These Trees Eat Salmon!

The video explores the fascinating ecological relationship between trees and salmon on the West Coast of North America. Trees benefit from nutrients in salmon, which are brought to them by bears. The bears' messy eating habits leave salmon scraps that decompose, enriching the soil with nitrogen, a crucial nutrient for tree growth. The video explains the role of nitrogen isotopes, particularly nitrogen-15, in tracing this nutrient flow. Research has shown that trees near salmon streams grow significantly larger due to this nutrient source, highlighting the interconnectedness of ecosystems.

How do trees on the West Coast of North America obtain nutrients from salmon?

• Trees absorb nutrients from the ocean.

• They catch salmon with their branches.

• Bears catch salmon and leave scraps that decompose.

• Salmon directly fertilize the trees.

What is the limiting nutrient for trees along the northwest coast of North America?

• Nitrogen

• Calcium

• Potassium

• Phosphorus

Why do salmon have a higher concentration of nitrogen-15 compared to land animals?

• They consume a lot of plants.

• They spend most of their life in the ocean and are high in the food chain.

• They are at the bottom of the food chain.

• They live in freshwater.

What did researchers discover about trees near salmon streams in Alaska?

• They grow smaller than trees without salmon nutrients.

• They have lower levels of nitrogen-15.

• They do not benefit from salmon nutrients.

• They have high levels of nitrogen-15 and grow larger.

How much bigger do trees grow when they receive nutrients from salmon?

• 30% bigger

• 25% bigger

• 10% bigger

• 19% bigger