Environment & Energy
Related: About this forumMeadows beat out shrubs when it comes to storing carbon
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/11/171123094330.htmShrubs (willows)
Heath (crowberry and heather)
Meadow
"I wanted to figure out how much carbon these three vegetation types store and release. My hypothesis was that shrubs store more carbon than heath and meadow vegetation because shrubs have more biomass, and thus have higher rates of photosynthesis," she said.
But it turned out to be the opposite: Shrubs, even though they are tallest, actually store the least carbon.
"It surprised me that meadows actually store a lot more carbon than shrubs. The carbon in meadows is stored mostly below the ground, next to the roots," she said
The amount of carbon stored in heath vegetation is greater than in shrub vegetation, but less than in meadows, she said.
JustAnotherGen
(31,879 posts)For posting this. Confirms my idea for wild flower cover on the side of the house next spring - perennials.
Nay
(12,051 posts)Joe Pye weed, and other native grasses and flowers. We already have stuff like bird feeders, brush piles for cover, bird bath, etc. I was so alarmed by the reports that insect populations are crashing that I wanted to do at least a little to help them out.
sue4e3
(731 posts)I ended up with butterflies,hummingbirds , dragonflies(they dissipated over the years, I still get them but not like in the beginning),carpenter bees(I still like them) and lots and lots of praying mantis. so much so I stopped mowing my lawn because it would create waves of mantis, trying to escape the mower. I love all the insects. wild flowers are my absolute favorite
Nay
(12,051 posts)wild strip.
JustAnotherGen
(31,879 posts)I have a section of our "garden" as a butterfly and hummingbird garden. I looooove them! We also get carpenter bees. They are so curious and fun to watch!