Introduction to PNW Ecosystems
Introduction to
I. Physical & Chemical (Abiotic) Environment of WA
1. Where are we? : global / continental position
Pacific
Northwest
Ecosystems
2. An overview of our place: regional geography & landforms
3. How are landforms created?
4 Th
4.
The iimportance
t
off geology
l
att multiple
lti l scales
l
5. Climate
II. Ecological Zones of WA
1. Ecoregions
2. Ecoregions: a virtual field trip
3. Environmental determinants of ecoregions
I. Abiotic Environment of WA
The Ecology of Washington
1. Global / Continental Position
I. Abiotic Environment of WA
Latitude:
A) Where are we ?
1. Global / Continental Position
2. Regional Geography & Landforms
3. Forces Behind Landforms
Bothell
Newfoundland
Frankfurt
Hokkaido
°N
4. Geology
5. Climate
I. Abiotic Environment of WA
1. Global / Continental Position
A) Where is WA ?
Continental Position: Coastal Maritime
Global / Continental Position
B) What are the ecological implications of our position?
It affects our
I. Present-day Climate
1) Precipitation & Temperature
2) Daily
D il & S
Seasonall Ch
Changes
II. Past Environment
1) Past Climate
2) Geological history
(and hence present day geology)
•1
Global / Continental Position
B) What are the ecological implications of our position?
It affects our
I. Present-day Climate
Atmospheric Circulation is a major determinant of
global precipitation & temperature patterns
1. Sunlight
energy greatest
near equator
1) Precipitation & Temperature
A. Atmospheric circulation
B Oceanic circulation
B.
C. Maritime influences
2) Daily & Seasonal Changes
2. Results in
warm, rising air
at low latitudes
II. Past Environment
1) Past Climate
2) Geological history
Campbell (2001)
Atmospheric
Circulation
a major determinant
of
2) Present-day
Climate:is
Atmospheric
Circulation
global precipitation & temperature patterns
Atmospheric
Circulation
a major determinant
of
2) Present-day
Climate:is
Atmospheric
Circulation
global precipitation & temperature patterns
4. Rising air
leaves low
pressure area
behind.
3. Rising air
cools & rain
falls abundantly
at low latitudes
Surface air from
N and S flow
into area
area.
Hadley
Cell
Results in largescale circular
flow of air
masses
(Hadley Cells)
Campbell (2001)
Atmospheric
Circulation
a major determinant
of
2) Present-day
Climate:is
Atmospheric
Circulation
global precipitation & temperature patterns
5. Hadley Cells
create dry
latitudes of
descending air at
about 30 °N & S
WA
Campbell (2001)
Oceanic
Circulation Climate:
can be a Oceanic
major determinant
2) Present-day
Circulation of
regional precipitation & temperature patterns
Ocean currents
determine the
temperature of
surface waters.
This has large
i fl
influences
on
coastal climates
WA sits at the
edge of another
rising air mass
region – hence
the tendency for
higher levels of
precipitation.
Ricklefs (1997)
Campbell (2001)
•2
PDO: Pacific Decadal Oscillations
ENSO: El Nino – Southern Oscillation Events
Similar to El Niño events, warm-phase PDO events show
cooling of north Pacific; warming of central, eastern Pacific
ENSO Events
El Niño (warm phase)
Warm surface water in the
central & eastern Pacific
La Niña (cool phase)
Cool surface water in the
central & eastern Pacific
UW CIG
ENSO PNW Climate Impacts
El Niño (warm phase)
Warmer & drier winter
Events on “inter-annual” cycles
PDO – warm phase
ENSO – warm phase
La Niña (cool phase)
Cooler & wetter winter
UW CIG
PDO: Pacific Decadal Oscillations
Our coastal position results in strong maritime influences
2) Present-day
Climate: &
Maritime
Influences
on our
regional precipitation
temperature
patterns
But PDO Oscillations are decades – long;
rather than the annual variations of ENSO
Our coastal location
allows large water
body to moderate
temperature extremes
– a maritime climate
Locations further from large
water bodies experience
larger seasonal
temperature fluctuations –
continental climates
Daylength & Seasonality
Global / Continental Position
B) What are the ecological implications of our position?
It affects our
July: 17 hours
of light
2) Daily & Seasonal Changes
II. Past Environment
# hours it
is light
during 24hour
period
1) Past Climate
2) Geological history
of seasonal variation
in daylength
WA
I. Present-day Climate
1) Precipitation & Temperature
Ecological
implications
Costa Rica
October: 12
hours of light
Ricklefs (1997)
•3
Our location defines our past environments
Global / Continental Position
B) What are the ecological implications of our position?
It affects our
I. Present-day Climate
Global Position
Present
Climate
White area:
Extent of glaciation
about 18,000 YBP
Past
Climate
1) Precipitation & Temperature
2) Daily & Seasonal Changes
History of
Geological
G
l i l
Processes
II. Past Environment
1) Past Climate
2) Geological history
Global / Continental Position
Past Organisms &
Ecosystems: our
biogeographical
template
Our location defines our past geological history
Our Tectonic Setting
B) What are the ecological implications of our position?
It affects our
I. Present-day Climate
1) Precipitation & Temperature
2) Daily & Seasonal Changes
II. Past Environment
1) Past Climate
2) Geological history
The Ecology of Washington
I. Abiotic Environment of WA
1. Global / Continental Position
2. Regional Geography & Landforms
3. Forces Behind Landforms
4. Geology
5. Climate
Regional Geography
A) Water Bodies:
Marine
Strait of Juan de Fuca
San Juan Islands
Strait of Georgia
Puget Sound
Pacific Ocean
•4
Regional Geography
A) Water Bodies:
Freshwater
Okanogan
A) Water Bodies:
Marine / Freshwater
Nooksack
Major Streams
of WA
East side
Columbia
Snake
Yakima
Spokane
Regional Geography
Skagit
West side
Columbia
Cowlitz
Chehalis
Nisqually
Puyallup
Green
Snoqualmie
Snohomish
Stillaguamish
Skagit
Nooksack
Skokomish
Quinault
Snohomish
Chehalis
Nisqually
Major Estuaries of
Western Washington
Columbia
River
Snake
River
Yakima
River
Cowlitz
Grays Harbor
(Chehalis River)
Will
Willapa
Bay
B
(Willapa & Naselle Rivers)
Nisqually River
Puyallup River
Cedar / Green River
Snohomish River
Stillaguamish River
Skagit River
Nooksack River
Skokomish River
Hoh
Watersheds
I. Abiotic Environment of WA
1. WA Geography & Features
WATERSHED
WHAT IS A WATERSHED?
B) Landscape Units:
Watersheds
WHAT IS A WATERSHED?
Murdoch & Cheo (1999)
I. Abiotic Environment of WA
I. Abiotic Environment of WA
1. WA Geography & Features
B) Landscape Units:
Watersheds
Major Watersheds
of Washington
Columbia
Chehallis
Willapa & Naselle
Nisqually
Puyallup
Cedar / Green
Snohomish
Stillaguamish
Skagit
Nooksack
Skokomish
1. WA Geography & Features
Nooksack
Watershed
B) Landscape Units:
Physiographic Regions
Snohomish
Watershed
Columbia
l
bi
River
Watershed
Note: These are arbitrary physiographic divisions for use in
our class. Many different schemes exist.
•5
Physiographic Regions of WA
San Juan /
Puget Sd
Islands
Okanogan
Plateau
6 – 8,000 ft
Cascade
Mountains
6-7,000 ft
4-9,000 ft
Olympic
Mts
1-8,000 ft
Coastal Willapa
Lowlands Hills
Selkirk
Mts
(volcanoes
up to
14 000 ft)
14,000
Puget
Lowlands
(1-2,000 ft)
Palouse
Hills
I. Abiotic Environment of WA
1. Global / Continental Position
2. Regional Geography & Landforms
3. Forces Behind Landforms
4. Geology
Columbia
Basin
< 2,000 ft
5. Climate
< 2,000 ft
Blue Mts
6 - 7,000 ft
Columbia
Gorge
Forces That Shape Our Land
3. Forces Behind Landforms
1. Building the Landscape: Tectonic Processes
Our Tectonic Setting
1. Building the Landscape: Tectonic Processes
A) Terrane accretion
B) Folding & uplift
C) Volcanism
2. Processes Reshaping the Landscape
A) Continental Ice
B) Mountain Glaciers
C) Water
D) Wind
Forces that Shape our Land
1. Tectonic Processes
Forces that Shape our Land
1. Tectonic Processes
Subduction – the Pacific Plate is being forced down under the
North American plate as it pushes eastward
(A) Creating Landforms: terrane accretion
Tectonic terrane:
Alt & Hyndman
(1995)
A piece of crustal rocks
separated from its original plate
Terrane accretion
PNW coast
2-300 MYBP
Complex geology
Protruding pieces of crust on the Pacific Plate are scraped off
and accrete onto the shoreline (“terranes”)
Alt & Hyndman (1995)
•6
Forces that Shape our Land
Forces that Shape our Land
1. Tectonic Processes
1. Tectonic Processes
(B) Creating Landforms: folding & uplift
(C) Creating Landforms: volcanism
Old Basin & Range Basalt Flows:
13 - 16 MYBP
North
American
Plate
Modern Cascade Volcanoes:
3 – 500,000 YBP
Pacific
Plate
Juan de
Fuca
Plate
Alt & Hyndman (1994)
Montgomery (1997)
Forces that Shape our Land
Forces that Shape our Land
2. Processes Reshaping the Land
2. Processes Reshaping the Land
(A) Continental Ice
(B) Mountain Glaciers
Glacier 18,000
YBP
•
Mountain carving
•
Moraines
Seattle
Olympia
Kruckeberg (1991)
Forces that Shape our Land
Forces that Shape our Land
2. Processes Reshaping the Land
(C) Water
1) Hill & valley local topography
2) Mountain valley topography
Water & Ice interact with geology to create unique landscapes
Erosional forces interact with geology to define habitat diversity
in the Olympic Mountains
Olympic Peninsula
Core Sedimentary Rocks
Easily erodable
Volcanic Crescent
Formation
Siltstones & shales eroded away
leaving gently angled sandstones
to dominate. Topography gentle –
low habitat complexity
Volcanic Crescent Formation
Resistant to erosion
Sedimentary
Core Rocks
Steeply angled basalts result in
more rugged topography different habitats & habitat
complexity
McNulty (1996)
•7
Forces that Shape our Land
Forces that Shape our Land
2. Processes Reshaping the Land
(C) Water
2. Processes Reshaping the Land
(C) Water
Great Floods reshaping the lands of Eastern WA
1) Hill & valley local topography
2) Mountain valley topography
3) Eastern WA scablands & coulees
Lake Missoula Floods
15,000 YBP
Alt & Hyndman (1995)
Forces that Shape our Land
Forces that Shape our Land
2. Processes Reshaping the Land
2. Processes Reshaping the Land
(C) Water
(D) Wind
Wind-blown deposits (loess) & the Palouse Prairie
1) Hill & valley local topography
2) Mountain valley topography
3) Eastern WA scablands & coulees
Rolling prairie from loess deposition
over old basalt flows
4) Columbia River gorge
5) River deltas (estuaries):
rivers bring in and take away sediment
tides take away sediment
Loess
I. Abiotic Environment
I. Abiotic Environment of WA
1. Global / Continental Position
4. Geology: influences ecological systems at different
spatial scales
Large scale: Tectonics
Landform creation
2. Regional Geography & Landforms
3. Forces Behind Landforms
Medium scale: Regional
Landform modification
4. Geology: a multi-scale perspective
Groundwater – surface
water connections
5. Climate
Surface rock diversity
weathers into diverse soils
Small scale: microhabitats
Boulders create unique
microsites
Influences on erosion
Soil chemistry
Modified from Montgomery (1997)
•8
Washington Climate
I. Abiotic Environment of WA
1) Climate diagrams
1. Global / Continental Position
2. Precipitation
3. Drought
3
g
4 G
4.
Geology
l
5. Climate
Temp > Precip
Washington Climate
2) Climate
patterns
WA State: Mediterranean Climate
Preciipitation (mm)
3. Forces Behind Landforms
1. Temperature
Temperature
e (°C)
2. Regional Geography & Landforms
Jan
Dec
Washington Climate
2) Climate patterns
Western WA:
Maritime Climate
Eastern WA:
Continental Climate
Why are these different ?
Washington Climate
2) Climate patterns
Spatial patterns in
precipitation –
across WA State
Kruckeberg (1991)
Washington Climate
2) Climate patterns
Prevailing
Storm Track in
F ll Wi
Fall,
Winter
t &
Spring
Inches of
annual
precipitation
Kruckeberg (1991)
•9
Washington Climate
Washington Climate
2) Climate patterns
2) Climate patterns
Cascade Crest
Topo
R i h d
Rainshadow
R i h d
Rainshadow
Precip
Precipitation Patterns are actually highly complex across mountains
Washington Climate
Washington Climate
2) Climate patterns What causes these rainshadows?
3) Local variations in climate patterns
Prevailing
Storm Track in
Fall, Winter &
Spring
cm annual
precipitation
Campbell (2001)
Kruckeberg (1991)
Washington Climate
The Ecology of Washington
3) Local variations in climate patterns
I. Physical & Chemical (Abiotic) Environment of WA
Olympic Mountain Study – Andrea Woodward
Summer precipitation at 6 meteorological stations (1993)
1. Where are we? : Global / Continental Position
2. An Overview of our Place: Regional Geography & Landforms
South
54 mm
1523 m
1520 m
61 mm
100 mm
1463 m
1404 m
North
168 mm
91 mm
1503 m
1453 m
3. How are Landforms Created?
4 Th
4.
The IImportance
t
off Geology
G l
att Multiple
M lti l Scales
S l
5. Climate
84 mm
II. Ecological Zones of WA
Bottom Line: beware of using general weather station for specific
sites, especially in mountainous terrain
•10
II. Ecosystems of WA
II. Ecological Zones of WA
1. Ecoregions
1. Ecoregions
2. Ecoregions: a virtual field trip
11 Ecoregions of Washington State
3. Environmental Determinants of Ecoregions
1. Marine Shoreline
7. Alpine
2. Sitka Spruce
8. Douglas-fir / Grand Fir
3. Western Hemlock
9. Ponderosa Pine
4. Silver Fir
10. Shrub Steppe
5. Mountain Hemlock
11. Palouse Prairie
6. Subalpine Fir
Washington State Ecoregions
Washington State Ecoregions
Marine
Shoreline
Montane to Alpine Ecoregions
West-side
Montane
To
Alpine
Alpine
WEST
EAST
Mountain
hemlock
Sub alpine
fir
Silver fir
Sitka
Spruce
Western
Hemlock
Seattle
West-side Montane – Alpine:
Washington State Ecoregions
Marine
Shoreline
Yakima
Silver fir; Mountain hemlock;
Subalpine fir; Alpine
Washington State Natural Regions
from “Our Changing Nature”
West-side
Montane
To
Alpine
Douglas-fir /
Grand fir
Note some prominent
differences:
• Eastern WA prairie /
shrub-steppe
distribution
Sitka
Spruce
• Distinction of prairie
woodland mosaic in
western WA
Palouse
Prairie
Western
Hemlock
Ponderosa
Pine
West-side Montane – Alpine:
Similar scheme to
that we are using.
• Discontinuity of high
elevation forests/alpine
Shrub
Steppe
Silver fir; Mountain hemlock;
Subalpine fir; Alpine
WA Dept. of Natural
Resources 1998
•11
The Ecology of Washington
The Ecology of Washington
I. Physical & Chemical (Abiotic) Environment of WA
I. Physical & Chemical (Abiotic) Environment of WA
1. Where are we? : Global / Continental Position
1. Where are we? : Global / Continental Position
2. An Overview of our Place: Regional Geography & Landforms
2. An Overview of our Place: Regional Geography & Landforms
3. How are Landforms Created?
3. How are Landforms Created?
4 Th
4.
The IImportance
t
off Geology
G l
att Multiple
M lti l Scales
S l
4 Th
4.
The IImportance
t
off Geology
G l
att Multiple
M lti l Scales
S l
5. Climate
5. Climate
II. Ecological Zones of WA
II. Ecological Zones of WA
1. Ecoregions
1. Ecoregions
2. Ecoregions: a virtual field trip
2. Ecoregions: a virtual field trip
3. Environmental Determinants of Ecoregions (terrestrial)
II. Ecosystems of WA
II. Ecosystems of WA
3. Environmental Determinants of Terrestrial Ecoregions
3. Environmental Determinants of Terrestrial Ecoregions
Bottom Line
Major determinants of ecoregion distribution:
I. Precipitation
Elevation Range
(ft.)
Ecoregion
(Seattle) for reference
Sitka Spruce
Western Hemlock
• Amount
• Timing
Ti i
Avg. Annual
Temp (°F)
Avg annual precip
(cm)
0
53
86
0 – 500
52
200 – 300
0 – 2500
47
70 – 300
Silver Fir
1900 – 4200
42
220 – 280
M
Mountain
t i H
Hemlock
l k
4200 – 5900
39
160 - 280
Subalpine Fir
4200 - 5800
39
100 - 150
Alpine
>5000 - >7000
37.5*
46*
Douglas-fir/Grand Fir
2000 – 5000
46
60 – 110
Ponderosa Pine
2000 – 4000
47
40 – 70
Shrub Steppe
150 – 2000
50
15 – 25
< 3000
48
40 – 70
Palouse Prairie
* Data from Paradise R.S. on Mt. Rainier (subalpine zone) /
precip includes average snowfall of 256 cm
II. Ecosystems of WA
II. Ecosystems of WA
3. Environmental Determinants of Terrestrial Ecoregions
Elevation Range
(ft.)
Avg. Annual
Temp (°F)
Avg annual precip
(cm)
0
53
86
Sitka Spruce
0 – 500
52
200 – 300
Western Hemlock
0 – 2500
47
70 – 300
Ecoregion
(Seattle) for reference
Silver Fir
1900 – 4200
42
220 – 280
M
Mountain
t i H
Hemlock
l k
4200 – 5900
39
160 - 280
4200 - 5800
39
100 - 150
>5000 - >7000
37.5*
46*
Subalpine Fir
Alpine
3. Environmental Determinants of Terrestrial Ecoregions
Bottom Line
Major determinants of ecoregion distribution:
I. Precipitation
• Amount
• Timing
II. Temperature
Douglas-fir/Grand Fir
2000 – 5000
46
60 – 110
• Direct effects
Ponderosa Pine
2000 – 4000
47
40 – 70
BEWARE OF MEAN VALUES!
Shrub Steppe
150 – 2000
50
15 – 25
< 3000
48
40 – 70
Palouse Prairie
* Data from Paradise R.S. on Mt. Rainier (subalpine zone) /
precip includes average snowfall of 256 cm
•12
II. Ecosystems of WA
II. Ecosystems of WA
2. Environmental Determinants of Terrestrial Ecoregions
Ecoregion
(Seattle) for reference
Elevation Range
(ft.)
Avg. Annual
Temp (°F)
2. Environmental Determinants of Terrestrial Ecoregions
Bottom Line
Avg annual precip
(cm)
Major determinants of ecoregion distribution:
0
53
86
Sitka Spruce
0 – 500
52
200 – 300
Western Hemlock
0 – 2500
47
70 – 300
• Amount
• Timing
Silver Fir
1900 – 4200
42
220 – 280
M
Mountain
t i H
Hemlock
l k
4200 – 5900
39
160 - 280
Subalpine Fir
4200 - 5800
39
100 - 150
Alpine
>5000 - >7000
37.5*
46*
Douglas-fir/Grand Fir
2000 – 5000
46
60 – 110
Ponderosa Pine
2000 – 4000
47
40 – 70
Shrub Steppe
150 – 2000
50
15 – 25
< 3000
48
40 – 70
Palouse Prairie
III. Interactive Effects of
Temperature & Moisture
I. Precipitation
• Moisture
M i t
effects
ff t ability
bilit to
t
cope with temperature
II. Temperature
• Direct effects
* Data from Paradise R.S. on Mt. Rainier (subalpine zone) /
precip includes average snowfall of 256 cm
II. Ecosystems of WA
II. Ecosystems of WA
2. Environmental Determinants of Terrestrial Ecoregions
Ecoregion
(Seattle) for reference
Elevation Range
(ft.)
Avg. Annual
Temp (°F)
0
53
86
Sitka Spruce
0 – 500
52
200 – 300
Western Hemlock
0 – 2500
47
70 – 300
Silver Fir
1900 – 4200
42
220 – 280
M
Mountain
t i H
Hemlock
l k
4200 – 5900
39
160 - 280
Subalpine Fir
4200 - 5800
39
100 - 150
>5000 - >7000
37.5*
46*
Douglas-fir/Grand Fir
2000 – 5000
46
60 – 110
Ponderosa Pine
2000 – 4000
47
40 – 70
Shrub Steppe
150 – 2000
50
15 – 25
< 3000
48
40 – 70
Alpine
Palouse Prairie
2. Environmental Determinants of Terrestrial Ecoregions
Bottom Line
Avg annual precip
(cm)
Major determinants of ecoregion distribution:
III. Interactive Effects of
Temperature & Moisture
I. Precipitation
• Amount
• Moisture effects ability to cope with
t
temperature
t
• Timing
II. Temperature
• Direct effects
• Temperature effects moisture
availability
* Data from Paradise R.S. on Mt. Rainier (subalpine zone) /
precip includes average snowfall of 256 cm
II. Ecosystems of WA
II. Ecosystems of WA
3. Environmental Determinants of Terrestrial Ecoregions
Ecoregion
(Seattle) for reference
Sitka Spruce
Western Hemlock
Elevation Range
(ft.)
Avg. Annual
Temp (°F)
3. Environmental Determinants of Terrestrial Ecoregions
Avg annual precip
(cm)
Ecoregion
0
53
86
0 – 500
52
200 – 300
(Seattle) for reference
Sitka Spruce
Elevation Range
(ft.)
Avg. Annual
Temp (°F)
Avg annual precip
(cm)
0
53
86
0 – 500
52
200 – 300
0 – 2500
47
70 – 300
Western Hemlock
0 – 2500
47
70 – 300
Silver Fir
1900 – 4200
42
220 – 280
Silver Fir
1900 – 4200
42
220 – 280
M
Mountain
t i H
Hemlock
l k
4200 – 5900
39
160 - 280
M
Mountain
t i H
Hemlock
l k
4200 – 5900
39
160 - 280
Subalpine Fir
4200 - 5800
39
100 - 150
Subalpine Fir
4200 - 5800
39
100 - 150
Alpine
>5000 - >7000
37.5*
46*
>5000 - >7000
37.5*
46*
Douglas-fir/Grand Fir
2000 – 5000
46
60 – 110
Douglas-fir/Grand Fir
2000 – 5000
46
60 – 110
Ponderosa Pine
2000 – 4000
47
40 – 70
Ponderosa Pine
2000 – 4000
47
40 – 70
Shrub Steppe
150 – 2000
50
15 – 25
Shrub Steppe
150 – 2000
50
15 – 25
< 3000
48
40 – 70
Palouse Prairie
< 3000
48
40 – 70
Palouse Prairie
* Data from Paradise R.S. on Mt. Rainier (subalpine zone) /
precip includes average snowfall of 256 cm
Alpine
* Data from Paradise R.S. on Mt. Rainier (subalpine zone) /
precip includes average snowfall of 256 cm
•13
II. Ecosystems of WA
3. Environmental Determinants of Terrestrial Ecoregions
II. Ecosystems of WA
3. Environmental Determinants of Terrestrial Ecoregions
Major determinants of ecoregion distribution:
I. Precipitation
• Amount
• Timing
II. Temperature
• Direct effects
III. Interactive Effects of
Temperature & Moisture
• Moisture effects ability to cope with
temperature
• Temperature effects moisture
availability
Ecoregion
(Seattle) for reference
Sitka Spruce
Western Hemlock
Elevation Range
(ft.)
Avg. Annual
Temp (°F)
Avg annual precip
(cm)
0
53
86
0 – 500
52
200 – 300
0 – 2500
47
70 – 300
Silver Fir
1900 – 4200
42
220 – 280
M
Mountain
t i H
Hemlock
l k
4200 – 5900
39
160 - 280
Subalpine Fir
4200 - 5800
39
100 - 150
9 Ç temp Æ Ç water use Æ È water available
Alpine
>5000 - >7000
37.5*
46*
9 Ç temp Æ Ç evaporation from soil Æ
È water available
Douglas-fir/Grand Fir
2000 – 5000
46
60 – 110
Ponderosa Pine
2000 – 4000
47
40 – 70
Shrub Steppe
150 – 2000
50
15 – 25
< 3000
48
40 – 70
9 È temp Æ Ç precip as snow Æ È water available
Palouse Prairie
* Data from Paradise R.S. on Mt. Rainier (subalpine zone) /
precip includes average snowfall of 256 cm
•14