The result of selective breeding for certain traits over time has resulted in many species being experts in their respective behaviors. From weaving webs and nests to perfecting camouflage, these described species have mastered their unique survival and reproductive behaviors. They didn’t need 10,000 hours of practice; instead, they needed over 10,000 years of evolution.
Every species has a unique relationship with time, which is seen in those animals’ respective lifespans, gestation periods, birth intervals, brood development, and internal clocks. Time touches every aspect of life, from major life periods such as mating seasons and migrations, to daily functions such as the time of day to hunt and rest.
One common theme in nature is the interconnectedness among species, with each species having its own unique relationships with others. These relationships are along a spectrum of beneficial to detrimental, and symbioses in particular and their corresponding effects hold significant importance in the lives of the species involved.
In ancestral animals, such as fishes and reptiles, a robust and pervasive form of integument–scales–arose and has a variety of functions, including protection and locomotory assistance.
Here in the West, September’s arrival signals many transitions– the transition from afternoon monsoons to high county snow squalls; from dark green aspens to groves of golden foliage; from serene herds of grazing elk to the aggression of the rut. So, in the spirit of this magical time of year, here are six books that build on the theme of transition. Whether describing an author’s physical movement across landscapes or a fictional character’s transition through time, these stories remind us to embrace and respect the ever-changing nature of our lives.
If you are ever lucky enough to spot a swift fox, don’t blink, as they will quickly vanish into the vast expanse of the prairie.
How to locate seven inch swift fox burrow entrances on an 89,000 acre ranch.
Hear an electric buzzing alien shriek on the summer prairie? That’s the mating call of a Colorado cicada, the cactus dodger.
From copper mallow and cutleaf evening primrose to moss campion and Western spiderwort, this summer’s prairie was awash in a kaleidoscope of blooms thanks to ample rains.