Explore the Outdoors!
Here, I write about animals and their small curiosities, feeding habits, and their role in the ecosystem!
If you are a fan of crayfish, then you will be excited to learn about baby crayfish. These little creatures are fascinating and can be found in many bodies of fresh water, but not in seawater, as crayfish are strictly freshwater animals. In this blog post, we will discuss everything you need to know about…
Northern Cardinals are not particularly picky when it comes to their dietary preferences, however, there are limits to what size and hardness they can handle in their food. Therefore, cardinals cannot eat whole acorns because their beak is not shaped for the purpose. Birds like woodpeckers, crows, and bluejays are stronger and have a more…
Fungi like mold, mushrooms, and yeast grow on a variety of food sources, but common to them all is that their energy comes from the organic molecules that they absorb from other organisms. This makes fungi heterotrophs, which means they use organic compounds as food to provide energy for growth, development, and reproduction. It also…
There are many different types of fungi that eat different things, but common to them all is that they are important decomposers, playing a vital role in the recycling of nutrients in ecosystems. Fungi have a very broad diet consisting mostly of dead plant and animal matter, simple sugars from fruits, and even radioactivity! They…
Decomposers break down feces and dead plant and animal matter into simple nutrients that can be used by primary producers like plants and algae. Decomposers are an essential part of the ecosystem since they ensure the cycling of various nutrients, including carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium. By allowing these nutrients to return to the…
Seahorses are technically fish and are most notable for their uncanny appearance. They live in shallow seas in the tropical and temperate parts of the world. They are active swimmers but also spend a lot of their lives sleeping. Sea horses do not like to float around when sleeping so seahorses will latch onto anything…
If you’ve been outside in springtime, you may have seen young birds that are not quite babies and not quite adults. These little fledglings are everywhere in springtime, but what is so special about these immature birds? Fledgling is the state a bird enters after being a “nestling” (baby) and can be compared to the…
Bacteria and fungi are called decomposers because they break down dead organic material into simple chemical nutrients, like carbon and nitrogen compounds, that can be used by plants and algae. Being the most abundant decomposers on earth, bacteria and fungi play an extremely important role in the recycling of nutrients in ecosystems. They are present…
Groundhogs are a common sight in many backyards across North America. These furry creatures may look cute and cuddly, but they can be a nuisance when they start digging up your garden! Groundhogs are herbivores and eat grasses and vegetables and fruits most of the time. However, they may eat insects, nuts, and mushrooms from…
Most bacteria get their nutrients by breaking down organic matter from things that were alive at some point, which classifies them as heterotrophs. This includes the bacteria in the soil and those that make us sick. This is effectively classifying most bacteria consumers or decomposers. And these bacteria are immensely important for our ecosystems. Other…