August 25, 2023

2023 Ecology Group Blog 1

Ecology Blog 1: Exploring in Mount Rainier

Hello, guys! We are from ecology group. From left to right, it is Kazutaka Tabata, Norihiro Sasaki, Ryo Suzuki, Xinru Zhang, Peichen Huang, Zijun Wu and Endo Showsuke(Picture 1).

Picture 1, family Picture of group member. August 20th, 2023.

Here goes our self-introduction:

Kazutaka Tabata	Hi, I’m Kazutaka Tabata. I’m graduate student of Chiba university.I usually enjoy camping and hiking.Now, I research the vegetation history in central Japan from 30,000 to 10,000 years ago.
Norihiro Sasaki	My name is Norihiro Sasaki. I’m a first year master’s student of Chiba university. My research is on the agricultural use of biochar. I love Studio Ghibli. Ghibli is a famous anime movie in Japan. I especially llove Princess Mononoke.
Ryo Suzuki	My name is Ryo Suzuki and I am a first year master student at Chiba University in Japan. I  research about plant factories and robot harvesting. I love living things and have two frogs.
Xinru Zhang	My name is Zhangxinru, an undergraduate student from Nanjing University. I am studying about underground ecology now, especially rhizosphere effect. I like cats and dogs a lot.
Peichen Huang	I am Peichen Huang, a sophomore majoring in Geography  in Nanjing University. The field I am interested in is about oceanography. I love playing soccer.
Zijun Wu	My name is Zijun Wu， I‘m from Nanjing Normal University, and I’m a sophomore majoring in geographical science. My previous research focused on the spatiotemporal distribution and spatial differences of dissolved organic carbon in the Yangtze River. I am very interested in the field of remote sensing, and it is a great honor to participate in this joint expedition!
Shosuke Endo	I’m Shosuke Endo.I’m first year master student of Graduate School of Horticalture.My hobby is skiing. While skiing, look at the vegetation of the mountains. My resarch subject is the gene related to flavor of strawberry. I am honored to be able to participate in the workshop with all of you.

In today’s blog, we are going to talk about our exploration in Mount Rainier National Park, at the Paradise location. Through our journey, we saw a vast expanse of the meadow, which is quite fragile meanwhile. We also witnessed the ruins of wildfire. More importantly, we are thinking about the connections between them and the idea of “Trophic Cascades” raised by Monika really brightened us. Here we are going to talk about the three things above.

About Meadows

Picture 2. Meadows scenery of Mt Rainier. August 20th, 2023.

Meadows are open ecosystems primarily covered by diverse grassy vegetation, interspersed with some trees and shrubs. While meadows can naturally occur under suitable conditions, they are often created by clearing trees and shrubs for hay, fodder or livestock grazing.

Meadows are classified as “semi-natural grasslands” – their vegetation consists mainly of native species with limited human intervention. They provide vital habitat for an abundance of wildlife like bears, deer, rabbits, and various bird species, supporting flora and fauna unable to survive in other habitats. Meadows are ecologically important, providing areas for courtship, nesting, foraging and more. Taller grass can also offer shelter.

Through out the world, there are various types of meadows, such as agricultural, transitional and perpetual, play unique roles in the ecosystem. Like other ecosystems, meadows face pressures from climate change as precipitation patterns shift, impacting biodiversity. However, as carbon sinks, meadows have climate mitigation potential – their deep-rooted plants store significant soil carbon.

Meadows are complex, valuable ecosystems requiring sustainable management to maintain their biodiversity, wildlife habitat, and carbon storage capacities.

Picture 3. MORA rangers post signs to prevent further degradation if meadows through social trails. August 20th, 2023.

Picture 4. Warning sign of protect Meadows. August 20th, 2023.

Meadows are a distinctive feature in the Puget Sound lowlands. These meadows are found within the urban parks and natural areas, providing valuable open space and habitat.

Soon we will be in Seattle, and we’re interested in the urban meadows found in this area. Urban meadows are a distinctive feature of Seattle’s ecology. Nestled within the city’s parks and natural areas, these meadows not only provide valuable open space for recreation, but also crucial habitat for birds, insects and small animals residing in the urban ecosystem. Compared to manicured lawns, urban meadows contain more biodiversity and require less maintenance, making them an important element of sustainable urban planning. When we explore Seattle’s beautiful parks, observing its meadow flowers and grasses swaying in the breeze, we’ll gain a deeper appreciation of how urban meadows contribute to the city’s vibrant natural spaces.For example ,the largest meadow complex in Seattle is at Magnuson Park, which contains over 140 acres of open meadow habitat. (Paudel, Sarah L.,  2023)

The meadows around Seattle are characterized by a mix of native and non-native grasses and wildflowers. Common grasses include bluegrass, fescue, and bentgrass. Wildflowers like camas, shooting stars, and daisies bloom in the spring and summer. Trees and shrubs may dot the margins, with species like Douglas fir, western red cedar, and salal.

These meadows provide habitat for birds, small mammals, pollinators, and other wildlife. Species that rely on Seattle’s meadows include American robins, dark-eyed juncos, garter snakes, and Familiar Bluet damselflies. The meadows also serve vital ecological functions such as filtration of water and air.

Seattle’s meadow habitats face pressures from invasive species, human disturbance, and climate change. But restoration efforts by the city and conservation groups aim to improve their ecological health. Sustainable management practices are needed to conserve these iconic meadow landscapes within Seattle’s urban fabric. The meadows of Seattle create open spaces cherished by both people and wildlife while providing essential ecological services to the region. Caring stewardship of these fragile habitats is crucial as the city continues to grow.

The role of meadow ecosystem is elaborated as below:

• Biodiversity hotspots – Meadows support a wide diversity of plant and animal life that could not thrive in denser habitats. The openness allows for niche microclimates and varied ecological niches.
• Critical wildlife habitat – Meadows provide vital spaces for courtship displays, nesting, raising young, and foraging for many birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates.
• Pollinator havens – The abundance of meadow flowers provides essential nourishment for bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and other pollinators.
• Carbon storage – Deep-rooted meadow grasses sequester significant carbon in the soil, with levels comparable to forests in some cases.
• Water filtration – Meadow vegetation and soils naturally filter contaminants from water as it flows through, improving water quality downstream.
• Aesthetic & cultural values – Meadows contribute to the scenic beauty and pastoral heritage of many natural and agricultural landscapes.
• Recreational opportunities – Meadows facilitate human recreation and relaxation, including hiking, picnics, kite-flying, Picturegraphy and more.
• Resilience to climate change – Compared to forests, grassy meadows may be more resilient to hotter droughts, fires, and extreme weather events under climate change.

In summary, meadows have a unique combination of ecological, wildlife, cultural, aesthetic and recreational values that make their conservation a priority. Their open, grassy nature provides specialized benefits to many species as well as to humans.

Meadows face numerous anthropogenic and climatic pressures that threaten their delicate ecological balance. Habitat destruction from overgrazing, trampling, and urban expansion can directly damage meadow environments. Invasive plant species outcompete native species for resources and alter ecosystems. Climate change leads to more frequent droughts and extreme weather that impact meadow vegetation and wildlife. Disruption of natural wildfire cycles through fire prevention can also harm meadows. Nutrient pollution from agricultural runoff degrades meadows adapted to nutrient-poor conditions. Overly frequent or improperly conducted mowing reduces biodiversity, depletes soils and fragments meadow habitats. Declining pollinator populations affect plant reproduction and regeneration. Lastly, meadows lack monitoring and research compared to forests, hampering conservation efforts. Taken together, meadows require proactive management and protection to maintain their fragile ecosystems in the face of multiple anthropogenic and climatic threats.

 

Meadows are important for many species because their diverse habitat includes many flowers and grasses helpful to pollinators such as butterflies and native bees. As a BEE CITY(cite), Seattle has many bees, and we also noticed a lot of bees on our journey. So protecting meadows is also a protection for pollinators like bees and birds. These fragile ecosystems are subject to degradation if not properly protected.

Picture 5. The succession process of degraded grassland. August 20th, 2023.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880919303007?ref=cra_js_challenge&fr=RR-1

Formation of degraded grasslands associated with ‘bare patches’ expanding in alpine meadows

At MORA, we saw many signs protecting the meadows along the way, such as warning signs. There are also many volunteers who stop tourists from entering the meadow by patrolling the mountain or building barriers.

We are curious why such strict protection measures are in place for these meadows. Due to the special and fragile nature of the meadow ecosystem, we checked the management measures of the Seattle government.

The main measures adopted by the city includes protection and restoration plans, meadow conservation regulations, ecosystem monitoring and research, education and public engagement, collaboration and partnerships.

In China, alpine meadows are mainly found in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, Sichuan Plateau, Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau and other regions. Due to the vast area and harsh natural conditions, it is difficult for us to protect these fragile ecosystems through volunteers and other means. And we always set up natural reserve to protect these meadows. Frequent scientific research is also conducted at these locations, similar to MORA and Seattle.

All in all, the trip gave us some overall insight into the fragility of ecosystems in the alpine region. We were also surprised at the high level of awareness of nature conservation in the Seattle area. Meadows, as a fragile ecosystem, also showed us the exquisitely complex and tightly interconnected nature of ecosystems.

About Wildfire

We have learned a lot about fire today (Picture 6). In particular, we think that usually only the bad aspects of wild fires, such as smoke and danger, are emphasized.

Picture 6. Yely is talking about wildfire to us. August 20th, 2023.

However, through today’s lecture, we understood that fire（including wild fires）have both good and bad aspects(figure 7). So, we want to write about this from agricultural perspective, because our team member (Ryo and Norihiro) studying about agriculture.

Picture 7. Mr.Akira explains the good and bad aspects of fire. August 20th, 2023.

From an agricultural perspective, fire is sometimes very dangerous, but sometimes very beneficial. For example, slash-and-burn agriculture is popular in tropical rainforests, Africa,  China and many places.

Picture 8. Image of slash-and-burn agriculture.

This picture is from: https://www.maff.go.jp/hokuriku/nousei/niigata/nousei.html

This is a farming method in which crops are cultivated and then the farmland is burned to restore the fertility of the land. It burns away weeds, pests, and pathogens all at once. In addition, by burning the ground surface, the ashes are provided. Ash has a variety of beneficial effects as a fertilizer. First, it improves the physical properties of the soil, including aeration, drainage, permeability, and water retention. Wood ash has selective fungicidal properties, preventing the entry and growth of harmful microorganisms.

Wildfires may do the same thing. In other words, it may be burning away dead or diseased trees, supplying fertilizer to the soil, and killing pests and diseases. In addition, they may be enriching the vegetation, giving growth opportunities to various types of plants that had been deprived of germination opportunities by the tall trees(sometimes we call it gap dynamics).

Picture 8. Image of gap dynamics by wildfire

From:  https://www.cs.hmc.edu/~sweil/bio52/3/fireeco.html

We mentioned ash and slash-and-burn agriculture, but we will conclude with an introduction to biochar (Picture 9), which is Norihiro’s major. Biochar is defined as a solid material produced by heating biomass at temperatures above 350°C under controlled oxygen concentrations at levels that do not burn biological resources. Biochar has similar properties to ash as a fertilizer, biochar can improve crop productivity when applied to agricultural land. Furthermore, it is expected to be effective in preventing global warming. Carbon contained in wood, bamboo, and other materials used as raw materials for biochar is decomposed by microorganisms and released into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. However, when carbon is carbonized and applied to soil as biochar, the carbon is trapped in the soil and its release into the atmosphere is suppressed. Carbon in biochar is persistent and can be fixed for tens to hundreds of years.

Furthermore, the energy obtained from the biochar production process is renewable, reducing the use of fossil fuels. For these reasons, the use of biochar is an effective way to prevent global warming.　Agriculture using biochar may be an evolution of slash-and-burn agriculture.

Picture 9. Image of Biochar

From:https://www.maff.go.jp/j/kanbo/kankyo/seisaku/climate/biochar/attach/pdf/top-4.pdf

About Trophic Cascades   

   Picture 10. Spices involved in trophic cascades in Seatle. August 20th, 2023.

We focused on the trophic cascade. The trophic cascade is ecological phenomenon which is the communication between species. It is sometime triggered by the addition or removal of predators. Food chain is similar to trophic cascade, but the meaning is different. Trophic cascade is the phenomenon about nutrition cycle. On the other hand, food chain is the network connecting species to species.

In Seattle, a salmon is the keystone species. Salmons are born in a river. Then, salmons go to the sea and adult salmons come back to the river they’re born in to spawn. Bears , the top of predator, eat the salmon. If the river disappeared, salmon cannot come back. It means the collapse of the trophic cascade.

Picture 11. Salmon come back to the river.

https://www.flickr.com/Pictures/taylar/29739921130

Then, in comparison to the trophic cascades in Seattle to other countries. It turns out that the top of Seattle’s trophic cascade is also the bear. On the other hand, there are different cascades in Southeast Asia and China. It is a cascade with a tiger at the top. However, tigers are endangered in Southeast Asia and China. One of the reasons is that habitat reduction due to excessive deforestation and human economic activities. This is clearly a case of disruption of the trophic cascade. Once destroyed, it causes irreversible changes in the populations of other species, so it is necessary to pay close attention to environmental destruction.

Picture12.Photo of tiger. From:https://www.flickr.com/photos/33909700@N02/3159669562/sizes/l/

The conservation of the amazing trophic cascade by government, volunteers and citizens in the Puget Sound can serve as a reference for other countries. By participating in this workshop, we were reminded of the importance of proper conservation of trophic cascades.

Conclusion

In summary, this ecological expedition to Mount Rainier greatly broadened the our horizon on ecology. We experienced first-hand the beautiful but fragile alpine meadow ecosystems, recognized the double-edged effects of wildfires on soil fertility, and felt the importance of intact food chains to the environment. This expedition made us realize the significance and urgency of protecting ecological environments. We volunteer to contribute our share to conserving the precious ecosystems around the world, and to advocate for harmony between humans and nature. Let us work together and take positive actions to safeguard our beautiful home that we all depend on.

Our vlog’s link: