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GRUESOME!!
Hagfish defend themselves by oozing up to a gallon of mucous from their slime pores.


Study finds 'weed tree' plays crucial forest role


Study finds 'weed tree' plays crucial forest role
An ongoing study based at Williams Lake which is looking into the effects of logging on forest bird species has found that certain "keystone species" are crucial to the biodiversity of the forest because other species are dependent on them. Three of the key species are trembling aspens, northern flickers and red-naped sapsuckers. The two bird species are important because they drill the holes in trees which many other species nest in, and the aspen is the tree in which the holes are most frequently drilled. Forestry companies regard the aspen as a garbage tree because it is not worth much money; they do not include aspens when they replant a clearcut. The lack of diversity in the replantings could have a negative effect on biodiversity in the area. The study will continue to determine what, if any, effect differing forestry practices will have on bird species as an indicator of forest wildlife health.

The Vancouver Sun

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