Why Conifers Aren't So Easy to Eat
In Why Conifers Aren't So Easy to Eat narrator Sir David Attenborough explains that evergreen trees don’t become food easily. A moose munches on needles full of distasteful resin, while birds pry open cones to eat the seeds. This video is excerpted from BBC's Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
Lesson Express
Q: What is the purpose of resin in conifers? What is the impact?
A: The resin protects the needles by reducing water loss. The resin makes the needles distasteful to animals.
Q: Why do you think the moose is eating the needles if they’re so distasteful?
A: Student responses will vary. Students may suggest that the moose is adapted to eat them or that the moose has no other options for food.
Q: How are the crossbills adapted to life in this environment?
A: Their bills allows them to pry open cones to grab the seeds with their tongues; they can fly south when there is no more food available.
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