PHYSIOLOGICAL ADAPTATIONS
PLANTSLODGEPOLE PINE: The lodgepole pine tree is a conifer and makes up 80% of Yellowstone's tree coverage. One adaptation the lodgepole pine has for reproduction are it's "serotinous" seeds. Serotinous describes a seed/cone that relies on environmental factors to open. For the lodgepole pine, the environmental factor is fire. The serotinous cones are sealed tight with resin and wax and will only open at temperatures of 40-60 degrees celsius. That means lots of waiting. This adaptation benefits the tree population. Due to the long period of waiting time the cones endure, many years sometimes, when a forest fire arrives and opens the cones, years and years worth of seeds are released and new growth flourishes in the carbon rich soil of the post-fire ground.
EVERGREEN CONIFERS OF THE TAIGA (can refer to any such pines, spruces or firs in Yellowstone as the adaptation is general and broad to evergreen conifers only): Evergreen conifers (species of Yellowstone would include the Douglas-Fir, Engelmann Spruce, Whitebark Pine and Lodgepole Pine) exhibit a unique feature to trees in which they do not drop their leaves all at once in the colder seasons like most trees do. Evergreens do drop some leaves, but only so many that the tree remains covered. This adaptation of reduced-leaf fall means the tree can use it's leaves to increase photosynthesis for energy to survive the cold, harsh climates.
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ANIMALSMOOSE: The moose is one of the only animals in the world that can eat and digest pine and spruce needles. Foliage is often scarce in winter, and so this adaptation allows the moose to eat and gain it's energy from the evergreen conifers. Due to the waxy coating of the needles, few animals can survive off it. However moose have a particularly complex digestive system that allows for it to make the most out of it's low-nutrient diet. This involves the moose eating and digesting a mouthful and then regurgitating and chewing on the cud, and then re-digesting.
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