ALL THE REST —  July 24
  

Polination part 2

As mentioned on the weekend, unlike temperate deciduous forests where many plants are wind-pollinated, most tropical rainforest plants rely upon animals for pollination.  The Tropical Rainforests have very little wind and the various species of plants are separated rather than growing in groups of like species. This situation demands an alternative to wind pollination. Today we will briefly list a few more examples of animal pollination in the Tropical Rainforests.

As one might expect many flowers of the tropics are pollinated by butterflies and moths. The flowers that are pollinated by these flying insects tend to to produce nectar at the base of a slender, tubular flower. Butterflies, which are generally active by day, frequent brightly colored flowers. The colors of these flowers are often shades of reds, yellows, pinks, and purples. (As mentioned a couple of weeks ago - insects and birds are a few of the animals that can generally distinguish colors.) Moths are generally nocturnal. Moth-pollinated flowers are generally pale or white in color and give off a sweet scent at night.

Wasps are also instrumental in the pollination of tropical flowers. They play a crucial role in the lives of an important family of tropical the figs. The plants of the Ficus family (figs) are abundant in the tropics. The strangler fig is just one example of an important rainforest fig. Each species of fig has a single species of wasp which pollinates it. The female, heavily covered with pollen, enters the young fig to lay her eggs in the ovules of the flower. As she enters the flower she pollinates it. The egg are laid and hatch. The young wasp larvae and fig seeds develop. When the young wasps emerge, they mate and the wingless males die. As the females crawl out of the fig, they are dusted with pollen which they carry to the next young fig where the cycle is repeated. This marvelously created cooperation between the figs and the wasps is essential to the survival of both.

In the tropical rainforests, dull brown, purple, yellow or spotted flowers that look and smell like rotting meat are pollinated by flies. Female flies are attracted to the fetid fragrance to lay their eggs and inadvertently pollinate the flower. Other flowers lure flies by smell or color and trap them. Once the pollination is complete, the flies are released (laden with pollen) to be trapped again elsewhere.

Lastly among the listed examples are the abundant beetles. They are important pollinators in the tropics. Beetles have poor eyesight ( an obvious exception to the eyesight of most other insects), are clumsy, and have strong chewing jaws. They visit flowers that give off a strong fruity or fermenting odor. Flowers pollinated by beetles produce many petals upon which the beetles feed. As the beetles crawl along the petals they pick up the pollen. The beetle crawls along munching on the petals and spreading the pollen. The flower's ovaries generally survive the attack of the munching beetles as they are usually out of reach of their chewing jaws.   

I am just amazed at God's creation – so intricate and involved. Everything is so well orchestrated, created in a perfect balance, created to work together. It is easy to see how some can wrongly worship the creation rather than the Creator. It is impossible for me to understand how some might believe that this all happened by chance.

Praise The Lord -

The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament showeth his handiwork.
Psalm 19:1

A cheerful heart is good medicine,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
Proverbs 17:22 (NIV)

"What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. These are but trifles, to be sure; but, scattered along life's pathway, the good they do is inconceivable."

Joseph Addison

 

Still More Lawyer Jokes

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Santa Claus, the tooth fairy, an honest lawyer and an old drunk are walking down the street together when they simultaneously spot a hundred dollar bill. Who gets it?

The old drunk, of course; the other three are mythical creatures.

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What's the difference between a dead dog in the road and a dead lawyer in the road?

There are skid marks in front of the dog.

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A lawyer and an engineer were fishing in the Caribbean. The lawyer said "I'm here because my house burned down and everything I owned was destroyed by the fire. The insurance company paid for everything."

"That's quite a coincidence", said the engineer, "I'm here because my house and all my belongings were destroyed by a flood, and my insurance company also paid for everything."

The lawyer looked somewhat confused, and asked, "How do you start a flood?"

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Why should lawyers be buried 100 feet deep?

Because deep down, they're really good people.

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It was so cold last winter ... (How cold was it?) ... It was so cold that I saw a
lawyer with his hands in his own pockets.

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Need an excuse for not going to work?

Please fell free to use any of the excuses listed below. And Employers, please stay out of here. We don't need you knowing how we came up with our latest excuse!

I won't be in today.

My fish is sick and I need to take it to the vet.

My neighbor's daughter got a round hair brush stuck in her hair and I need to help her get it out.

I won't be in today because I have come down with Spring Fever.

I fell off a ladder fixing the roof on my house and I landed on my elbow.

I don't think I'll be in work for awhile. Yesterday I was riding my son's BMX bike and I fell and broke my ankle it two places and I'm in the hospital.

I won't be in today. I'm still drunk from last night.

I'm not coming in because I need a mental health day.

My car caught on fire on the way to work so I can't make it in.

My car ran out of gas on the way to work. I was pushing it to a gas station and I got a stomach hernia and I have to go to the doctors.

My cat got ran over by a motorcycle and I need to take it to the vet.

Had to be rushed to hospital for coffee burns on my lap... be in tomorrow! I can't come to work today because the city is paving my street and I cant get out!

I am locked in my house and can't get out..

from AdamsCathy@aol.com

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A fellow goes to the doctor and says, "I'm really worried about my wife.

I ask her a question and she never answers. I think she's going deaf."

"That's possible," answers the doctor. "But in order to help, we'll have to determine the extent of her hearing problem. I suggest that you run a little test to see how bad the problem really is." At that point the doctor gave him instructions. The next day the two are out on the golf course. She's plumbobbing a putt, and he steps 15 feet away from her and asks, "Which way do you think it will break?" No answer. He steps 5 feet closer and asks the same question, and still no answer.

Again 5 feet closer, and again still no answer. Finally he moves to within inches of her ear and asks, "Which way do you think it will break?" She snaps, "For the fourth and final time, I think the darn thing breaks to the left!"

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TRUE FACT ...

Humans begin laughing at two to three months of age. Six year olds laugh about 300 times per day, while adults laugh from 15 to 100 times per day.

SOURCE: NYT, Dr. William F. Fry, Stanford University

You always find something in the last place you look.

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~ The Scheme that Backfired ~

 
John Smith was a loyal carpenter, working for a very successful building contractor who called him into his office one day and said, "John, I'm putting you in charge of the next house we build. I want you to order all the materials and oversee the whole job from the ground up."

John accepted the assignment with great enthusiasm and excitement. For ten days before ground was broken at the building site, John studied the blueprints. He checked every measurement, every specification. Suddenly he had a thought. "If I am really in charge," he said to himself, "why couldn't I cut a few corners, use less- expensive materials, and put the extra money in my pocket? Who would know the difference? Once the house is painted, it will look just great."

So John set about his scheme. He ordered second-grade lumber, but his reports indicated that it was top-grade. He ordered inexpensive concrete for the foundation, put in cheap wiring, and cut every corner he could, yet he reported the purchase of much better materials. When the home was completed and fully painted, he asked the contractor to come and see it.
"John," said the contractor, "What a magnificent job you have done! You have been such a good and faithful carpenter all these years that I have decided to show my gratitude by giving you this house you have built, as a gift!"

Education is similar to building a house. If the foundation is strong, there is real strength for the future. If the proper materials go into the construction, it will last a long time. But if we build with shoddy materials, cut corners, and take the easy way out, we build a weak house on a poor foundation. Followers of Jesus Christ are called upon to study God's Word, reflect on it, and pray, so that all of life becomes a rich experience of learning.