The natural world is more interconnected than you can possibly imagine and learning about it just gives you an endless cascade of realizations about symbiotic relationships that permeate every level of the ecosystem
I’ve been learning about fallen leaves. Many of you may know that fallen leaves are used by many moth and butterfly species to hibernate through the winter. This, my friends, is only the very beginning of the leaf layer’s importance.
The layer of fallen leaves that covers the ground in winter has the following functions (and more):
Keeping the soil temperature more consistent
Insulating the earliest spring flowers to stop them from freezing
Protecting plants late in the year from being killed by early frosts
Sheltering 94% of moth species during their winter hibernation as well as many butterflies and other insects
Fertilizing and enriching the soil. The nutrients in fallen leaves are the main source of soil nutrients in habitats worldwide. Streams and rivers in forests carry the nutrients of leaves far and wide.
Providing habitat for predators like salamanders and spiders.
Suppressing weed growth.
Improving the germination of tree seeds (e.g. acorns)
Attracting beneficial microbes
Increasing the water holding capacity of the soil
Providing a food source for birds to feed their babies on in the spring (insects)
What’s more, the fallen leaves of every species of tree have different properties that affect their effects on the ecosystem, including: size, shape, toughness, and speed of decomposition. The leaves of broadleaf deciduous trees are optimized to support and fertilize the deciduous forest environment.
ALT
