Re: BITING CERATOP{S}IANS

[Stan Friesen <swf@ElSegundoCA.ATTGIS.COM>]

>From: Flyinggoat@aol.com
 > 
 > Didn't Horner describe the area around Egg Mountain's drier bits as being
 > covered by ferns and berry bushes?  Here in California I've seen berry
 > thickets covering city block-sized, arid, areas.  These shade the ferns well
 > enough to protect from the full heat of day.
 > 
The heat isn't the limiting factor.  Fern reproduction involves
*swimming* (flagellated) sperm.  This means that there must be
at least a short time each year where there is enough water for
fertilization to happen - that is at least a thin film of water
covering the ground.

Grasses are *wind* pollinated, so they can reproduce with NO standing
water at all.

The Egg Mountain site probably represents a seasonally wet environment,
so ferns could reproduce there during the wet season.

swf@elsegundoca.attgis.com              sarima@netcom.com

The peace of God be with you.