Derek de Witt

Oak trees can be found throughout the northern hemisphere, but Florida has an interesting oak species that doesn’t look or act like most others.

Rain. Almost as common in Florida as sand. We have the 5th highest total average precipitation of any state, and it’s heavily concentrated to the summer. Florida would look quite different without it.

Sand is an integral part of the Florida story. The white sandy beaches are a major reason why people come here. But why are the beaches like that? What is it about Florida that produces such things? And, in the end, what really is sand?

At first glance, this grass doesn’t look particularly special or attractive, but when it blooms, it transforms into a beautiful pink cloud.

What kind of plant does this look like to you? For most people, it appears like a fern, but there’s something different about this one.

The palm tree is truly the quintessential Florida plant. It has been associated with Florida and tropical regions in general for decades.

A group of birds flying in formation is a common sight for many of my readers, but not as much here in Florida. Most v-formations seen are ducks or geese, which Florida has fewer of.

Moving on in our backyard tour of Florida is another plant commonly used as an ornamental. It is native to the southern half of the state as well as large portions of Latin America. This is the firebush, Hamelia patens.

What is your favorite flower? Some of you may already know the answer right away. However, if you’re like me, it’s not a question that you ever gave much thought about. That’s perfectly fine, too. You can appreciate things without having a ‘favorite’.

What visual comes to mind when you hear the word nature? For many people, it conjures images of far off places of heavy wilderness. One of the goals of Nature Stories is to try and change the perspective that the natural world is separate from our everyday lives.

Previously, we've looked at the use of bioluminescence as a lure for prey, but this organism actually uses a dark part of its body with no light-emitting structures as the lure and its behavior mirrors a parasite more than a predator.

The ultimate source for many bioluminescent borrowers comes from glowing bacteria. However, while most of these relationships are beneficial for both organisms, there are examples of parasitic bioluminescent bacteria in some marine invertebrates.

Krill are some of the smallest animals and are eaten en masse by some of the largest, baleen whales. But, these crustaceans also glow and have developed methods for movement and rotation of their light-emitting structures.

Even single-celled organisms can possess bioluminescence. The effect is the result of a motion stimulus response and can be seen in breaking waves on the seashore.

Sometimes, bioluminescent organisms give us some insight into other aspects of the natural world. This is true for a sea jelly, which uses a unique set of proteins to make its glow. We have identified their structure and used their special properties to further our understanding of genetics.

Most bioluminescent organisms contain the chemical reaction inside their bodies. However, there are some that function differently. Snails and slugs leave a mucus trail behind and for a small number of species, this trail glows.

In the right hands, or in this case tentacles, bioluminescence can be a veritable swiss army knife of utility. Certain squid can use it for communication, to attract prey or mates, and even to enhance its ability to camouflage.

While anglerfish use their glow to mimic a prey item, other bioluminescent organisms take advantage of an even more instinctual type of behavior: the tendency to approach light sources. Like a moth to a flame, their prey become stuck in their traps.

Bioluminescence can also be used as a tool for communication and species identification. The placement of luminescent areas can vary by species and can be activated in different patterns. This can help animals that live in groups, such as fish, to stay together.

Bright colors are a common symbol in nature for 'danger', usually used by poisonous individuals to dissuade predators. But what about at nighttime, when most vision is monochromatic? A group of millipedes have developed a similar signal using light instead of color.

The deep ocean is an inhospitable place, with no light and high pressure. Many organisms there bioluminesce, including a creature straight out of a bizarre nightmare that uses a glowing lure to attract prey.

Imagine yourself thousands of years ago, coming across something that emitted light, but not heat. What is this strange, green, cold fire? You might even attribute it to supernatural forces. But it isn't magic, it's chemistry.

Bioluminescence is the process of emitting light through a chemical reaction, facilitated by an enzyme. Different species have developed various uses for this process.

For humans, the importance of play is also evident in its influence on the brain and the connections between brain cells that develop because of it. Such connections are still under study, but form an important part of human mental agility and adaptive ability.

Octopuses are highly intelligent, especially considering that they are invertebrates. Knowing this, would they participate in play behavior? It's difficult to say for sure, but the potential is there.

Many species of large cats are solitary upon reaching adulthood. However, there is evidence for the social benefit of play behavior in these species as well.

Can reptiles play? Many reptile species behaviors are instinctual, not learned, so many of the previous examples would not apply. However, the importance of enrichment activities for captive turtles complicates the question.

For social species, play can be such an important part of their development that its absence causes severe behavioral problems. This is particularly clear when looking at pet parrots.

Domestic pets also exhibit play behavior, much of it passed down from their wild ancestors. Even though their survival needs are met mainly by their human owners, play still helps in the development of social and motor skills for them.

Dolphins are another highly intelligent group of species that are well known for their playful behavior, even with other species. However, it is important to remember that they are wild animals and can harm others even without malicious intent. They are not pets and should be treated with respect.