Gary
Discover the Wonders of Nature Through the Eyes of a Biologist
Did you know that millions of dragonflies migrate each fall? Did you know that shrews traverse their underground tunnels using echolocation? Did you know that some plants need fire to survive? These are some of the fascinating discoveries I reveal about the plants and animals found along the Connetquot River on Long Island in New […]
The Benefits of Hurricanes: How These Powerful Storms Impact the Earth’s Climate and Ecosystems
As I write this story from my Gulf Coast Florida home, Hurricane Milton threatens to bring damaging winds, heavy rains, and storm surges to our area. People are evacuating from coastal towns, some recently flooded by Hurricane Helene, and others are stocking up on food and water to shelter in place. But what if there were […]
How Do I Know if My Fig Cookies Have Dead Wasps?
The fig tree (Ficus carica) is one of the earliest plants cultivated for its sweet fruit. Originally a native of western Asia, the Romans and Greeks dispersed figs throughout the Mediterranean. Spanish missionaries brought figs to North America in the early 1700s. Here in the United States, there are two fig species—the Florida strangler (Ficus […]
Saharan Dust: The Impact of an African Phenomenon
During a recent trip to our resort in Orlando, Florida, the sun was obscured by a thick haze reminiscent of a New York City sky during ozone alerts when stagnant air is filled with pollutants from car emissions, power plant smoke, and industrial air contaminants. But this haze was different. The atmosphere was laden with […]
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