such as kangaroo rats and pocket mice. These creatures cache seeds along with other organic matter for winter consumption.
Many rodents such as ground squirrels, pocket gophers and prairie dogs bury underground, digging extensive burrows and tunnels. These tunnels not only create habitat for many other underground species, they also provide important benefits for the soil. Digging tunnels turns over the soil, mixing the top layers of litter and feces with the deeper layers. This process fertilizes the soil and buries carbon, essential for plant growth. The tunnels allow water to flow deep into the soil rather than running off, and also carry oxygen through sediment layers, aerating the soil to encourage root growth.
Plants in forests have mutually beneficial relationships with fungi in the soil. Fungi provide plants with nutrients, while the plants give fungi energy to grow and reproduce. The seeds of some plants, like orchids, won't even germinate and sprout without being attached to a fungus. Rodents such as red squirrels and voles harvest and store mushrooms, exposing the spores to the elements and encouraging their spread. Underground fungi rely almost entirely on rodents to disperse their spores and reproduce. When the rodents eat their mushrooms, they distribute the fungal spores in their scat, facilitating another generation of healthy forest.
What did you learn?
Well I hope you learned something positive about rodents today. So, yes, even creatures we aren't so fond of, provide some positive roles in nature, (hard to believe that about roaches, though--but I'm sure they do). Oh, and be sure to check out other cool articles about animals from mom.me:
http://animals.mom.me/
Check back next Wednesday for another Missy Show Blog post! Until then, visit us on Facebook and Twitter Land.
Until next time,
This is your host J,
signing off...
It's time for another June Jumping Jack Facts blog post. Before I get started, I want to thank everyone who tuned in to our Jumping Jack Facts, Missy Show Episode, "Helping Your Pet Beat the Summer Heat." Our next episode, "Fourth of July Pet Safety Tips" will air Saturday, June 30th. Now, with all that out of the way, let's talk rodents! If you're like most people, you don't really care for rodents, (much in the same way, people are leery of bugs); but we have to remember that rodents have a role too! So, what are some of the positive elements to their existence, (besides the fact that mice can be at least a little cute)? Keep reading to find out...
Today's Rodent Facts are courtesy of the mom.me article by Jennifer Mueller:
http://animals.mom.me/rodents-ecosystem-7390.html
How Do Rodents Help the Ecosystem?
1. They are a source of food
Nearly every kind of animal preys on rodents to some extent, including birds, reptiles, amphibians, other mammals and even fish. Rodents also play host to a number of parasites such as mites and ticks, creatures people may find just as problematic as the rodents themselves. All over the world, people have hunted and killed various rodent species for food. In Africa, poachers kill larger rodent species for meat when larger game has been exhausted.
2. They're seed spreaders
Biologists have long known that tropical forest rodents play a key role in spurring growth of new trees in the forest by spreading seeds. At least one African rodent, the Kivu giant pouched rat, has an equal responsibility in encouraging plant growth by dispersing seeds. They scatter-hoard larger seeds, as well as build sizable caches of seeds for later consumption that are often not consumed. Where the seeds germinate, they grow into new vegetation. Similar rodent behavior occurs in North America, where seeds sprout from stores made by burrowing rodents such as kangaroo rats and pocket mice. These creatures cache seeds along with other organic matter for winter consumption.
3. They aerate the soil
Many rodents such as ground squirrels, pocket gophers and prairie dogs bury underground, digging extensive burrows and tunnels. These tunnels not only create habitat for many other underground species, they also provide important benefits for the soil. Digging tunnels turns over the soil, mixing the top layers of litter and feces with the deeper layers. This process fertilizes the soil and buries carbon, essential for plant growth. The tunnels allow water to flow deep into the soil rather than running off, and also carry oxygen through sediment layers, aerating the soil to encourage root growth.
4. They distribute fungus
Plants in forests have mutually beneficial relationships with fungi in the soil. Fungi provide plants with nutrients, while the plants give fungi energy to grow and reproduce. The seeds of some plants, like orchids, won't even germinate and sprout without being attached to a fungus. Rodents such as red squirrels and voles harvest and store mushrooms, exposing the spores to the elements and encouraging their spread. Underground fungi rely almost entirely on rodents to disperse their spores and reproduce. When the rodents eat their mushrooms, they distribute the fungal spores in their scat, facilitating another generation of healthy forest.
What did you learn?
Well I hope you learned something positive about rodents today. So, yes, even creatures we aren't so fond of, provide some positive roles in nature, (hard to believe that about roaches, though--but I'm sure they do). Oh, and be sure to check out other cool articles about animals from mom.me:
http://animals.mom.me/
Check back next Wednesday for another Missy Show Blog post! Until then, visit us on Facebook and Twitter Land.
Until next time,
This is your host J,
signing off...
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| I personally don't like rodents. But what's a cat to do? Think I'll stay under this sheet and sleep. |
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