Sami Wright

[Arbor Day Foundation @arborday]

1 planet. 1 day. 1 retweet. That’s all it takes to put trees in the ground. When you retweet THIS tweet, you are helping @Snoopy and the Arbor Day Foundation’s goal of planting 100,000 trees. You don’t need a shovel to plant trees today. #ArborDay

[Sami Wright @SamiWright11]

Looks like something has been burrowing in this stump. At first I thought it could be rot, but then I saw all of the sawdust surrounding the hole. I couldn't see how deep the hole was... I wonder if it's from an animal or insect? #BucknellOrganismalBiology @DrHaussmann

[Sami Wright @SamiWright11]

Here's a photo of a black bamboo shoot in my yard. Each year, they grow in thicker. I think it is really interesting that they start growing as thick as they will ultimately be. New shoots start off green, but turn black after sun exposure. #BucknellOrganismalBiology @DrHaussmann

[Sami Wright @SamiWright11]

I've noticed a ton of mushrooms growing recently, presumably due to all of the rain and excess moisture. All brown mushrooms sort of look the same to me... does anyone know what kind this is? They are growing on decaying wood. #BucknellOrganismalBiology @DrHaussmann

[Sami Wright @SamiWright11]

This is an interesting article about how wobmats are able to produce cube-shaped poop. It is thought to function as a way for them to mark their territory, since cubes would stay in place, but until recently nobody knew how they did it. #BucknellOrganismalBiology @DrHaussmann

[National Geographic @NatGeo]

Wombats are the only animals in the world that produce cube-shaped poop—here's why https://t.co/nGWglwYGTM

[Sami Wright @SamiWright11]

I saw a cardinal in my sit spot yesterday. Though they are pretty common, when I looked them up to learn more I realized that the red ones that I usually think of as cardinals are all males, while females are mostly brown with red accents. #BucknellOrganismalBiology @DrHaussmann

[Sami Wright @SamiWright11]

I've never seen a fungus quite like this. This is the Bear's Head Tooth Fungus, and it's actually edible. It has high amounts of vitamin D and protein, and has numerous health benefits. Some have compared the taste to lobster! #BucknellOrganismalBiology @DrHaussmann

[Sami Wright @SamiWright11]

Beaches in California are currently experiencing a "red tide", in which algae blooms discolor the water. At night, this incredible phenomenon is caused by bioluminescent dinoflagellates that glow blue as they are disrupted by waves crashing #BucknellOrganismalBiology @DrHaussmann

[Sami Wright @SamiWright11]

Babiana ringens (rat-tail) plants have evolved a really cool feature to increase pollination. In areas in which they rely on birds for pollination, they grow sturdy stalks that birds perch on as they feed. #BucknellOrganismalBiology @DrHaussmann

[Sami Wright @SamiWright11]

This article shows how fossils can be used to get a better understanding of organisms that lived a long time ago. The Spinosaurus' tail was originally thought to only help the legs, but it is actually the main mechanism for swimming. #BucknellOrganismalBiology @DrHaussmann

[National Geographic @NatGeo]

Explore how new discoveries have added to our concept of what Spinosaurus looked like, leading us to the aquatic predator we now see https://t.co/mgl6JyY99u

[Sami Wright @SamiWright11]

This fascinating video (narrated by David Attenborough of course) shows the elaborate mating dance done by a male Bird of Paradise. Females usually reject around 20 mates before finally accepting one.
https://t.co/Qa2FmpNQmV
#BucknellOrganismalBiology @DrHaussmann

[Sami Wright @SamiWright11]

I thought this picture of a Pacu fish was fake at first. Though related to piranhas, these fish have teeth that are much less sharp and look eerily like human teeth. They are also omnivores, like us, and mostly eat plant material. #BucknellOrganismalBiology @DrHaussmann

[Sami Wright @SamiWright11]

Did you know that blobfish don't actually look so blobby in their natural habitat? They look like that in photos is because their bodies decompress when brought to the surface. Here's an artist's depiction of what they look like normally. #BucknellOrganismalBiology @DrHaussmann

[Sami Wright @SamiWright11]

Another incredible orchid is the Duck Orchid. Its scent attracts sawflies, which land on the "bill". Their weight moves the bill and the fly down into the body of the flower. The only way to escape is by going through a pollen filled area. #BucknellOrganismalBiology @DrHaussmann

[Sami Wright @SamiWright11]

I love reading about plants that have evolved to look like animals. The Bee Orchid, though self pollinating, uses its appearance to attract male bees. When those bees attempt to mate with the flower, the pollination process is sped up. #BucknellOrganismalBiology @DrHaussmann

[Sami Wright @SamiWright11]

I always thought of moths as ugly butterflies until I saw the Sunset Moth. This moth looks very colorful, but this color is actually an illusion caused by clear scales that cover the wings, acting similar to prisms by scattering light. #BucknellOrganismalBiology @DrHaussmann

[Sami Wright @SamiWright11]

The Malaysian Orchid Mantis is an incredible insect that evolved to look just like orchids. This is advantageous because they can deceive predators and trick pollinators into getting close enough to grab and eat. #BucknellOrganismalBiology @DrHaussmann

[Sami Wright @SamiWright11]

Polka-dot plants have unique leaves that are spotted with either pink, red, or white. Now that I am home, mine is getting much more light, increasing the variegation. You can see that the newer leaves are more vibrant compared to old ones #BucknellOrganismalBiology @DrHaussmann

[Sami Wright @SamiWright11]

Quokkas may look nice, but they have a pretty brutal defense mechanism. Mothers will expel their babies from their pouch when threatened, allowing them to get away while the baby's noises attract the predator. #BucknellOrganismalBiology @DrHaussmann

[Sami Wright @SamiWright11]

You may be sleeping a lot more during quarantine (I know I am), but did you know that koalas sleep around 18 hours a day? They do this because their main food source, eucalyptus, is very difficult to digest and requires a lot of energy. #BucknellOrganismalBiology @DrHaussmann