No thanks

I just replyed to question in rec.gardens


--
Sincerely,
John A. Keslick, Jr.
Consulting Arborist
http://home.ccil.org/~treeman
and www.treedictionary.com
Beware of so-called tree experts who do not understand tree biology.
Storms, fires, floods, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions keep reminding us
that we are not the boss.

"Scott Hildenbrand" wrote in message
.. .
symplastless wrote:
This is a very good question. When Dr. Alex L. Shigo died, he had been
working on research about roots under the ice under the water in ponds
and his swamp.
Somewhat along the lines of your question.
Here he writes about some of it.
http://www.treedictionary.com/DICT20...go/WINTER.html

If you eamil me at when I run accross more
stuff I will send it to you.

"Frozen cavities in soil. Mycorrhizae layer cavities frozen. Water in
soil cavities rarely freezes because the snow on top acts as a very good
insulator. When there is little or no snow, all the small amounts of
water in cavities does freeze. When cavities has very little water due to
low amounts of rain, the situation becomes much worse. The reason is
that the mycorrhizae in the cold soil depend on water to do their work.
When there is no free water, the mycorrhizae do not work. Deficiency
problems usually happen the next growing season. The situation was
discussed by Dr. Rene Pomerleau many years ago. Soil does not freeze,
but water in cavities does freeze."

"A name is needed for the organs, as synergetic associations, with trees
and other organisms, under snow, ice, and water".

"Should the organisms associated with the roots be more correctly termed
oomycetes than fungi? Very few people look for mycorrhizae in winter,
and further, under water covered by ice and snow. Trees may be dormant
above ground in winter, but not dormant below ground."
"Cold and ice can stimulate life, or destroy it. Ice and cold can kill
plants and animals. Above ground ice can kill as twigs, and stems,
fracture. Below ground ice expands soil to for cavities that support
life. Cold water can hold more oxygen than warm water. Fish know this!
Warm climates support an abundance of life. Many organisms know this.
Hydrogen dioxide as solid ice, liquid water, and vapor as a gas, is in
many ways, the essence of life."

"As ice forms and thaws in soil, minute cavities form that support the
growth of many types of microorganisms, insects, and other life forms.
These cavities are not the same as those formed by fracturing tools that
make enormous holes in soil. Even smaller cavities result when fungus
hyphae die. The minute cavities allow air and water to get into the
soil. Compaction is the major disrupters of cavities. This is why mulch
of decomposed plant parts is so essential for soils. In climates that
have cold winters, ice in soil is essential for the health of organisms
in the soil as well as organisms such as plants growing in the soil but
getting food from the sun. When the ice does not form, there may be
problems for plants."


"Cells die when ice crystals form in the walls and spaces between cells
because water in the cells flows outward. The cells die from
dehydration. Water flows outward because the concentration of liquid
water decreases as ice forms and a concentration gradient forms; flow of
liquid water goes from high concentration to low concentration due to the
ice crystals that reduce the amount of liquid water."

There is alot more where this came from.
If I can help you regarding this type of information please email me.



This was posted to rec.aquaria.tech on Dec 3rd with no cross group posting
what-so-ever. Why was it replies to here and not to the OP.

If you're so eager to "answer" their question, it'd be highly recommended
to reply to them in their group, not us.