by Rosemary Badger, ELC Naturalist
Continuing with Sarah Rhodes-Ondi's theme in the May newsletter about mothers in nature, this article is for all of the fathers out there. Mothers are, of course, very important but it's time to give fathers their due. It is true that most animals never even see their parents! Some insects, fish, amphibians and reptiles hatch from fertilized eggs and face life completely alone. However, for animals living in the wild, the efforts of two parents are often required for the young to survive. Here are some facts about three interesting animal fathers you may find around the ELC campus.
Seahorses and pipefish are close relatives of each other and can be found in the seagrasses around Wabasso Island. Females of either species can lay hundreds of eggs directly inside the male's brood pouch (a fold of skin on the belly that forms a pocket). As the eggs develop the male's pouch gets larger and it becomes difficult for him to swim. He hides in seagrasses to avoid becoming dinner. Within two-six weeks (depending on species) the eggs hatch inside the pouch. Once the babies begin moving, the dad begins bending his body back and forth. This allows his pouch to open and the babies to shoot out. Sometimes it can take a couple of days for all babies to emerge and leave behind an exhausted dad.
Giant water bugs can reach a length of three inches and can be found in the freshwater pond on campus. After mating, the female neatly deposits about a hundred eggs in rows on the father's back. The eggs receive oxygen as the male swims or kicks water across his body. After the young hatch he scrapes his back clean for the next time he's needed for "child support."
In a nest with a view over the whole ELC campus is a third animal father. The osprey's nest on the platform over the pond is built of sticks collected by both parents. But once the nest is built, the male begins to deliver food to the female. This feeding continues until the pair produce young and those "kids" are able to go off on their own. The bond he creates by feeding will keep the pair together for life.
While most animals are born having no interaction with their fathers, we can find some nearby dads trying to give their kids the best opportunities before going out into the world. Sound like any father you know?
Happy Father's Day!