Page 14 - PGA Community News - December '19

Page 14, PGA C.A.N.! December 2019 December 2019

Northern Notes
Book Review from page 12

simultaneously provides an effective source of nutrient- Aquatic Plants some of these areas were man-made to attract wildlife
rich food that is high in protein and emits minimal amounts to the littoral zone in order to compensate for recently
of climate-changing gas. … The term ‘Meat-Free Monday’ By Katie Roundtree, developed areas. In periods of low water, debris from
has already caught on in some places. Maybe ‘Insect Finance Director, dying immersed plants is a significant factor. Accumulated
Tuesday’ will be next.” (Note: Insects are already on the Northern Palm Beach County plant debris can eventually result in the lake becoming
menus of many nations of the world, except in Europe and Improvement District shallower, or even transitioning into a swamp or marsh.
the U.S.) Northern Palm Beach Some advantages of immersed plants include providing
That’s only one facet of this wide-ranging, eye-opening County Improvement bank stabilization to reduce shoreline erosion, maintaining
story. The following are just a few teasing little hints of District manages over habitat for fish and wildlife and providing food (seeds and
the wealth of information you will find in these pages: 2,000 acres of preserves and leaves) for birds.
“We humans were pitifully late starters compared to approximately 370 water Finally, free floating plants are not anchored to any
insects. Our agricultural revolution happened only ten bodies in its 128-square- soil or sediment; they get their nutrients from the water
thousand years ago. By then, ants and termites had already mile jurisdiction. Each of alone. Floating-leaved plants typically are rooted in
been practicing agriculture for 50 million years, and ants these areas is unique and the sediments and have leaves that float on the water’s
had been keeping livestock for twice as long. Is it any has different kinds of aquatic plants growing within it surface. Native water lilies and duckweed are examples
wonder that ants beat us hands down when it comes to the depending on factors such as depth, size and location. of these kinds of plants. Floating and floating-leaved
number of individuals on the planet and that the combined Aquatic plants that can be seen with the naked eye are plants occur in many Florida water bodies. Rooted
weight of these multitudinous six-legged creatures matches generally called aquatic macrophytes, to differentiate floating-leaved plants can grow completely across
the weight of all the human beings on earth?” them from the much smaller plants called algae. Aquatic shallow water bodies. The roots of floating-leaved plants
“Producing honey and ensuring pollination are not the plants are further classified into three categories provide a stable surface for successful fish spawning.
only useful services insects perform for us and our food. depending upon where they grow. Some advantages of free floating or floating-leaved
They also form a vital part of the staple diet of the animals Aquatic plants can be submersed, meaning that plants include providing bank stabilization to reduce
many humans like to eat, including larger species such as they grow under the water, either rooted to the bottom shoreline erosion and maintaining habitat for fish and
fish and birds. So you can thank insects next time you sit sediments or free floating. They come in all shapes wildlife. However, if periods of low water are followed
down to a trout supper.” and sizes and occur in virtually all local water bodies. by a rapid rise in water level, the roots of dead floating-
Here’s another service that insects provide that’s Environmental factors such as light, water clarity, leaved plants can float to the surface, block access, and
worth thinking about: Life eventually comes to an end temperature, pH, nutrient availability and sediment hinder navigation. Nonnative water hyacinth and water
not only for plants and trees, but for animals of all sizes stability affect where submersed plants will grow. These lettuce may completely cover the surface of a water body
– from midges to moose – and their carcasses are left on plants are professionally managed and, as with many and cause major problems for fish and wildlife habitat,
the ground, not to mention all of the dung that creatures native and nonnative plant populations, can grow to recreation, navigation, and flood control. Floating and
leave in forests, jungles, deserts ... everywhere. If not for nuisance levels if not maintained properly. Excess nutrient floating-leaved plants are not generally considered a
the insects that break all of this down and recycle it back levels from fertilizers and yard waste can further increase human health concern, but they provide breeding habitat
into the soil so that new life can grow, imagine what our the growth of these plants to a nuisance level. Some for mosquitoes. (Source: University of Florida IFAS)
world would be like – and the smell of it! advantages of submersed plants are to provide habitats NPDES Tip: Please pick up after your pet. When pet
And finally, perhaps the most stunning whopper of all: for fish and wildlife, increase water clarity, filter nutrients waste is washed into lakes or canals, the waste decays,
the tiny fruit fly that you sometimes see in your kitchen and increase or decrease dissolved oxygen levels. using up oxygen and sometimes releasing ammonia.
and, just know that if there’s one there are others buzzing Immersed plants are plants that are rooted in water- Low oxygen levels and ammonia combined with warm
around, in addition to the fact that the fruit fly is valuable saturated soils or submersed sediment near the water’s temperatures can kill fish. Pet waste also contains
in laboratory research because it shares a surprising edge, with their leaves and stems exposed. They can grow nutrients that encourage weed and algae growth. Overly
similarity of genes with humans (!), this fly reproduces so from the water’s edge to about three to 10 feet from the fertile water becomes cloudy and green – unattractive for
prolifically that if you mated one tiny male fruit fly with shore. This area is typically called the littoral zone and boating and fishing. Perhaps most importantly, pet waste
one female fruit fly, protected all of their generations of may be composed of a shoreline or wetlands. In our area, carries diseases which make water unsafe.
offspring from being eaten by predators for one year, and
packed all of the resulting fruit flies into a tight ball, they
would measure a circumference larger than the distance
from earth to the sun! Attention:
There is so much more in this book that makes it
abundantly clear how much the author loves her work. In
her preface, she explains that when she tells people that PGA Residents Of Mellowing Years
she works with insects, they often ask her such questions
as: “What good are wasps?” or, “Why do we even need A single phone number may help you to live confidently and gracefully in your own
mosquitoes and deer flies?”
Her book provides the answers to these and hundreds home.
of other reasons why we need so many different species Now there is a volunteer senior ambassador within PGA community who is well-
of insects; she closes her preface with these words: schooled in resources available to help with problems of elders. The Alpert family and
“We need them for pollination, decomposition, and Children’s Services has been helping seniors do just that for many years.
soil formation; to serve as food for other animals, keep • You have questions? We may have answers.
harmful organisms in check, disperse seeds, help us in • You don’t know where to go? We can guide you.
our research, and inspire us with their smart solutions.
Insects are nature’s little cogs that make the world go • You don’t know what you need? We’re well-versed in that problem.
round.” • Do you know a neighbor who needs help?
By the time you turn the last page, you will love Don’t wait. Call now. Dorothy Weiss, 624-4035. Let’s keep connected with each other
Sverdrup-Thygeson and her book. And I have a feeling as a community. All you need is the desire to live comfortably in your own home.
you won’t hate insects as much as you did.

December 2019 / Jupiter Inlet Tide Chart

High Low High Low High High Low High Low High
Sun 01 6:21 AM EST 0.3 ft 12:24 PM EST 2.2 ft 6:56 PM EST 0.7 ft Tue 17 12:26 AM EST 2.1 ft 6:50 AM EST −0.0 ft 1:02 PM EST 2.2 ft 7:29 PM EST 0.2 ft
Mon 02 12:36 AM EST 2.0 ft 7:14 AM EST 0.5 ft 1:11 PM EST 2.1 ft 7:52 PM EST 0.8 ft Wed 18 1:26 AM EST 2.1 ft 7:52 AM EST 0.1 ft 1:57 PM EST 2.2 ft 8:31 PM EST 0.1 ft
Tue 03 1:28 AM EST 1.9 ft 8:10 AM EST 0.7 ft 2:00 PM EST 2.0 ft 8:49 PM EST 0.8 ft Thu 19 2:31 AM EST 2.1 ft 8:59 AM EST 0.2 ft 2:56 PM EST 2.1 ft 9:35 PM EST 0.0 ft
Wed 04 2:23 AM EST 1.9 ft 9:08 AM EST 0.8 ft 2:50 PM EST 1.9 ft 9:45 PM EST 0.7 ft Fri 20 3:37 AM EST 2.1 ft 10:05 AM EST 0.2 ft 3:56 PM EST 2.1 ft 10:36 PM EST −0.1 ft
Thu 05 3:22 AM EST 1.9 ft 10:05 AM EST 0.8 ft 3:42 PM EST 1.9 ft 10:36 PM EST 0.6 ft Sat 21 4:42 AM EST 2.2 ft 11:07 AM EST 0.2 ft 4:56 PM EST 2.1 ft 11:33 PM EST −0.3 ft
Fri 06 4:19 AM EST 1.9 ft 10:58 AM EST 0.8 ft 4:33 PM EST 1.9 ft 11:23 PM EST 0.5 ft Sun 22 5:43 AM EST 2.2 ft 12:05 PM EST 0.2 ft 5:53 PM EST 2.1 ft
Sat 07 5:13 AM EST 2.0 ft 11:47 AM EST 0.7 ft 5:23 PM EST 2.0 ft Mon 23 12:27 AM EST −0.4 ft 6:40 AM EST 2.3 ft 12:59 PM EST 0.1 ft 6:47 PM EST 2.2 ft
Sun 08 12:06 AM EST 0.4 ft 6:03 AM EST 2.1 ft 12:32 PM EST 0.6 ft 6:10 PM EST 2.0 ft Tue 24 1:18 AM EST −0.5 ft 7:31 AM EST 2.4 ft 1:49 PM EST 0.1 ft 7:37 PM EST 2.2 ft
Mon 09 12:47 AM EST 0.2 ft 6:50 AM EST 2.2 ft 1:14 PM EST 0.5 ft 6:55 PM EST 2.1 ft Wed 25 2:07 AM EST −0.5 ft 8:19 AM EST 2.4 ft 2:37 PM EST 0.0 ft 8:25 PM EST 2.2 ft
Tue 10 1:27 AM EST 0.1 ft 7:35 AM EST 2.3 ft 1:55 PM EST 0.4 ft 7:39 PM EST 2.1 ft Thu 26 2:53 AM EST −0.5 ft 9:05 AM EST 2.3 ft 3:23 PM EST 0.0 ft 9:11 PM EST 2.1 ft
Wed 11 2:06 AM EST −0.1 ft 8:18 AM EST 2.3 ft 2:35 PM EST 0.4 ft 8:22 PM EST 2.1 ft Fri 27 3:39 AM EST −0.4 ft 9:48 AM EST 2.3 ft 4:08 PM EST 0.1 ft 9:54 PM EST 2.1 ft
Thu 12 2:47 AM EST −0.2 ft 9:02 AM EST 2.4 ft 3:16 PM EST 0.3 ft 9:06 PM EST 2.2 ft Sat 28 4:23 AM EST −0.3 ft 10:29 AM EST 2.2 ft 4:52 PM EST 0.1 ft 10:36 PM EST 2.0 ft
Fri 13 3:29 AM EST −0.2 ft 9:47 AM EST 2.4 ft 3:59 PM EST 0.3 ft 9:52 PM EST 2.2 ft Sun 29 5:07 AM EST −0.2 ft 11:10 AM EST 2.1 ft 5:36 PM EST 0.2 ft 11:19 PM EST 1.9 ft
Sat 14 4:13 AM EST −0.3 ft 10:33 AM EST 2.4 ft 4:45 PM EST 0.3 ft 10:39 PM EST 2.2 ft Mon 30 5:50 AM EST −0.0 ft 11:50 AM EST 2.0 ft 6:21 PM EST 0.3 ft
Sun 15 5:01 AM EST −0.2 ft 11:20 AM EST 2.3 ft 5:35 PM EST 0.2 ft 11:30 PM EST 2.1 ft Tue 31 12:03 AM EST 1.8 ft 6:35 AM EST 0.2 ft 12:30 PM EST 1.9 ft 7:08 PM EST 0.3 ft
Mon 16 5:53 AM EST −0.1 ft 12:09 PM EST 2.3 ft 6:29 PM EST 0.2 ft
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