|
|
Friend or Foe
MAY 7 | By IRVINE NATURALIST SARA MILLS
 The term “invasive” seems to be everywhere these days. From snakeheads to purple loosestrife, invasive species are everywhere. The most unassuming of these species may be the earthworm. Believe it or not, many worms found in this area are exotic. Although exotic does not always mean invasive, some of the annelids have proven to be so.
Earthworms are loved by many for their ability to aerate, fertilize and hydrate the earth. However, too much of a good thing can be bad. Since Colonial times numerous species of exotic earthworms have been calling North America home. Many of these species have been introduced into forests that had been prosperous without them. What does this mean? Ecosystems have natural ways of recycling their waste, such as leaf litter. Forest leaf litter slowly decomposes, providing beneficial nutrients to the forest soil over time. Add ravenous earthworms into the mix, and the process changes. These earthworms eat, and eat and eat, resulting in a bare forest floor and forest soil that has been flooded with nutrients too quickly. This change in forest floor affects everything from plant diversity to ground nesting birds.
Whether the earthworm is friend or foe is for you to decide, but there’s no doubt that this small creature can have a big impact on any local environment. |
|
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – In that order!
APRIL 5 | By IRVINE NATURALIST STEVE MICLETZ
 With Earth Day approaching (April 22), there is no doubt that the three R’s will pop up repeatedly in schools, newspapers, and other places. We often hold recycling up as a great deed for the earth, but did you know that we should actually start with the first “R?”
The most effective way to have a positive impact on the environment in a consumer culture is simply to consume less. Reducing what we consume directly reduces the amount of waste we individually produce. This means paying attention to how much packaging our food comes in, eating locally grown agriculture (less travel time = less fuel), or simply turning off the lights when you leave a room. Finally, here’s a big one: drink tap water instead of bottled water (it’s often the same stuff anyway).
Reusing materials went out of style in the mid-1900s, but is making a big comeback. Reusable grocery bags are becoming more and more normative and there are often financial rewards associated with using them. Many parents bring reusable dishes to their children’s birthday parties at Irvine. Purchasing reusable materials or repurposing “trash” often results in both environmental and financial benefits.
Finally, we have the choice we are faced with every day. Should I throw this aluminum can (paper, plastic bottle, etc.) in the garbage, or walk across the room to that recycling bin? Single stream recycling in Baltimore has made this choice simple. Plastic, glass, aluminum and cardboard can all be put into the same bin. Recycling saves landfill space, reduces pollution and saves natural resources.
The overall decision is ours and the choices we make with our wallets have an impact on what manufacturers produce in the future. Pick first to reduce. Then try to focus on purchasing items that can be reused or have recyclable packaging. |
A Spring Splendor
MARCH 7 | By IRVINE NATURALIST SARA MILLS
 As the ground thaws and the snow melts away tiny hidden treasures begin to reveal themselves. These treasures are the spring ephemerals. Spring ephemerals are wildflowers that bloom early in the spring and only stay present for a short time. They take advantage of the bare trees, soak up all of the sunshine they can, flower, seed and die back to their underground parts before the summer months.
One such spring ephemeral is the suitably named spring beauty, or Claytonia virginica. Claytonia virginica is a dainty spring wildflower, with long slender leaves and a flower composed of white petals with fine pink stripes. The spring beauty corm, or round starchy underground stem, has been noted to taste like a radish when raw, and a chestnut when cooked. This petite delight is loaded with vitamins A and C, but digging for the corms can often cost more energy than they are worth, and leaves a mark on the landscape.
Once this wildflower is sighted it’s a pretty sure sign of spring. Next time you are out and about visiting the woodland areas keep your eyes peeled for the delicate spring beauty. |
|
|
|
|
<< Start < Prev 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Next > End >>
|
|
Page 1 of 8 |
