Nature

Nature – The Lamb

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The Lamb: Rejected & Restored

“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”

Isaiah 53:6

“ ‘I will feed My flock, and I will make them lie down,’ says the Lord God. ‘I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick; but I will destroy the fat and the strong, and feed them in judgment.’ ”

Ezekiel 34:15, 16

We are familiar with the Biblical parables of the lost found in Luke 15—the sheep, coin, and prodigal son. We are also familiar with instances of those who have been rejected (driven away), broken or sick: the poor, fatherless, weak, and outcast. The beauty in the Lord’s pursuit is in sight, even to this day. Here, for example, we may learn from sheep.

A shepherd or farmer, although not often spoken of, may be skilled in maternal reconnection (restored bond). A shepherd or farmer who notices a ewe mother’s rejection of her lamb, will assess her willingness to allow the lamb to come close and nurse. Freely, on occasion, she will allow the lamb to suck when distracted, eating hay or grain, grazing, or sleeping. However, an occasional suckle is inadequate for nutritional benefit. And so, immediate reorientation must take place. The ewe is placed securely in a bonding pen or head gate to allow its lamb to nurse. Ideally, within three days, they are both placed in natural surroundings separate from the flock; in the interim, their interactions are closely monitored. Most often, successful bonding occurs and the ewe and its lamb are placed once again with their flock.

A restored lamb will thrive in health, learn mannerisms, nurse appropriately, gain weight, play with other lambs, prance on all four limbs, run, climb, express curiosity in its environment, nap throughout the day, sleeping 8–16 hours daily. The lamb will also establish a bond with the shepherd, farmer, or adoptive caregiver and will retain him or her in its knowledge, and distinctively knowing his or her voice, is the first to come running when called.

However, a rejected lamb will fail to thrive and may have a sickness or defect. The lamb may be unable to retain warmth or exhibit a strong suck. A weak suck is inadequate for nutritional sustenance; making both natural nursing and bottle-feeding difficult. The lamb will require stomach-tube feedings which has a low survival rate. Failure to thrive during its first few weeks may ultimately lead to starvation and suffering, even death.

What a blessing, The Lord is not willing that any shall perish! Just as the Good Shepherd searches for and rejoices over the lost, He searches for and restores the rejected, broken, and sick:

“For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: ‘Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth,’ who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.  For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” 1 Peter 2:21–25

The Lamb: Invisible Things, Clearly Seen

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“So we, Your people and sheep of Your pasture, will give You thanks forever; we will show forth Your praise to all generations.”

Psalm 79:13

In the Bible, we find sheep used in many ways, both literally and spiritually. Jesus is called the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). In the sanctuary system, a perfect lamb, one without blemish—representing Jesus’ future sacrifice for mankind—was brought as a sacrifice for the confession of sin. God’s people are called His sheep. And in the parable of the ninety and nine, Jesus the Shepherd went out in search of the one lost sheep to bring it safely again to the fold.

Sheep are thought to be timid, passive, and unintelligent. On the contrary, research shows that they are complex, individualistic, and social. They are even capable of problem solving and have an IQ similar to that of cattle and pigs. They display intelligence in their ability to self-heal when sick. Additionally, they have excellent memories and display emotions.

Newborn sheep are called lambs—a ram if male, a ewe if female. Mating typically takes place in the fall with births occurring from March to May, but can begin as early as February. Both ewes and rams can mate as early as 7-9 months after birth. Ewes are pregnant for approximately five months with the ewe’s major growth occurring in the last month of pregnancy. First-time mother ewes often have a single lamb, whereas a seasoned ewe may have one to three lambs.

Birthing the lambs is also known as lambing. The typical birth weight of a lamb is between 5-12 pounds. At full-growth, a sheep can grow to approximately four feet in length and weigh 99-350 pounds. If the sheep remains healthy, it can have a lifespan of 10-12 years.

A normal lambing event occurs without any difficulty or intervention. Difficult births are often caused because a lamb is not in the right position for birthing, entanglement in the umbilical cord, the ewe’s pelvic area is small, or her cervix has not properly dilated. Size and weight of both lamb and ewe, disease, and stress can also result in difficult births. In these cases, human intervention may be required to prevent the death of the lamb, the ewe or both.

Once the lamb has been born, the ewe begins the bonding process by licking it dry. With multiple lambs, the ewe will often clean them in the order of birth. The ewe also bonds through the sense of smell which allows her to recognize her lamb(s) by amniotic fluid, diet, and organic compounds in the wool. This bond also contributes to the ewe’s ability to recognize her own lambs by their bleat (baaa) if they wander off.

By observing the lifecycle of sheep, we can more clearly see the effects and results of sin. When we consider the creation of this world up until Adam and Eve sinned, we can appreciate the natural order of how God intended the world and those who live in it to function and live. Before sin there was only the manifestation of God’s power and love. But even today, though marred by sin, all of nature still bears witness to His invisible divine attributes—eternal power and love.

Praise God for eyes to see! May we all look forward to experiencing nature in the new heaven and new earth with our precious Lord and Saviour.

“Know that the Lord, He is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture.” Psalm 100:3

When one takes the time to enjoy the splendor, beauty, and intricate creations in nature, it is difficult to imagine that one cannot see that it is all by intelligent design. There are no “big bang theories” or “beautiful little accidents.” The Lord, our Creator and Sustainer of life, created all things to testify of His love and to supply our every need.

Sources: christiantoday.com.au/news/sheep-are-pretty-dumb; onekindplanet.org/animal/sheep; sheep101.info/lambing

Nature – The Beaver

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The beaver is an engineer with amazing features and knowledge. It builds its dam, up to hundreds of feet long, with such engineering skill that men study the beaver’s dam to know how to build strength into a dam and how to channel water.

Building a dam means spending a lot of time in the water and the beaver has special physical equipment that enables him to do that. A protective nose and ear flaps that close when it goes under the water are part of this equipment. The flaps close so that he can freely swim in the water and open when he surfaces so he can breathe again. His eyelids are transparent and close when he is under the water. This allows for protection from debris and irritants in the water and yet allows him to see very well.

Beavers have uniquely designed, self-sharpening front incisors which continue to grow as they are worn down allowing for a continuous and sharp supply of front teeth. They use these sharp front teeth to cut young tender branches to a specific size to be stored in the mud at the bottom of the pond for their food supplies in the winter. In order to retrieve the branches, the beaver needs to chew them underwater. They are able to do this without water entering their mouth with the aid of fur mouth flaps between their front incisors and their rear molar teeth. These flaps of fur seal off the mouth behind the front incisors.

To build a dam, the beaver chooses the location and gnaws away at trees and branches along the bank, which when properly placed cuts off the flow of water. Nearby, a lodge is built into the bank of the stream or river. These dome-shaped structures are made of sticks, grass, and moss. The lodge provides a home for a single family of beavers consisting of as many as 12. The purpose of the dam is to create a “moat” around the lodge, providing protection from predators.

Beavers love their homes and will typically remain in the same location for years, until the food supply runs out. Since the animal lives just ten years in the wild, it could spend its entire life in the same place.

The beaver’s ability to swim long distances without harm is unlike other air-breathing water creatures. He can swim submerged for up to a half-mile or more. In order to do this without lack of oxygen to the brain, the beaver has large lungs and liver to store more air and oxygenated blood. His heart also compensates by beating more slowly when he dives. Blood is also restricted to the extremities during swimming allowing the brain to receive more oxygen.

The beaver is often in cold water that has ice formed on the top. In order for the skin to keep from freezing in this frigid water, the fur of the beaver is oiled by two large oil glands that produce a rich, thick, deep yellow oily liquid, which the beaver spreads on its fur to waterproof it. He also has two layers of fur and then a layer of fat just beneath the skin which helps further protect it from its cold winter environment.

The beaver is truly another example of a wise plan developed by a caring, Creator God. Such variety of special features could not have evolved over time and by chance. All of the physical features inherent to the beaver must be present and fully functional from the beginning for it to survive.

Adapted from Incredible Creatures That Defy Evolution, Volume 1 and The Evolution of a Creationist by Jobe Martin, D.M.D. Th. M., Biblical Discipleship Publishers, Rockwall, Texas 75032; bestlifeonline.com/why-beavers-build-dams

Nature – Why Don’t They Get Stuck?

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Flies and moths unwittingly find themselves trapped in a spider’s web, hopelessly entangled and unable to free themselves. But the spider can rush across the web to enjoy a tasty, fresh meal without being trapped itself. A study published by two Costa Rican biologists some years ago suggests that spiders stay unstuck thanks to a combination of behavior, anatomy and, yes, even an oily non-stick coating.

Webs typically look something like a wheel with a series of spirals that form the round shape connected by spokes running from the outside spiral to the center of the web. It appears that the spiral strands are coated with droplets of adhesive. When a bug flies into a spider’s web it is instantly stuck, or if you walk into a web, the strands stick to your skin, hair, and clothing. Uck!

Spiders avoid getting stuck by walking on the spoke strands which do not have adhesive on them. If by chance the spider should stray into a sticky area, it will very gently pull the trapped leg back. The key word being gently. Pulling quickly or jerkily, like a bug trying to avoid becoming a main course, causes the adhesive to harden and trap the body.

In addition, the spider has oily substances and special hairs on its legs that prevent it from getting stuck, and it tiptoes carefully from strand to strand.

A spider is also a very careful groomer. It pulls each of its legs through its mouth scraping off any silk bits and other debris that may have gotten stuck to its claws or bristles. This grooming likely ensures that its legs and body are less prone to sticking if it should suffer a misstep in the web.

The Most Singular Orchestra on Earth

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The musician drew his thigh over the teeth of a saw and began to bow a six-beat phrase. Another instrumentalist came in on a belly drum, amplifying a low tattoo into a siren-like wail. A third snapped his head against a wooden board, and a fourth, lying on his back with his feet in the air, made music by arching his spine. Most of this group can be heard around the summer world in every field and hedge, for the musicians are a grasshopper, a cicada, a death-watch beetle, and a click beetle, the conspicuous soloists of this orchestra. You can listen to a fuller ensemble on any summer night on the stage they prefer—hot grass, dry earth, and, for good measure, an August moon quivering in a sea of heat.

Familiar to almost everyone are the crickets with their fat bodies, long antennae, big heads—and their endearing habit of singing from the hearth and doorstep. Crickets sing with a distinctive “creeeak, creeeak,” produced by rubbing a scraper on the left wing against a file on the right. Cricket songs have meaning. Some are love calls, others are danger signals, and others are simply “I am here” ditties.

Grasshoppers, known in the Bible as locusts, use their thighbones as bows. A grasshopper, standing on his “hands,” lifts his big back legs until the femurs rub against a line of small stiff pegs on the wing. This produces that dead-battery sound in the summer meadow. The grasshopper also has a flight song. As he takes off, he snaps his two big top wings against the smaller inside ones and produces that familiar crackle of grasshopper jumps.

The katydid is a handsome, brilliant-green creature, with long, graceful antennae. He makes music by lifting his wings and running the edge of one over some 70 sawlike points on the other. In the base of their wings, they possess a miniaturized amplifier, less than one eighth of an inch in size, composed of chitin, the substance from which the strong outside skeleton of the insect is made. Thinner than paper, yet stronger than a comparable thickness of steel, this tiny disk-shaped device can amplify an almost inaudible scratch into a crackling “zeep” that will carry a mile.

The loudest members of the insect orchestra are the “drummers” that literally beat one object against another. The cicadas are the classical drummers. Those with the two-year cycle are about an inch and a quarter long, chunky, often with beautiful crystal wings. The sounds they make are courtship calls, a buzz saw high in the treetops that begins softly and rises to a frantic, earsplitting climax.

Of all the drummers, the death-watch beetle is the most astonishing, for this musician hits his head on wood to beat a tune. He does this on woodwork and old furniture. These clicking concerts can go on for years.

Then there are the “incidental musicians.” These are the flies, bees, and mosquitoes. One study of a housefly revealed that it whines the note F in the middle octave by vibrating its wings 21,120 times a minute.

Bees and wasps also use their wings to create sounds. They hum when peacefully gathering food, “pipe” when calling to mates, and “roar” when attacked.

Humming, crackling, drumming, roaring—in the soft August sun—the band plays on.

Excerpts from Our Amazing World of Nature, Its Marvels and Mysteries, Jean George, 36–38.

“We will sing to stringed instruments all the days of our life, at the house of the Lord.” Isaiah 38:20 RV

Who knows. Maybe God’s little orchestra will join with the saints in singing praises to our Creator.

Morning Glory Cloud

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The sky glories in beautiful cloud formations. Three of the most fascinating could be billow clouds, wave clouds and roll clouds.

Billow clouds mimic cresting waves of water. They form where two horizontal winds meet, warmer air over the top of cooler air. The upper layers of warm air, which are moving at very high speeds, pick up the top layer of cloud that is passing through and forms these wave-like rolls. The air then drops like a wave making these clouds look like breaking ocean waves.

The wave or undulating cloud is a distinctive but rare cloud that appears to be rippling waves in the skies. These wave-like structures form on the underside of established clouds and make the overall cloud look like a rough sea surface when they are viewed from below.

Most spectacular of all clouds are roll clouds. Roll clouds are a low tubular cloud formation stretching from horizon to horizon. The cloud formation is natural, but incredibly rare. They are typically found along coastal regions resulting from a sea breeze or cold front.

The longest known roll cloud is called the Morning Glory because it always appears at dawn. The southern part of the Gulf of Carpentaria, Queensland, Australia, is the only known location where Morning Glory clouds can be regularly observed and forecast with some degree of accuracy due to the configuration of land and sea and orientation to the wind in the area. From late September to early November, the sky develops strange rolls of clouds. These clouds form in a series of bands that can be up to 620 miles long, only 300 to 600 feet above the ground and can move at speeds up to 37 miles per hour.

The Cape York Peninsula extends north between the Gulf of Carpentaria to the west and the Coral Sea to the east. During the day, the breeze from the Coral Sea coast blows in from the east and the breeze from the gulf blows in from the west. The two breezes collide over inland parts of the peninsula, forcing the air to rise where they form a line of clouds over the spine of the peninsula. When night falls, the air cools and descends, meeting a surface inversion which forms over the gulf. The densities in this stable layer are different above and below the inversion.

The air descending from the peninsula to the east goes underneath the inversion layer and this generates a series of waves or rolling cylinders which travel across the gulf. These cylinders of air roll along the underside of the inversion layer, so that the air rises at the front of the wave and sinks at the rear. As day breaks, the air is saturated enough so that the rising air in the front produces the cloud, which forms the leading edge of the cylinder, and evaporates in the back, hence forming the full Morning Glory roll cloud. The cloud lasts until the surface inversion disappears with the heating of the day.

Morning Glory clouds can appear as one solitary cloud or more frequently as successive waves of up to ten, strung out like rope lines across the landscape. Technically, this makes the Morning Glory the world’s biggest wave.

Taken from Wonder World – Roll Clouds – Clouds That Look a Tidal Wave; thereaderwiki.com/Morning Glory Cloud

“God’s glory in the heavens, the innumerable worlds in their orderly revolutions, ‘the balancings of the clouds’ (Job 37:16), the mysteries of light and sound, of day and night—all were objects of study by the pupils of earth’s first school.” Child Guidance, 45

Nature – Creatures of the Air

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“Oh that I had wings like a dove! then I would fly, and be at rest.”  Psalm 55:6

In the domain of hawk, gull and sparrow, physiology and aerial prowess are synonymous. A bird is simply a masterpiece of engineering—the perfect flying machine—supremely crafted by God and endowed with the attributes for a life in the skies. Its breast muscles, which operate its wings, are enormous, in some birds, comprising 33% of their total body weight. At the same time, a bird’s skeletal system is incredibly light. The bones of a pelican, with a wingspan of nearly six feet, weigh only about five ounces, yet they are strong and flexible enough to withstand the constant stress of maneuverable flight.

Add to this package highly efficient digestive and respiratory systems, a large and powerful heart, and feathers that streamline, insulate, and provide the necessary lift for wings and tail, and it is easy to understand how a bird in the air is described in Proverbs 30:18, 19 as a sight “too wonderful for me.”

The methods and techniques of flight generally fall into a few basic categories. Flapping or power flight involves a strong downward stroke that results in rapid lift and forward thrust. Generally, the larger the bird the slower it flaps its wings. In contrast, the hummingbird will beat its wings up to 80 times a second while performing what has been called the most versatile display of aerial skill in all of God’s creation. The tiny bird can hover or fly in all directions—forward, backward, or to the side, depending upon its needs. Its rigid wings move in a unique figure 8 motion, powered by exceptionally strong muscles and a flexible swivel joint at its shoulder. The tail works as a rudder controlling the direction of movement. Not surprisingly, the hummingbird expends tremendous amounts of energy and to survive, must consume twice its body weight in food every day.

Gliding and soaring are far less demanding forms of flight, yet once again, the elements of aeronautical design are clearly seen. The turkey vulture soars, riding on air deflected upward from cliffs as its wings work in harmony with the surrounding wind currents, while a heron spreads its enormous wings in a slow approach to its nest. Large primary feathers at the end of each wing offer precise control of both speed and direction. A similar design enables a condor to ride for hours on spirals of warm air. Again, a huge wing surface allows for effortless gliding as the bird of prey searches the valley floor for food.

But for all the soaring wonder and power that so abundantly fills the skies, perhaps the supreme testimony to the Creator’s gifts of flight and life itself is written on the tissue-thin wings of the Monarch butterfly. Its wings are driven by powerful muscles designed into the insect’s upper body, the thorax, essential for migration. Advancing steadily, they ride on rising columns of warm air that can elevate them thousands of feet. These expert gliders can travel more than 50 miles a day, flying upwards of 3,000 miles to reach their winter home.

God reveals Himself to man through the things He has made. Each day in the wonders of land, sky, and sea He presents us with a vivid picture of His existence and character. It is a continuing revelation, as exciting and diverse as the creatures He has brought into being. In the majestic grace of a bird or a butterfly in flight an eternal truth shines clear—the God of all creation is real and alive, His power and wisdom are without limit, and He cares and provides abundantly for the life that He has made.

Wonders of God’s Creation, Animal Kingdom: Great are Thy Works, ©2004.

Nature – The Tale of Two Seeds

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Last June, I planted a few sunflower seeds in the mulch in front of our house, just as an experiment, to see if they would grow there. I wanted giant, tall sunflowers to grow in front of our porch windows. I waited and waited all summer, and then September came, but no sunflowers. My experiment failed as did my vision of bright cheerful sunflowers that I thought would grow out of the mulch.

But in a short time, I was astounded to see where I planted sunflowers something else was growing. There were four of them and as I looked closer, I could see that they each had bright lime green needles sticking out of its small central stalk. These four plants seemed to be growing in the very spots where I thought I had planted the sunflowers. The plants were only about an inch in height, if that, but so inspiringly beautiful that instead of being further disappointed that my sunflowers hadn’t grown, I was totally delighted to see these tiny green things, whatever they were. I was determined to identify them right away. Beyond all reason, I was still hoping they were sunflowers!

I immediately went next door to visit my new neighbor, who is also a gardener. She came to inspect these new little wonders and I was astounded to hear her say, “These are fir trees!” She said the seeds could have flown from somewhere into the mulch, or a bird could have brought them (and planted them?). Mighty fir trees. How did this happen? I was truly perplexed. Could a bird have eaten the sunflower seed and planted a fir tree instead? She further told me if I did not want the foundation to our front porch ruined, that I must kill these tiny fir trees or transplant them as they will grow several feet tall. I did a little investigation on the internet and learned that fir trees can grow from 2 to about 9 feet and are basically shaped like Christmas trees.

I wondered, could it be that these little fir trees grew in the same space as I was hoping to see sunflowers grow to remind me of what great things God has planned for us, things far beyond our imagination—from this life to the next—things that will continually surprise and amaze us in eternity. We will experience the surprises, the joy, and bliss that He has planned for us from the foundation of the world.

We are now waiting in earnest expectation of the things He has prepared for us. Like the wondrous surprise of fir trees, God has things to show us in heaven that will defy anything we can think or hope for in this life. With determined effort on our part, and with God’s help and guidance, we can all be there to experience life in the heavenly realm. Continual adoration and worship of our Heavenly Father will be what no words can express here. All afflictions we suffer here will be forever ended. Not only will there be no more pain and suffering, but we will not even remember how these things felt.

My friends, let us get ready to see Jesus. Find someone today who wants to know the good news, and help them to get ready, too, because we know with certainty that Jesus is coming soon. Whether alive or in the grave when He comes, we can be ready to meet Jesus with the joy and anticipation of life never ending.

As for the fir trees, I planted them on our property line and have been watching them grow into what they should be, reminding me to grow into what I should be as I prepare for my heavenly home.

Nature – The Donkey

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The donkey is a member of the horse family, although they are often stockier, stronger, and have much different personalities. Their surefootedness and strength make them the ideal beast of burden. They can carry up to twice their own body weight and are still used for transporting goods and as a mode of transportation all around the world. Evidence that these hard workers have been hauling goods can be found as far back as the fourth millennium BC in Egypt.

They are not as easily startled as horses, but when they are, they tend to take a moment to assess the situation, the result of a much stronger sense of self-preservation than horses. This is why they are often considered to be stubborn, refusing to do something they consider to be dangerous. Studies of their behavior are limited, but donkeys appear to be quite intelligent, cautious, friendly, playful, and eager to learn.

Working donkeys can live 12–15 years in poorer countries, but in more prosperous countries their lifespan can be 30–50 years.

Donkeys have a very loud voice. Their bray lasts for several seconds and can be heard a very long way away. They also have large ears. Donkeys can be as tall as 63 inches at the withers (shoulder) and can weigh over 1,000 pounds. They have a line of darker hair that starts at the top of the head and runs to the end of the tail. This is then crossed at the withers with another darker line of hair, forming a cross.

Donkeys are called by different names including burro and ass. Burro is a Spanish term for the common working donkey in Spain and Mexico. The word entered the English language when Spaniards brought them to America in the 1500s. Ass comes from the Latin phrase asinus and is found most often in some versions of the Bible, in particular the King James Version (KJV). For example, “If thou meet thine enemy’s ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again.” Exodus 23:4

One of the most well-known events in the Bible involved a donkey—Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. This event can be found in all four gospels (Matthew 21, Mark 11, Luke 19 and John 12).

“Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, ‘Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me. And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, “The Lord hath need of them,” and immediately he will send them.’

“All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying ‘Tell the daughter of Zion, Behold, your King is coming to you, lowly, and sitting on a donkey, …’ So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them.

“Then the multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying, ‘Hosanna to the son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!’ ” Matthew 21:1–9

Sources: Wikipedia, howstuffworks.com and readamyelizabeth.com

Nature – Land-Building Mangroves

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Some shores are built by trees. The unique mangroves grow in places where other trees and shrubs cannot survive—in the wet, salty world of tide-washed tropical and subtropical seas. Along such coasts, mangroves have created virtual jungles on stilts.

Most trees produce seeds that do not sprout immediately, even if they are planted. But one of several mangrove species, the red mangrove, produces exceptional seeds—they sprout while they are still attached to the branch. A root bursts through the fruit and forms a long, dagger-like point that may reach nine inches in length. When the seed finally detaches from the branch, it falls, often planting itself upright in the soft, muddy bottom.

A mangrove seedling floats horizontally in the water, like a well-designed canoe. (You may see one drifting along a tropical beach.) The seedling can float for months, unaffected by salt water, scorching sun, and battering waves—and even continue to grow. Its sharp root tip turns downward; if the seedling strikes land, it quickly sends roots into the soil. New roots emerge in tiers that extend out and downward from the trunk, forming arches, called prop roots, that resemble umbrella stays. The prop roots may send up new trunks where they touch the ground. Red mangroves are so well braced that they can usually weather hurricanes that flatten other trees.

In 20 or 30 years, the red mangrove reaches its maximum height of about 30 feet. The profusion of prop roots and new tree trunks form a dense, interlacing mesh that traps sediment, plants, and debris. Soon a swamp is formed at the edge of the sea. Gradually, as more mangroves sprout up, new land is created. Every year, the land advances a few inches into the sea.

There is a definite sequence to the seaward march of a mangrove swamp. In the Florida Keys, where mangroves have built vast areas of new land and new islands, you will see the youngest and smallest red mangroves growing next to the water. Their roots are usually submerged, except during the lowest tides. Behind them, washed only by high tide, are the taller mangroves, which grow to 70 feet. Their thick branches and dark, dense foliage form a nearly solid canopy.

Trees and other plants more typical of the land grow behind the mangroves, but in the swamps, mangroves usually crowd out other vegetation. Numerous animals depend on mangroves for protection and support. Oysters attach themselves to the prop roots, where they are covered by high tides. At night these oyster beds are raided by raccoons. Fiddler crabs burrow in the mud between the roots; starfish move slowly over the muddy surface. High up in the dense canopy, large colonies of pelicans and herons may roost and nest. But even while one mangrove swamp, with its dependent animal life, pushes slowly out to sea, another one may be just beginning where a single seedling washes against a distant shore.

Joy of Nature, Reader’s Digest Association, ©1977, 132, 133.

“The plant grows by receiving that which God has provided to sustain its life. It sends down its roots into the earth. It drinks in the sunshine, the dew, and the rain. It receives the life-giving properties from the air. So the Christian is to grow by cooperating with the divine agencies. … As the plant takes root in the soil, so we are to take deep root in Christ. As the plant receives the sunshine, the dew, and the rain, we are to open our hearts to the Holy Spirit.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 66, 67.