Week 9

November 30^th, 2014
12:00 pm
Ravenna Park
Sunny Weather

Part 1:

Before I began my trek to Ravenna Park, it was necessary for me to layer up. It was below freezing outside and I knew if I did not have the proper clothing, I would regret it. Once I was ready, I continued to Ravenna Park.  As usual, I walked through mud and crossed a nurse log to make it to the location. There was a thin layer of snow covering all the plants around me. Patches of sunlight illuminated random areas, creating a surreal feeling environment.

Now that it is the end of the quarter, it is important to consider how the ecology has changed over the season. At the beginning of the quarter, all the plants were green and lively. The canopy density of the forest was high, causing difficulty seeing more than 10 meters in any direction. Plants like the western sword fern and the giant horsetail were thriving. The Ravenna Creek itself was at a low level. From where I took my observations, a small branch was growing out of the western red cedar directly behind me. At the time, I did not realize how much all of these aspects of the forest would change.

My most recent visit to my Ravenna location was drastically unlike any I had been to before. To start, the entire forest was covered in snow. With each step I took, you could hear the crunch of ice on the ground. The entire understory was covered in dead leaves. This natural covering, along with the lowering of temperatures, does not allow for much plant life to survive. The western sword fern by the creek, which had previously been thriving, has almost completely dried out. The western red cedar branch I had previously noticed grew 10 centimeters. More than half the trees in the forest had lost their leaves. These trees I had previously identified as red alder and big leaf maple. No leaves on trees, allows you to see up to 15 meters in all directions. 

Ecological changes throughout the quarter. 

Panoramic picture of my site at the beginning of the quarter.

Picture of the Western Sword Fern directly next to the creek at the beginning of the quarter.

Panoramic picture of my site at the end of the quarter.

Picture of the Western Sword Fern directly next to the creek at the end of the quarter. 

Part 2:

1) How has your perception of your observation site changed through the quarter?

At the beginning of the quarter, when I was given the task of finding a blog site, I decided on my spot out of criteria. The site was next to the creek and was completely surrounded by trees. What I did not know was that I would come to love my site for all of its characteristics, even ones I did not initially take note of. For example, the branch that grew out of the western red cedar. I only began to realize how much it had grown because I was at my site every week noticing changes. As time went on, my site became less off an area with plants but more of an area I enjoyed going to observe. It is important to get past the initial feeling of not knowing any of the plants around you and begin to look at how things have changed over time. Another example is the western sword fern that I continuously observed. To anyone who would look at the fern they would say it’s dried out and appears to be dead. I have a different perspective because I have slowly seen the fern loose its color. At the beginning of the quarter it was green and lively.

2) How has your sense of the Puget Sound Region changed through the quarter?

Over the quarter, I have learned large amounts about the Puget Sound Region. Before the class, I had never known that Washington was covered by Lake Russell and then thousands of years later the Cordilleran Ice Cap. These two natural history events have greatly changed how the Puget Sound Region has formed. For example, if you examine the soil of the region, there is evidence of a clay layer. This clay layer formed when Lake Russell covered much of the region. The clay layer causes major damages to house on the sides of mountains because rainwater gets absorbed through the soil, to the clay layer. This absorption causes major landslides.  Knowing about the clay layer helps understand why there are so many major landslides across the Puget Sound region. Another example of something I learned about was glaciers. Having gone on a field trip to Mt. Rainier, I was able to see a glacier melting directly in front of me. This visual has helped me understand how quickly the ice is melting and how big of a problem it is. All of these factors have allowed me to understand the natural history of the area. Knowing this natural history can help prepare us for future changes in ecology and environment.

3) What does it mean to intimately know a natural place? (Think about this question in terms of the process and the outcome. Also think about it in terms of scale—you have done close observation of one site, as well as developed broader appreciation on field trips around the Puget Sound).

It is difficult to describe how it feels to be intimate with a natural place. At the beginning of the quarter, I would have never thought I would come to love my blog site. My blog site has become my sanctuary. It is a place where I can sit down and just observe all the little details. Starting out was intimidating because I did not initially know the plant types and locations. As time goes on, you begin to remember where the plants are and you are able to see its changes. I have slowly become intimate with my natural blog spot. I have always loved the environment, but I had never quite understood location conservation to the same extent. When indigenous people had their land taken away, I can only imagine how horrifying it was. They knew the land better than anyone else and taking away their natural intimate place, I imagine, was difficult. When looking at this natural intimacy it is important to look at it in a more broad sense as well. I came to love my small site, yet intimacy can be extended to a larger scope. Time spent in natural places, big or small, can allow people to connect to natural world around them.  This connection could even cause activism in the future.

Rough Draft Final Project

Location 1: Ecological changes overtime

Before I began my trek to Ravenna Park, it was necessary for me to layer up. It was below freezing outside and I knew if I did not have the proper clothing, I would regret it. Once I was ready, I continued to Ravenna Park. Out of habit, I headed straight for my blog site.  As usual, I walked through mud and crossed a nurse log to make it to the location. There was a thin layer of snow covering all the plants around me. Patches of sunlight illuminated random areas, creating a surreal feeling environment.

For the last quarter, I have tracked the ecology of Ravenna Park has changed throughout the fall season. At the beginning of the quarter, all the plants were green and lively. The canopy density of the forest was high, causing difficulty seeing more than 10 meters in any direction. Plants like the Western Sword fern and the Giant Horsetail were thriving. The Ravenna Creek itself was at a low level. From where I took my observations, a small branch was growing out of the Western Red Cedar directly behind me. At the time, I did not realize how much all of these aspects of the forest would change.

My most recent visit to my Ravenna location was drastically unlike the first. To start, the entire forest was covered in snow. With each step I took, you could hear the crunch of ice on the ground. The entire understory is covered in dead leaves. This natural covering, along with the lowering of temperatures, does not allow for much plant life to survive. The Western sword fern by the creek, which had previously been thriving, has almost completely dried out. The Western Red Cedar branch I had previously noticed grew 10 centimeters.

More than half the trees in the forest had lost their leaves. These trees I had previously identified as Red Alder and Big Leaf Maple. Each of these tree types is deciduous, meaning they loose their leaves annually. No leaves on trees, allows you to see up to 15 meters in all directions. This change in visibility is important to animal life. Birds that hid in deciduous trees during the summer now have to find other ways to remain hidden. Additionally, the change in seasons makes it difficult for these animals to find sufficient food. A good example of this is the understory of the forest. In the summer, plants like Salmonberry thrive.  The berries from the salmonberry are an important meal to the animal life in the area.

Panoramic pictures compiled from beginning of quarter to the end

Western Sword Fern dried out beside the creek

Final panoramic picture of my location

Location 2: Ecological disturbance

From my Ravenna Park site, I continued down the trail to find another location to stop at. I stumbled upon an area that had few trees. The understory was sparse, with few plants like ivy growing along the floor. From where I stood, there were trees about 10 meters away from me in all directions. I knew immediately, this was not how the forest should be set up. Something or someone had tampered with the area.

At location 2, I examined the creek. Two tree stumps and a large body of water had formed. This type of water formation is unlike any of the other areas of the creek. I have come to understand, this quarter, how the Ravenna Creek flows. It is a narrow creek that requires fallen branches and rock blockage for life to form. These types of areas allow for changes in water rate. Invertebrate larvae, for example, survive best in slow moving water. Overall, the creek is crucial to creation of life in the area.

After thinking more about this, it became clear that humans had disturbed the area. An ecological disturbance is when specific event or events have changed caused mass plant mortality and has overall changed the structure of the environment. How was Ravenna Creek disturbed? In this specific location, the cutting of trees has greatly affected the area. Before, a thriving tree was growing in the creek, creating shade for understory to grow. Now, the stump has been left in the water, not allowing plant life to grow around it. The roots of the previous tree are still in the water, but unlike a nurse log or snag, the environment is not able to benefit from the decaying tree. 

The stumps surrounded by a pool of water

Location 3: Land Use History

To best explain land-use history, I wanted to find an area on one of the hills in the park. After a bit of walking, including an uphill climb, I found the spot. The location I choose was in between many trees on a steep incline. To understand the history of land-use, it is first necessary to know some history about Ravenna Park and why it is important. The park itself was created in 1887 by George and Oltilde Dorffel. As time went on, the park quickly became an important part of the city. (Blecha) People were able to enjoy nature in the middle of the city. As the University District and Ravenna grew, the public park was created. Today, people use Ravenna Park to enjoy a nice stroll, or even go for a quick run.

As the city has grown, residential areas have surround Ravenna Park. This has caused major pollution to the environment of the park. This pollution comes largely from water run-off. When it rains, water moves through city streets and becomes polluted with chemicals. Ravenna Park is a lower elevation from the city, so the run-off goes down the hills into the creek. When the water is polluted, it affects the entire ecosystem. Sensitive species are unable to develop and the only species that survive are the ones that can withstand the toxins. The run-off does not allow the park to reach its full potential.

Additionally to the water run-off, the park is open to the public. Although many people are concise of keeping the park clean, there are some who still pollute. More than once I have found people leaving bottles from drinks, sunglasses, and various metal objects. These people abuse the privilege of having such a nice park in the middle of the city.

Work Cited:

Blecha, Peter. "Ravenna Park (Seattle)." History Link. 23 Jan. 2011. Web. 1 Dec. 2014.

Location 4: A visible ecological interaction between species

In this section I will discuss the visible ecological interactions between species, specifically western sword fern and nurse logs.

Location 5: Lichen/Fungi

In this section I will look at the lichen that grows on the plants and trees in the area. Additionally, I will discuss some of the common fungi found.

Location 6: Plants

I continued to explore Ravenna. Without having a specific route in mind, I followed a trail that went to an area I had never seen before. A wooden bridge that appeared to connect to a residential area was to my right. Without realizing it, I had ended up at a spot that contained many of the plants we had learned in class.

The trees in the area were easy to identify. A young Western Red Cedar grew about 5 meters from the creek. The needles of the western red cedar have what feels like scales. Additionally, the red cedar is a conifer so it does not loose its leaves due to the seasons. Another tree that appeared to be 20 meters tall was a Douglas fir. Although I could not look at the needles, I identified the try by its bark. The bark of the douglas fir is thick and grayish brown.

As I looked around, I saw both types of Oregon grape covering much of the understory. Oregon grape is a shrub that can be found throughout Ravenna Park. There are two different types of Oregon Grape: Tall Oregon Grape and Dull Oregon Grape. Tall Oregon Grape has glossy leaves tiny spikes coming out from the sides. There are 7-9 leaves per branch and each leaf goes in different directions. Dull Oregon Grape has dull leaves that lay flat.

Another part of the understory was the Western Sword fern. The plant has fronds that grow up to 80 centimeters. Each frond has little notches, or what you consider little swords.

Lastly, I found a Salmonberry growing underneath the Dull Oregon Grape. The salmonberry grows close to the water has a distinct leaf pattern. Generally there is a large leaflet with two smaller leaflets growing perpendicular to it. Although there is no evidence of berries on the salmonberry during the fall, in the spring it grows yellow orange berries.

Although not a plant, I wanted to mention that I found the Bulbous Bonnet Mycena at the site as well. Mycena is a type of mushroom that has white gills and a white bell-shaped structure. They can be found growing on leaves of deciduous and coniferous trees.

A young Western Red Cedar

Salmonberry

Tall Oregon Grape

Dull Oregon Grape

Western Sword Fern

Mycena Fungi

Location 7: Invertebrates

I will look at the invertebrates found at this location. Also, I will discuss the common invertebrates found in Ravenna Park and what that says about the health of the ecosystem. 

Location 8: Birds

At this location, I will closely observe a bird and its call. Also, I will discuss other birds that I have found at Ravenna Park and their behaviors depending on the season

Location 9: Animal Behavior

I will look at how do the animals act depending on the weather, land, and their proximity to water. 

Location 10: Geology/Geomorphology

I decided on making my final location the erratic at Ravenna Park. To understand the geology and geomorphology of Ravenna Park, it is necessary to look at the natural history of the site. About 16,000 years ago, a lake, known as Lake Russell, that covered the western half of Canada and most of Washington. The world was going through an ice age and 14,000 years ago this lake turned into the Cordilleran Ice Cap. The ice extended out the Puget Sound Area, called the Puget Lobe. A thousand years later, the glacier created a glacial lake. While this lake was formed, erratics were created. An erratic is a rock that gets left from glaciers and is unlike the rocks in the area. They tend to be randomly scattered across the landscape. The erratic at the park is glacial deposit from the previous ice cap in Washington.

While at this site, it is important to discuss the geology of Ravenna Park itself. Ravenna Park was formed by ice that melted off the Vashon Glacial Ice sheet that later formed Lake Russell. As time went on, Lake Russell disappeared but there was still direct drainage from Green Lake. Ravenna Creek was the Green connection to Lake Washington. (“Ravenna Park”) The water was diverted from the lake, leaving Ravenna Park with a direct flow of water. Much of the water now in Ravenna Park is run-off from the city.

Work Cited:

"Ravenna Park." Seattle.gov Home. Seattle.gov. Web. 1 Dec. 2014.