Explore the Outdoors!
Here is an overview of all the articles on the blog.
There are so many different types of birds in the world, and it can be tough to keep track of all of them. That’s why we’ve decided to put together a list of birds starting with the letter F. This list includes everything from the familiar (e.g., the Finch) to the more exotic (e.g., the…
Crayfish (also sometimes called crawfish and crawdads) are freshwater crustaceans that live in lakes, ponds and rivers all over the world. Crayfish have many enemies and the most abundant predators of crayfish are larger freshwater fish! Many different fish feed on crayfish and/or their spawn in natural freshwater environments. Studies on the stomach contents of…
Crayfish are freshwater crustaceans that live in streams, rivers, lakes and ponds. They are related to shrimp, crabs and lobsters and are an important part of the food web in their ecosystem. Crayfish are mostly herbivorous animals and eat a variety of plant matter like algae, aquatic plants, seeds and roots but they do actually…
Millipedes are omnivores that consume both plants and animals. In the wild, they play an important role in the food web as detritivores, breaking down dead plant and animal matter into smaller pieces that can be used by other organisms. While millipedes are not true decomposers, they do play a key role in the decomposition…
Crayfish (crawfish or crawdads) are small, freshwater crustaceans that are related to lobsters and crabs. They are a popular food source in many parts of the world, and they are also kept as pets. Crayfish have many predators, including fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Some of the most common land predators of crayfish include…
Squids may look somewhat defenseless with their soft bodies and long slimy arms that are easy to rip off for a larger stronger animal. However, as I will show you, squids are not completely without tricks when it comes to defending themselves! I recently wrote a blog post about the main predators of squid in…
Dyneema is an artificial polymer just like nylon, but it has several fundamental differences. Both are plastics, but the manufacturing process is radically different. Nylon, as I have already written several posts about, is an amide polymer, which means it’s a long chain of monomers that can be formed into countless unique chemical structures. The…
Producers are organisms that get their energy from their environment, for example, from the sun or from breaking down chemical compounds. Decomposers are a type of consumer that break down organic matter into simple chemical nutrients essential for producers. Even though different bird species have different diets, they are all consumers. In ecology, consumers are…
Oysters are filter-feeding herbivores that live in marine habitats. They play an important role in the ecosystem by filtering large amounts of water and removing algae, plankton, and debris. As a result, oysters help to keep the water clean and improve water quality. Oysters are classified as herbivores because they primarily eat plant material that…
Fish come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and most are either carnivores or herbivores but few feed entirely as scavengers! In the wild fish mainly eat algae, worms, plankton, and each other (!) but some species of fish are opportunistic feeders that will eat anything they can get hold off. Most fish are…