Read about the Nurse Log "phenomena" in the activity below. On your next walk in the woods, look for fallen trees tht are now rotting logs and overgrowth tree stumps. Examine them closely. Answer the following questions (print out PDF for answer sheet):
1. Do you see signs of animals feeding on top of the log or stump? (broken acorns, pine cones, animals scats)
2. Do you see small tree seedlings growing on top of the log or stump?
3. If you saw both of the things mentioned above, can you make a connection between them? (HINT: How does animals feeding on seeds on the nurse log lead to seedlings growing on and rooting into the nurse log?)
4. Why do you think a nurse log is a good medium for growing young plants?
5. Now sketch the things you see going on there.
More about Nurse Logs.
Watch a movie about Nurse Logs.
When you research information you must cite the reference. Citing for websites is different from citing from books, magazines and periodicals. The style of citing shown here is from the MLA Style Citations (Modern Language Association).
When citing a WEBSITE the general format is as follows.
Author Last Name, First Name(s). "Title: Subtitle of Part of Web Page, if appropriate." Title: Subtitle: Section of Page if appropriate. Sponsoring/Publishing Agency, If Given. Additional significant descriptive information. Date of Electronic Publication or other Date, such as Last Updated. Day Month Year of access < URL >.
Amsel, Sheri. "Forest Life Investigation - The Nurse Log " Exploring Nature Educational Resource ©2005-2024. April 18, 2024
< http://www.exploringnature.org/db/view/1379 >
