Independent - Trees

[Argee2]

I am still trying to find two answers in this quiz:
1. What was the controversy surrounding last year's annual gift to London from the people of Norway of a Christmas tree?
2. Why are deer so particularly attracted to the willow tree (Salix) that they are planted as "sacrifices" to protect other species?
Have you got these, Genius 101, as I see you have asked a lot of questions from this quiz?

[slaney]

1. Environmental protesters from Norway climbed the tree dressed as Santas.

[slaney]

Sorry forgot to say they were protesting about Sellafield.

[ontarioice]

Sites along river banks if defoliated are prone to be flooded so in many places the Salix (willow) is planted as it likes to be beside water and can take the strain of defoliation. This is done to encourage wildlife to leave the other species alone. Deer and other animals like the willow because not only does it provide food, but also shelter from prey and is close to drinking water.
I hope that this help you somewhat.

[Argee2]

Many thanks, slaney. I have spent ages trying to find that.
Also, thank you, ontarioice, for your information. I have found out that (reputedly) they eat willow because it contains salicylic acid (aspirin) against arthritis and tick bites. I hope this is true. It has given me a headache!! :-)

[slaney]

I'm glad you have the answer to the deer /willow question ....I spent some time yesterday trawling through many worthy articles on the foraging habits of deer, and not finding the answer was beginning to bug me.
I was going to suggest today if nothing better had come up that they ate the bark to avoid headaches in the rutting season ...not a million miles from the answer!

[barrowman]

Deer do like to graze on willow in preference to other tree species. It is thought that willow, which contains salicin (active ingredient in aspirin) helps to counteract the harmful effects of deer ticks