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 nitrogen isotopes differ between salmon and land-dwelling species?

What evidence did researchers find to show the importance of salmon to trees?