science education resource

Forest Life Investigation - The Nurse Log

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School subscriptions can access more than 175 downloadable unit bundles in our store for free (a value of $1,500).

District subscriptions provide huge group discounts for their schools. Email for a quote: sheri@exploringnature.org.

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.

Forest Life Activity - The Nurse Log

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Citing Research References

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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 >.

Here is an example of citing this page:

Amsel, Sheri. "Forest Life Investigation - The Nurse Log " Exploring Nature Educational Resource ©2005-2024. November 25, 2024
< http://www.exploringnature.org/db/view/Forest-Life-Investigation-The-Nurse-Log- >

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