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| Green tree ants swarm over oak blue caterpillars but they are not attacking them. They are drinking a sweet liquid that the caterpillars give off especially to attract the ants. The ants act like living armor, shielding the caterpillar from wasps that might lay eggs on it. The ants and the caterpillars are partners in nature. |  |
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Mapping the Inland Rainforest
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Identifying and mapping a unique ecosystem for conservation
BC, Washington, Idaho and Montana have developed forests that are very similar to the Pacific Coastal rainforests, although they are far inland. These areas are called the interior Pacific Northwest, interior wet belt, or the inland rainforest. In order to better understand and conserve the inland rainforests, scientists have set out to determine exactly what an inland rainforest is and then exactly where there are areas of inland rainforest. Tree-dwelling lichens and mosses are very sensitive to moisture in the air and to temperature, so they can be used as and indicator to tell scientists what the conditions are in certain areas. Knowing what kinds of lichens and mosses live in an area can help scientists know what other kinds of plants and animals also live there. This study will result in maps of the areas of inland rainforest and a database of species that live there.
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