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.
Reconstruction and Management of Garry Oak Ecosystems
Investigation of management practices and ecosystem recovery
The Garry Oak ecosystems on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands of British Columbia are biologically diverse and extremely threatened landscapes. These ecosystems have evolved with the traditional management of the indigenous peoples who used the forests to gather plants. This management created and maintained the diversity of the landscape. Suppression of indigenous management, the use of fire, and uncontrolled land development has severely reduced the Garry oak ecosystems, and only one per cent remain in a "natural" state. This research intends to establish the ecological role of indigenous management practices, with the help of members of the Songhees nation, and to outline an effective conservation strategy for the remaining Garry Oak forests.
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GF Research
