After surveying the plant biodiversity within the Altadena mountains, one trend that I found interesting was how the abundance of water affects the diversity supported. There was a greater biodiversity in the places with a stream running through than the dry mountain side. I concluded within one of my journals, that increased water in turn leads to increased biodiversity. In another one of my journals, I also determined that the increased abundance of water allows for the abundance of certain bacteria that can have a positive impact on human health. Not only does water increase biodiversity (which is important for ecosystems resilience), but it was also determined that it allowed for an increased abundance of bacteria within soil and greenery which both are potentially beneficial to human health.
The impact that water has on the larger ecosystem that is the Altadena mountains also extends to the color of the mountains.This was suggested in my journal discussing how the California Buckwheat changes color with abundance of water (which is seasonal). In addition, one of my journals discussed that in light of the recent drought, there has been an increase in fires, which makes sense. However, it can be further explained by the overgrowth of drought resistant shrubbery such as the Chaparral Yucca, which burns at very hot temperatures.
Ultimately, through my observation, the importance of water to the ecosystems of the Altadena mountains was made clear. Water is crucial to the biodiversity and thus the resilience and health of the ecosystem. Furthermore, it allows for the abundance of ion rich oxygen, greenery, and certain bacteria, which are all beneficial to human health. And lastly, the amount of rainfall has an effect on the prevalence of wildfires, which not only significantly harm an ecosystem, but also the environment at large. However, in order to improve these ecosystems, we need to tackle something that is not so simple. We need to return the normal balance of the world's environment. By doing this, we will return normal rainfall to the Altadena mountains, and potentially lower the regularity in which we see wildfires.
Sources:
iNaturalist
http://mentalfloss.com/article/60632/11-scientific-reasons-why-being-nature-relaxing
Matthews, Dorothy M., and Susan M. Jenks. “Ingestion of Mycobacterium Vaccae Decreases Anxiety-Related Behavior and Improves Learning in Mice.” Behavioural Processes, vol. 96, 2013, pp. 27–35., doi:10.1016/j.beproc.2013.02.007.
Suarez, M., & Sasal, Y. (2012). Drought-induced mortality affects understory vegetation: release after death. Ecological Research, 27(4), 715-724. doi:10.1007/s11284-012-0945-5
http://www.hcn.org/article
Lev-Yadun, S., & Gould, K. S. (2007). What Do Red and Yellow Autumn Leaves Signal?. Botanical Review, 73(4), 279-289.
http://calscape.org/Eriogonum-fasciculatum-(California-Buckwheat)
http://tchester.org/sgm/conditions/seasons/leaflog1998.html
Bio 10B class
What stood out to me as I was in the two different areas of the mountains, was that the diversity was much greater within the places that contained water. The reason for this could be explained by how water is necessary for life. Because of the greater abundance of water, it allowed for a greater abundance of life, and more nooks in which different life could exist. For example, the abundance of trees which was allowed due to abundance of water allowed for an increase in decomposers. Furthermore, water allowed certain species that can only survive in water to be present, like salamanders, or water skimmers for example.
Another difference that I noticed between areas with little water, and areas that had a stream running through them was the feeling that these two different places gave me. When I went to the stream, I noticed that afterwards, I was very calm and in good spirits. On the other hand, when I was in the dry area, the same calmness and optimism was not as prevalent. Upon further investigation, I discovered that there are reasons why the water areas elicited these emotions. According to Mentalfloss.com, “the area around a large waterfall can boast a negative ion count of 100,000 per cubic centimeter (average fresh air has 2,000 - 4,000 negative ions per cubic centimeter). Negatively ionized air promotes alpha brain waves and increases brain wave amplitude, which creates an overall clear and calming effect..” And considering that when I went on the hike I reached a waterfall, I was exposed to a lot more negatively ionized air, than the trail that does not have such an abundance of plants and water. Furthermore, also according to Matthews and Jenks in Ingestion of Mycobacterium Vaccae…”
“mice fed live M. vaccae [which is present within soil] prior to and during a maze learning task demonstrated a reduction in anxiety-related behaviors”. And because of the soil within the water rich forest is more capable of supporting a greater biodiversity, it can be assumed that the abundance of this bacteria is greater in the soil. Furthermore, greenery has been known to reduce stress and promote healthy brain functioning.
Sources:
http://mentalfloss.com/article/60632/11-scientific-reasons-why-being-nature-relaxing
Matthews, Dorothy M., and Susan M. Jenks. “Ingestion of Mycobacterium Vaccae Decreases Anxiety-Related Behavior and Improves Learning in Mice.” Behavioural Processes, vol. 96, 2013, pp. 27–35., doi:10.1016/j.beproc.2013.02.007.
By comparing the plants present within the arid portions of the Altadena mountains, with the areas where a stream is present, one thing that I found was just the general abundance of vegetation. Within the water laden areas supplied by the stream, the abundance of trees is considerably greater. Conversely, along the arid regions that I surveyed, the vegetation consisted mostly of shrubs and bushes. One possible reason that may have accelerated this difference is the long standing drought. According to Suarez, M., & Sasal, Y in “Drought-Induced Mortality..”, “when drought is severe enough to produce massive die-offs, the consequences for forest composition can be considerable. For example, in semi-arid woodlands, drought may cause massive die-offs that contribute to ecotonal shifts along a moisture gradient, and accelerate shrub invasions”. And because shrubbery is known to be a factor in wildfire risk and prevalence, the recent abundance that we have been witnessing of wildfires, may be further explained to the abundance of certain shrubs. And according to Elizabeth Shogren, “The [California] fires gained intensity as they ran through ...slopes covered with chaparral, manzanita and other shrubs. Chaparral “is designed to burn pretty hot,” says Jeffrey Kane, an associate professor of fire ecology at Humboldt State. And both forests and shrublands were overgrown, choked with underbrush and small trees that provided a continuous source of fuel as the fires moved across the hilly terrain.”. This is concerning, as I found that a major species present within the dry areas was chaparral yucca.
Sources:
Suarez, M., & Sasal, Y. (2012). Drought-induced mortality affects understory vegetation: release after death. Ecological Research, 27(4), 715-724. doi:10.1007/s11284-012-0945-5
http://www.hcn.org/articles/wildfire-what-role-did-wildlands-play-in-californias-wine-country-fires
According to Lev-Yadun in “What Do Red and Yellow…” There is very good evidence for physiological benefits of autumn leaf coloration, such as an enhanced recovery of foliar nitrogen owing to the protection by anthocyanins from photoinhibition and photo-oxidation…”. Plants not only change color in response to abundance of certain lights, but also abundance of water. According to calscape.org, “California Buckwheats are tough and easy to grow, even in very dry conditions...It produces profuse pink to white and cream-colored flowers as early as March that dry to a pretty red rust color as the soil dries”. Also according to “San Gabriel Mountains Leaf Log” by Jain Strong, California buckwheat forms bushes of bright red stalks along the side of the road. Chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum), reddish-brown flowers dried on yellow stalks, patterns the hillsides. It will be the dominant color plant.” While traveling in the the altadena mountains, it became apparent to me that the mountains were quite purple. Upon further investigation, it became clear to me that the mountains purple color could be a result of the California Buckwheat, which were abundant all along the mountain sides. It would be interesting to see how the mountain color changes by season, compared to how buckwheat color changes as well. Ultimately however, this relatively unknown plant that exists within the Altadena mountains may be responsible for setting the tone to the mountains, which creates part of the atmosphere, signaling fall for all of Los Angeles.
Sources:
Lev-Yadun, S., & Gould, K. S. (2007). What Do Red and Yellow Autumn Leaves Signal?. Botanical Review, 73(4), 279-289.
http://calscape.org/Eriogonum-fasciculatum-(California-Buckwheat)
http://tchester.org/sgm/conditions/seasons/leaflog1998.html
