Insetti suicidi o PREDE?

Stefano Rossignoli 21 maggio 2012

Prede di Averla
Prede di Averla

Qualche settimana fa gironzolavo per il Monte San Giorgio come ospite della classe quarta media di Riva San Vitale (CH – In Svizzera le medie sono quattro!), accompagnata per l’evenienza dal loro professore, mio amico nonché compagno di scuola superiore e di Università (Due meccanici diventati naturalisti!!!).

Durante una sosta per spiegare che stavamo camminando sulla linea in cui le rocce cambiano da vulcaniche a sedimentarie, un ragazzo con un ottimo spirito di osservazione notò e ci chiese di spiegare il fenomeno che poi ho ripreso in fotografia di due insetti infilzati sulle spine di un arbusto…

Né io né Enrico avevamo mai visto questa cosa, ma mi venne in mente che un mio amico naturalista, qualche anno fa aveva scoperto che alcuni scoiattoli fanno una raccolta di funghi autunnale come riserva di cibo per l’inverno e li mettono a seccare sulle ramificazioni dei rami degli alberi.

Abbiamo pensato che questo fosse un comportamento analogo da parte di qualche predatore.

E’ bastata una veloce ricerca in rete da parte di Enrico per trovare il “colpevole”.

Le spine vengono infatti utilizzate dalle Averle che sono dei passeriformi presenti sul Monte San Giorgio. Le averle si cibano di insetti e di piccoli vertebrati (rettili e uccelli). Quando il cibo abbonda si fanno anche una riserva di prede che infilzano sulle spine dei rami degli arbusti del bosco e consumano successivamente…

Complimenti ai ragazzi a Enrico e grazie ancora per la bella giornata passata insieme!

Stefano!

Di nuovo sul Monte Generoso. I progetti per l’estate…

Stefano Rossignoli 15 maggio 2012

La primavera avanza al galoppo e tra poco più di un mese sarà estate e riaprirà al pubblico la Grotta dell’Orso del Monte Generoso. Gli amici Fabio e Barbara che organizzano l’attività di scavo paleontologico in grotta mi han chiesto di passare qualche settimana a far visite guidate per i turisti e le scolaresche. In totale sarò alla grotta una trentina di giorni

Visto che il Monte è Generoso sotto molti aspetti, vorrei approfittarne per girare qualche breve video-post da inserire sul canale di scienzafacile su youtube.

In questo video girato all’apertura della “Caverna Generosa” nel comune di San Fedele d’Intelvi introduco brevemente l’argomento.

Buona visione e a presto!
PS: Ecco il link riguardo la datazione col C14

 

Fuori in macchina …e via! E ai ricci chi ci pensa?

Stefano Rossignoli 5 maggio 2012 (Fotografia di Matteo Di Nicola)

Un riccio europeo (Erinaceus europaeus) scaraventato a bordo strada da un'automobile
Un riccio europeo (Erinaceus europaeus) scaraventato a bordo strada da un'automobile

Eccola qui la strada!

Io ci vado sulla strada.

Vado con la mia macchina, con la mia bicicletta e a piedi, di corsa o camminando. Quando ce l’avevo andavo anche in moto…

La strada ci permette di andare, di vedere luoghi e di inseguire sogni, di vivere a ritmi che una volta nemmeno si immaginavano…

Ma ora usiamo l’immaginazione:

mettiamoci a bordo strada.

Siamo alti 10cm e dobbiamo attraversare.

Nessuno ci ha spiegato a scuola che per attraversare dobbiamo guardare a destra, a sinistra e, possibilmente, andare sulle strisce…

Se poi c’è un semaforo è anche meglio!

Mettiamoci nei panni di un riccio, di un rospo, una rana, un tritone, una salamandra, un lombrico, un ragnetto…

Attraversare una strada è come attraversare un campo minato…e a volte, spesso, capita il peggio!

Almeno se si può e senza andarci a uccidere, cerchiamo di evitarli…

L’alternativa è fare come sulle autostrade: mettere delle gran “belle” reti e chiudere tutto…

NO e poi NO!

Le strade sono già delle barriere insormontabili o quasi per la stragrande maggioranza degli esseri viventi non umani. Sarebbe meglio aprirgli dei corridoi piuttosto che chiudere tutto… Alcuni sono anche di semplice realizzazione. Certo è che poi gli animali non ricambiano né con soldi né con voti …e qui potrei continuare a commentare in stile non prettamente da scienzafacile.it ma mi fermo…

Quando percorro certe strade a quattro corsie per senso di marcia mi chiedo se sto guidando un Boeing o il mio Pandino…e comunque ci passo, non sono un santo lo dico sempre…ma è ora di cominciare a pensare al futuro della Terra, delle nostre risorse e, nelle scelte per il futuro, comincerei decisamente dal non intaccare ulteriormente l’equilibrio del pianeta…

Buon viaggio.

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