did you know that aquariums can be self sustaining?
". . this little water world is self-supporting and, apart from the feeding of the animals and the cleaning of the front pane of the container (the algae on all other panes are carefully left alone as valuable suppliers of oxygen!), needs no biological care. as long as the right equilibrium is maintained, the aquarium itself needs no cleaning. if one denies oneself the larger fishes, particularly those that stir up the bottom, it does not matter if a layer of mud is gradually formed from the excreta of animals and from dying plant tissues. this is even to be desired, since it suffuses and fertilizes the sandy bottom which was originally sterile. in spite of the mud, the water itself remains as crystal clear and odourless as any of our alpine lakes."
i've been enjoying reading konrad lorenz's king solomon's ring. another favorite chapter includes his stories of the hilarious predicaments he would get himself into when studying ducklings and having to imprint himself upon them as mother duck so as to understand their interactions.
Whenever I read your blog ( you live in one of my favourite places on the planet), I learn something , or take away a book recommendation
ReplyDeleteThank you thank you thank you
Siobhan 😊
Thank you Siobhan xoxo
DeleteMiriam read that book for one of her high school science classes :). There is a cute picture book about Konrad Lorenz and his geese called "The Goose Man." I am not quite sure if he is right about the not-cleaning part, though.
ReplyDeleteLol . . I'm sure that's true about the cleaning and I think his wife would concur. I'll have to look up that picture book . . I have his beautiful Greylag Goose book with the photography by his friend.
DeleteOh, I have seen those pictures. They are fascinating. Do get the picture book, it is sweet.
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