this post was submitted on 09 Nov 2023
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Science Memes

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[–] conditional_soup@lemm.ee 9 points 1 year ago (1 children)

In California, we have Tumbleweed, and it's actually really useful for stabilizing/fertilizing loose, disturbed soils and making shelter for native grasses and plants to start growing near. They also love to fuck with cars by jumping out in front of them at every opportunity.

[–] not_that_guy05@lemmy.world 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

In California they are a danger to the environment. They can spread fires quicker and spread it to different areas. No bueno.

[–] conditional_soup@lemm.ee 8 points 1 year ago (2 children)

The California Invasive Plant Council found that Tumbleweeds had no meaningful impact on wildfire risk one way or the other.

[–] mrbaby@lemmy.world 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Of course a council full of invasive plants would say that

[–] not_that_guy05@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago (2 children)

While waving a flaming Deku stick around probably isn't safe I don't think you can blame California's wildfires on a pointy-eared kid with a floppy hat.

[–] conditional_soup@lemm.ee 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] not_that_guy05@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

My friend your paper states

Plants may add oxalate leachate to soil, making phosphorous more available and facilitating colonization. Can increase fire hazard, especially along tree rows and fences when dead plants build up.

[–] conditional_soup@lemm.ee 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Direct quote from the same item:

Increases fire hazard (though may be a hazard primarily to human landscapes).

In other words, it doesn't meaningfully contribute to the overall ecological fire hazard, you're mostly talking highway veg fires and stuff, which happen with or without tumbleweeds.