The invasion of the chicharros as a lodger of the forest

2005/01/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Ekologia

Every 17 years, chicheras invade the east of the United States. This, of course, generates many drawbacks and, even when they die, it is not nice to see everything full of a crispy cover. However, the dead chicharros are beneficial to the forest.

This is demonstrated by an ecologist from California. The year after the invasion of cicada, it seems that the leaves of forest plants have more nitrogen than others. In fact, the plants possess in the soil three times more ammonium and nitrate than normal. The effect is also seen in seeds, which increase by 9%.