Observed by Jeff Dunham July 21, 2012

HIGH LINE CANAL TRAIL, COLORADO

HIGHLINE CANAL TRAIL OVERVIEW

HIGHLINE CANAL TRAIL FAQ

• 71 mile manmade canal system that runs from the South Platte River southwest of Denver, CO to the agricultural regions northeast of Denver

• Follows the “highline principle” of canal construction, which follows the natural contours of the land with minimal drops in elevation per mile

• Construction begun in 1880 and was completed in 1883

• Designed to carry three-quarters of a billion gallons of water a day

• Begins at an elevation of 5542 feet and terminates at 5410 feet

• Approximately 60 miles of improved recreational trails exist along the banks of the canal with unimproved natural ecosystem throughout

(Highline Canal, 2012)

TRAIL ECOLOGY OBSERVED

Observation Area Yellow Pinpoint Exact Observation Area

Aurora, CO

Denver, CO

Highline Canal Biome

East of the Continental Divide, until the Mississippi River, is classified as a mid-latitude grassland biome. These areas were once dominated by grass lands known as prairies with broadleaf trees only occurring along river and stream banks. These Biomes are the most modified by human activity and are rapidly disappearing. The highline canal trail is a good representation of this biome as the open fields away from the canal are representative of disappearing prairies and the canal(though artificial) represent the grassland riparian areas.(Christopher, 2012)

Cottonwoods

Family- Salicaceae(Willow) - Genus- Populus

Deciduous, 35 native species, In the US they are found in northern temperate climates often associated with wet soils, alternate simple leaves, fast growing, high water demands, 70 year expected life, releases distinct cottony seeds in late spring and throughout summer(Little,2007)

Angiosperms first appeared between the early Cretaceous and Late Jurassic and are very closely related to Gymnosperms (Monroe, Wincander, 2009)

The genus serves as an important habitat for riparian ecosystems and is considered a keystone species(Botkin 2000)

The Photo Above shows a habitat of both the Narrow-leaf and the Plains Cottonwood together

PLAINS COTTONWOOD

Straight columnar trunks, 60-100 feet in height, wide spreading mature crowns, drought tolerant, trunks up to 6 feet wide

The flat stem of the leaf allows the leafs to shake in the slightest breeze, an evolutionary adaptation so the sun only hits the edge of the leaves to reduce water transpiration

(Little, 2007)

NARROW-LEAF COTTONWOOD

Can reach heights of 50 feet. Has very high water demands, large crown composed of many stems and trunks

This species has a very high demand for water and evolved narrow leaves to limit surface area and reduce water transpiration

(Little, 2007)

Black Tailed Prairie Dog

Black tailed prairie dogs found about 200 yards away form the canal in a representative mid-latitude grassland.

BLACK TAILED PRAIRIE DOGS

• Black tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys Ludovicianus) are social animals that live in burrowed colonies throughout the prairie lands. These animals are mammals and are a species of rodent. Tan in color with black tipped tails. They can weigh from 1.5- 3 pounds and range from 14-17 inches long.(Wikipedia, 2012)

• These animals evolved from mammal like reptiles known as cynodonts during the late Triassic, and most of their evolution occurred during the Mesozoic Era. (Monroe, Wicander, 2009)

• Often they can be seen perched on their hind legs outside of there burrows looking out for predators. They can usually be heard barking at one another while perched, which Is probably an evolved characteristic used to avoid predators.

• Prairie dogs often live in large communities in underground burrows. Living in large communities could be an evolutionary step to help fight off predators. Also, burrowing is clearly an evolved defense mechanism to keep away from predators living in the open plains.

OTHER PRAIRIE VEGETATION

Cacti Sage Brush and Russian Olive Tree

Typical vegetation found away from water sources on the Colorado prairie- The Russian Olive tree is a non-native introduced species that thrives in this ecosystem, while Sage bush and various Cacti are native and very common on prairie lands.

Rose Quartzite

Rose Quartzite found lining the canal banks

• NON Foliated Metamorphic Rock

• Formed from igneous quartz and sedimentary sandstone under intermediate to high grade metamorphic conditions

• Can be formed by contact or regional metamorphism

• Probably evolved through mountain orogeny and tectonic compression

• Due to strength characteristic this rock is often used in construction and is possible that it was imported and deposited when building the canal

(Monroe, Wicander 2009)

ROSE QUARTZITE

• Sedimentary Rock

• Composed of deposited muds and silts

• Evolved through low grade compressional forces

• Fissile

• Found along the canal banks deposited by weak stream currents

• Contains some deposited conglomerate along ridges

• Appears to contain trace fossils imprinted onto surface

• Could indicate that natural stream was present before construction of canal

(Monroe, Wicander, 2009)

SHALE

REFERENCES• Little, E. L. (2007). National Audubon Society Field Guide to Northern American Trees

(22nd ed., pp. 338-367). New York, NY: Chantticleer Press, Inc.

• Botkin, D. B., & Keller, E. A. (2000). Enviromental Science- Earth As A Living Planet (3rd ed., pp. 174-182). New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

• Christopherson, R. W. (2012). Geosystems- An Introduction to Geography (8th ed., pp. 250-289). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.

• Monroe, J. S., & Widcander, R. (2009). The Changing Earth- Exploring Geology and Evolution (5th ed., pp. 84-189). Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole, CengageLearning.

• In Highline Canal. Retrieved July 21, 2012, from http://www.denverwater.org/recreation/highlinecanal/

• In Google Earth. Retrieved July 21, 2012, from www.googleearth.com

• Black-Tailed Prairie dog. (2012, June 9). In Black-Tailed Prairie dog. Retrieved July 21, 2012, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-tailed_prairie_dog