Week 4

Date: Saturday, April 26, 2014
Time: 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Weather: Slight sun, few cumulous clouds
Temperature: 57 F
Location: Wolf Tree Nature Trail - Discovery Park

TO VIEW MY PLANT SPECIES DESCRIPTIONS FOR THE WEEK, GO TO THE "PLANT FIELD GUIDE" TAB. BELOW ARE MY WEEKLY PHENOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS:

The last couple of weeks learning plant species has really paid off! I'm seeing the fruits of my labor as I walk around my site and am able to identify many tree, shrub, and wildflower species. It's a rewarding feeling! Because of this new knowledge, as I walk around my site, I am seeing it through a new lens and noticing interactions and species that were there all along, but had gone unnoticed. My sit spot is dominated by Red Alder and Big Leaf Maple trees with scattered Western Hemlock, Western Red Cedar, and Douglas fir trees around the area. 

Week 1: View from log (sit spot) 

Week 4: View of log 

Week 4: View from log 

There is a patch of Red Alder near my sit spot with trees that are surprisingly close in proximity. Four large Red Alder trees are located within a 10 ft^2 radius (figure 1). This may be because Red Alder are nitrogen fixators and also grow well in nitrogen-rich soil. They create a hostile environment for other plants while creating a rich environment for themselves. One may be curious about how these four trees compete for canopy space and light. Two of their trucks grow vertically while the other two actually grow diagonally to reach an open space in the canopy. Furthermore a nearby Douglas Fir tree has grown diagonally and in invading the Red Alder's natural canopy space. This set-up makes me wonder which trees were established and growing first, and which trees adapted to their environment in response to others. Maybe all five of these tree are adapting to other trees nearby.

Figure 1: Four Red Alder within 10 ft^2 radius

Figure 2: Two Red Alder (right) cross with Douglas Fir (left)

A layer of Wood Sorrel has fully developed on the forest floor at my sit spot creating a carpet of green because the flowers have not yet bloomed (figure 3).

Figure 3. Wood Sorrel without blooms at week 4!

The same Wood Sorrel at Week 1!

Another noticeable aspect is that my sit spot can barely be seen from the trail, which could easily be spotted on week 1. The Salmonberry vegetation has developed plenty of leaves and their flowers are now wilting on their stems. The thick layer of salmonberry leaves hides my sit spot log now. The salmonberry blooms have come and are now wilting on their stems.

Week 4: View of salmonberry to sit spot!

Week 1: The same salmonberry at my sit spot

Week 4: Salmonberry spines on stems

The moss continues to dry up with the season as temperatures warm and precipitation decreases. There are a few saplings growing in the understory and sprouting new growth. I was able to identify a maple sapling and Western Red Cedar sapling (Figure 4).

Figure 4. Western Red Cedar sapling 

As for birds, I was able to recognize a few chickadee calls, several American Robins, a woodpecker, an owl. I am hoping to identify more birds later in the season after we have learned bird species in class.

Olympic Peninsula

This past weekend our class made a trip to the Olympic Peninsula to study the components of an old growth Tsuga heterophylla zone forest at Lake Crescent and explore the ecosystem of a minus tide at Salt Creek. Below is a photo of our route (in yellow) to Naturebridge, where we stayed and the location  (in red) of Lake Crescent and Salt Creek for reference.

Adventures at Lake Crescent:

Date: Saturday, April 19, 2014

Time: 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Weather: Rain

Lake Crescent is home to an old growth Tsuga heterophylla (Western Hemlock) zone.

 Trail and old growth forest

There are several factors that influence the structure and species of the vegetation I saw this weekend:

Slope aspect: The West-facing slope on the Stormking Trail will receive more sun than the East-facing slope. I observed more sun-loving vegetation like Madrones and Douglas Firs. One the East-facing slope I saw more moisture-loving vegetation like moss and Sword Ferns.

Elevation: At lower elevations I saw more moisture-loving vegetation like Sword Ferns because the moisture is brought down the slope. At higher elevations I saw plants that are more tolerant to dryer soils like Salal, Madrones and smaller trunked trees from growing on a steep slope.

Soil type and moisture: Due to evidence of past fires, we can infer that the soil on Stormking is not of great quality and along with less moisture up the slope, we find Salal and Madrones, both poor soil and low-moisture tolerant.

Disturbance: Highway 101 bridges over Barnes Creek and does so right next to the tallest Grand Fir in the world. Because of the presence of the road, the tree is subject o more sunlight than normal without a surrounding canopy. The adjacent vegetation and creek may be more prone to runoff pollution from the road than vegetation deeper in the forest.

Highway 101 bridge over creek

Defining a forest:
A forest is defined by its structure, function and composition. The structure of a forest is the height of trees and vegetation age. The function is the services it provides such as habitat, water retention abilities, food sources to animals and converting carbon dioxide into oxygen. The composition is what the forest is made up of such as species diversity and population size per species.

While walking on the trail near the lake, I spotted a tree covered in a thick, waxy-looking material that I soon learned to be resin. Only confers produce resin and they secrete it as a means of an immune system. When a conifer is scared or injured it released resin which helps heal the wound. Conifers also release resin as a means to get rid of unwanted visitors such as scaring away bark beetles.

Animals on the trail:
Black-tail deer (2)

Birds on the trail:
Pacific Wren, Steller's Jay, American Robin, Common Raven

Trees, shrubs and flowers:
Western Hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla), Douglas Fir (Psuedotsuga menziesii), Pacific Madrone (Arbutus menziesii), Western Redcedar, Grand Fir (Abies lasiocarpa), Pacific Yew, Bigleaf Maple (Acer Macrophyllum), Aspen, Tall Oregon Grape, Dull Oregon Grape, Stink Currant, Devil's Club, Red Huckleberry, Salal, and Trillium

Myself with the tallest Grand Fir in the world!

Date: Sunday, April 20, 2014

Time: 6:30 am - 10:00 am

Weather: Clear, no rain, cold temperature

Animals on the trail:

Black-tail deer (5)

Birds on the trail:

Pacific Wren, Varied Thrush, Canada Goose, Mallard ducks, Black-capped chickadee, Chestnut-backed chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, American Robin, Song Sparrow

Trees, shrubs and flowers on the trail:

Sword Fern, Yellow Morel, Artist's fungus, Lungwort, Horsetail, Alder, Indian Plum, Salmonberry, Fairy slipper

Fairy slipper

Adventures at Salt Creek:

Date: Sunday, April 20, 2014

Time: 11:30am - 4:00 pm

Weather: Not too cold, overcast sky, grey clouds and sky

We were able to explore tide pools Sunday morning for a minus tide. A minus tide occurs rarely and exposes more tide pools than a typical tide because the tide is lower than normal.

Here I was able to observe several types of ecosystem interactions:

Competition: I observed many rocky surfaces that had both limpets and barnacles. These two organisms compete for space in these intertidal zones. Additionally, I saw two hermit crabs fighting. One had a shell on its back and the other did not. The two had clutched on to one another and were rolling around. It seemed that these two hermit crabs were competing for a shell to call home.

Disturbance: I observed human disturbance of the natural ecosystem as visitors walked on the mussel beds to view the tides and overturned rocks to observe wildlife. The day we were there was Easter Sunday and one group of beach visitors were having an easter egg hunt on the beach and I saw one plastic egg get washed away by the creek and into the ocean, contributing to ocean trash pollution.

Predation: One form of predation I saw was a seagull pick up a fish from the creek and attempt to swallow it several times. However this fish was too big for the seagull so it picked the fish up and flew away, probably to pick the fish to pieces in peace. Another form of predation I saw was a raccoon cracking mussels open to eat the center on the beach.

Ecosystem ripple effect: The limpets the algae on the rocks and the oystercatchers eat the limpets. When the oystercatchers eat the limpets, the algae population increases because its predator was taken out of the sequence.

This is a thumbnail sketch at the Salt Creek minus tide looking East. The Juan de Fuca Lobe of the Cordilleran Ice Cap was adjacent to this abrupt shoreline. Large erratics are seen scattered along the beach which were deposited by the retreating Juan de Fuca lobe. Basalt rock deposits cover the exposed ocean floor which was formed by melting magma mixing with cold salt water during the subduction of the Juan de Fuca plate under the North American plate 18,000 years ago.

Animals observed:
Common raccoon, Sea Lion

Birds observed:
Black oystercatcher, Surfbird, Dunlin, Marbled Murrelet

Invertebrates observed:
Green anemone, Aggregating Anemone (Antopleura elegantissima), Mossy Chiton, Lined Chiton, Fingered limpet, Frilled/Emarginate dog winkle, Edible mussel, Littleneck clam, Dall's acorn, barnacle, Purple shore crab, Ochre sea star, Purple sea urchin, Tidepool sculpin, Purple sponge (Haliclona sponge)

Trees, shrubs and flowers observed:
Madrone, Pacific rockweed, Bull kelp, Sea lettuce, Pacific laver

Aggregating anemone sketch

Coralline Red sketch

Unidentified aquatic plant sketch

Tidepool Sculpin sketches

Hermit Crab sketch

Pacific Rockweed

 Aggregating Anemone

Ochre Sea Stars

Purple Sponge

Week 2

Date: Saturday, April 12, 2014

Time: 11:30 – 12:30 am

Weather: Sunny, slight breeze

Temperature: 54°F

Location: Wolf Tree Nature Trail – Discovery Park

Phenology and activity: 

I returned to the same area and sat on the same log as last week to observe seasonal changes and I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of change that occurred in 7 days! First of all, the deciduous trees had begun to grow leaves. Rubus spectabilis ("Salmonberry") that were as tall as me last week, now tower over me a foot with their plentiful leaves. I noticed this initially because in order to reach the log I sit on, I have to make my way through a patch of salmonberry bushes (I would not have chosen this path to my sitting log last week if I had known what these plants would grow in to). Last week, these Salmonberry bushes were small and had very little leaves forming. This week the plants were beginning to flower with magenta flowers (drawn below). The forest was much drier than last week, the moss and wood was not soggy and the fallen leaves crunched under my feet as I walked. There was a strong scent of Lysichiton americanus ("Western Skunk Cabbage") through the forest. These plants were flowered and are common throughout this sight. There were even more flying insects than last week. There were constant bird songs from different birds while I was here. I saw an Turdus migratorius ("American Robin") close by on a branch. I saw a Selasphorus rufus ("Rufous hummingbird") feeding. I saw what I believe to be a Melospiza melodia ("Song sparrow") performing its call repetitively. It had a brown stripped body and a lighter stripped marking over its eye. This bird was very vocal!

These flying black beetle insects were all over the salmonberry plants. 

Sketch of a flying insect - currently unidentified

The following six sketches are part of a field drawing exercise of a salmonberry bloom:

3. Memory sketch of a salmonberry bloom

 4. Contour sketch of salmonberry bloom

5. Gesture sketch of salmonberry bloom 

6. Diagram sketch of salmonberry bloom

7. Experimental line sketch of salmonberry bloom

8. Study drawing of salmonberry bloom

Dicentra formosa ("Western bleedingheart") was blooming this week which was not in bloom in week 1. Blooms are light pink/purple in color. The stems grow vertically but the blooms slump over and hang upside down.

Western bleedingheart sketch

Genus oxalis ("Wood sorrels") cover the ground surrounding the salmonberry at my location. The large clover-like green leaves are soft and blooms are not yet present.

Young Pteridium aquilinum ("Bracken fern") is present along the trail. Its leaves were relatively short and small.

The following is a sketch of an unidentified ground plant. It's leaves were light green, soft, and lobed. No blooms were present.

Many Alnus rubra ("Red Alder") trees are present and are full of slightly-toothed, ovate green leaves with gray/tan smooth bark with lichens. 

Red Alder gesture sketch

Repeat photos for week 2:

View from log

  Additional view from log

Close up of  Vespula pensylvanica ("Western Yellow Jacket") on back left leaf

Close up of Red Alder covered with Icicle moss

Last week I wrongly identified a tree to be a Grand Fir tree. After more consideration, I believe this tree is a Douglas Fir.

Distance photo of tree

Close up of pine

Additional repeat pictures from week 1 but at different spatial scales:

 View from sitting spot on log

View of log from trail

Week 1

Date: Saturday, April 5, 2014

Time: 2:30-3:05 pm

Weather: Grey, cloudy skies, slightly humid, small rain shower at 3:00 pm

Temperature: ~55°F

Location: Wolf Tree Nature Trail – Discovery Park

This was my first visit to Discovery Park which was both exciting and terrifying. I was excited because I was eager to explore a place in nature I had never visited but it was equally as terrifying because I had never been on a trail by myself. I have always hiked with at least one other person.  I was completely alone and this made me realize the dangerous feeling nature can induce.  The ironic part was is that I was more afraid of the idea of unfriendly humans than I was of wild animals as I trudged through the muddy and seemingly desolate trails alone.

I began my journey at the Discovery Park Visitor Center where I was convinced by the woman at the front desk that the Wolf Tree Nature Trail would be a pleasant spot to observe nature, and possible see some beaver activity in the nearby pond or get a glimpse of a barred owl nest! Hopefully these treasures will unfold in my weeks of observation to come.

Wolf Tree Nature Trail trailhead sign

Once I arrived at the trailhead, I searched for about 30 minutes until I found a place that I felt comfortable to sit and observe. After settling down on a fallen log, my senses filled with the life of the forest around me. It was overwhelming at first, I didn’t know where to start. I decided to start with the first thing I saw, a Housefly on the log next to me. Not so exciting, but at least I had something. However, the fly’s body was slightly red so I’m not sure if this is the correct identification. 

I heard four different bird calls from various distances, some 10 meters away and others 50 meters away, but was not able to identify any of them based on their song. I wasn't able to see any birds with my eyes because they were too high up in the tall forest canopy. Hopefully, my ID abilities based on bird songs will develop as my journey continues. I did however hear two owls in two different locations. Very exciting! They seemed to be answering one another’s calls. One was about 30 meters away and the second seemed at least 100 meets away by the sound of their calls. I was not able to see them so I couldn't identify them. They had identical calls. I wonder if they are the barred owls I was warned about. 

I noticed some isothecium myosuroides (“Icicle moss”) on the fallen log I was sitting on. 

Icicle Moss

As I sat, a bombus vosenesenskii (“Yellow-faced Bumblebee”) flew circles around me as if it was checking out what new member had entered the forest.  

I saw what may be a Grand Fir tree with dark brown, patchy bark and pine-looking vegetation. 

Grand Fir Tree

Fallen pine from the Grand Fir Tree

I saw was looked to be several bushes of rubus spectabilis (“Salmonberry”) that only consisted of orange/brown stems and green fine-toothed, ovate leaves (no flowers or buds – I assume these will develop as the season continues). 

Salmonberry

I saw hylocomium splendens (“Fern Moss”) on an unidentified tree.  

Fern Moss

It was difficult to identify the trees because they are all so tall in the forest and I could not get a good look at their leaves. I tried to observe the fallen leaves but I didn’t know which leaves belonged to which trees.

Noting the numerous flying insects all around the forest, I opened my field guide in an attempt to identify them. However, after flipping through the several pages of insects and spiders, I soon realized that I did not have as much control over my fear of these creatures as I had previously thought. I'm sure being alone in the forest didn't help this reemerging fear either. I decided that the identification of these insects would need to take place later, in the comfort of my insect-free apartment.

I would like to note the human interference I noticed in this forest, as it is a protected area within a busy city. There was obvious interference by the presence of hiking trails through the forest and the nearby road that lead people through the park. A few beer cans lined the trails and driving cars could be heard from the log where I sat. Hikers moved through the trails rather loudly, as one skipped and the other sang songs aloud. As I observed species, I heard distance sirens on two occasions and an airplane and helicopter flew overhead.

The following photo is of the view that I will take repeat photos of each week to compare the change in vegetation of the season.

I'll be back next week and I will be sure to bring a friend along from now on. Until next week!