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https://theconversation.com/the-secret-life-of-puddles-their-value-to-nature-is-subtle-but-hugely-important-154561>
"It’s official: Australians endured the coldest, wettest summer in at least
five years thanks to La Niña, a climate phenomenon over the Pacific Ocean.
Before we knew it, autumn rolled in bringing more rain. Tragically, it led to
widespread flooding across New South Wales, but elsewhere it helped to create
more puddles. In our urban environments puddles are inconvenient: they can
damage property and block our paths. But from a biological perspective, puddles
are very important components of microhabitats and biodiversity.
We know for many animals — including birds and pets — puddles are a ready
source of drinking water and provide a much-needed bath after a hot and dusty
day. They’re also well known for providing water-reliant species such as
mosquitoes with opportunities for breeding, and many of us may remember
watching tadpoles developing in puddles as children.
But puddles make more nuanced and subtle contributions to the natural world
than you may have realised. So with more rain soon to arrive, let’s explore why
they’re so valuable."
Share and enjoy,
*** Xanni ***
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mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
