Nothing lasts forever but the earth and sky.

Alright, this one's gonna be quick. I've been feeling pretty under-the-weather. I think it's a sinus infection! I feel congested on the left side of my head, and the lymph nodes in the left side my neck are about to explode.

So, what's this research project that I'll be working on? We'll be studying the habits of red-naped sapsuckers, a type of woodpecker that makes its homes in aspen trees. It also uses willow trees as a food source. Several other species of animals, including mammals and insects, rely on the sapsuckers to provide them with the sap from the trees, a valuable source of carbs. Also, since the sapsuckers only use their nests for one year and move out, six different species of birds (including adorable chickadees and other birds people generally enjoy) rely on these abandoned woodpecker homes for shelter the following years. These criteria make the sapsuckers what biologists call a "keystone species," which means that if that species were removed from the ecosystem, it could collapse, and the plants and animals that rely on the existence of that species would either die out or relocate. Sea urchins (I think) and beavers (for sure) are other examples of keystone species, believe it or not.

What are we trying to accomplish? Previous research suggests that sapsuckers don't nest far from willows, their food source. Willows are notorious for sticking their roots in places where they don't belong, such as water pipes, and destroying or clogging them in the process of searching for more water. Therefore, willows are often banned from developments. If sapsuckers rely on them for food, could they starve and die out? Dr. Floyd's research so far suggests this isn't the case. The birds may be using the willows more out of convenience than out of necessity, which would be good news for people looking to urbanize certain areas where the sapsuckers live. A certain fungus also seems to come into play, which may be far more important than willows, but I won't go too deeply into that just yet. I'll leave it for another post. For more information, click here.

So there's your general idea of the goings-on in this research experiment. My hopes are that I made this easy enough for anyone to understand, but if I didn't, comment with questions, and I'll fill in blanks. :]

I'm gonna go sleep forever. Or maybe do Spanish homework. I haven't decided yet. I know I said I'd make this short, but I kind of got carried away. :P

Currently listening to: "Dust In The Wind" - Kansas