life on the rocks: geology and flowering plants
TRANSCRIPT
Life on the Rocks: Geology and Flowering Plants
Going Green Garden Show GravenhurstMay 9, 2009
Dr. Andy FyonOntario Geological Survey / Ontario Wildflower
Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
Outline 1: Geology and You 2: Geology: plants
– Forest spring ephemeral– Hostile rock chemistry– Desert– Bog– Alvar
3: Insights
• Not a biologist• Not an horticulturist• Am a geologist• Wildflower hobby• Prefer not to discuss
medicinal or culinary uses of plants
• Don't have all the answers.
Lots of questions – try together.
Geology and Plants
Different Habitats
Landforms
Plant Communities
Geological Processes
Face of Earth Affects our lives Plant, animal, and
human communities
5
Ontario Geological Survey- Ministry of Northern Development and Mines
The Sponsor
Geology and You ! - Groundwater
NRCan
chicagowildernessmag.org
7
Geology and You! - Shoreline Erosion
Scarborough Bluffs(N. Eyles)
8
Geology and You!Earthquakes - “The Day the Earth Moved”
9
Geology and You ! - Land-use Planning
Aquifer risk – source water protection
Landslide risk
Geology and You !Ornamental + Horticultural
Limestone
• Adjust soil pH
Geological Hazards
Engineering Infrastructure
Environment, biodiversity,
habitat, landforms,
health
Land use PlanningGeology
Global warming
Resource development,
investment attraction (mineral, energy,
groundwater)
12
Geology and PlantsFossil Plant – Archaefructus sinensis
125 million years old
Surficial (Glacial deposits)
• Liaoning Province, China• Aquatic• no petals• closed fruits protected seeds• evolutionary leap• separated flowering plants from other plants
Geology - Spring ephemerals
Geology– Soil type– Slope– Moisture
Sunlight– Growth pre-
leafing– Early pollinators– Seed + disappear
before leaf outLarge-flowered Trillium
Spring EphemeralLarge-flowered Trillium
• Community• Dies if picked• 5 to 7 years seed
to bloom• Myrmecochorous -
seed dispersal by ants
Spring EphemeralTrout Lily
• Community• 1 leaf = young + no
flower• 2 leaves = older + 1
flower• Up to 7 years to
bloom• Myrmecochorous -
ant seed dispersal
Spring Ephemeral Plant Summary
• Grow early, fast• Tolerate cold weather• Early pollinators• Myrmecochorous
Geology - Hostile Rock Chemistry
Serpentine rock
NickelMagnesium
Very little calcium
No potassium, phosphorous, nitrogen
Geology – Hostile Rock Chemistry
Rock Desert – Sedum•Succulent
Photosynthesis
Rock Desert - Pearly Everlasting
• Silver-coloured leaves
• Protect from evil spirits
“Desert” Plant Summary
• Leaf design• Deep roots • Photosynthesis
Bog Geology
• Physical / chemical• Nutrients• Plants
Bog – Plant Survival Tactics
• Carnivorous• Non-carnivorous, soil
fungi (mycorrhizal association)
Grass-pink orchid
Carnivorous Plant - Pitcher Plant
Carnivorous Plant - Pitcher Plant• Leaf “soup”• Hairs• Insects• Nutrients
Carnivorous Plant - Sundew
• Secretions• Insects• Nutrients
Mycorrhizal (Fungi) Association
Australian National Botanic Gardens Fungi Web Site
Chanterelle
TrufflePlant: Sugars to fungiFungi: Nutrients to plant + no metal poisons
Non-carnivorous - Labrador TeaMycorrhizal Fungi
Bog Summary
• Geology• Physical conditions• Nutrients• Plant adaptation− Carnivorous− Mycorrhizal
Limestone Plains - Alvar
Precambrian Shield:>2 Billion years old
Limestone alvar: <0.4 Billion year old
Ontario Alvars
Carden Plain
Alvar Rock Geology
Tropical ocean - 0.45 billion years ago.Limestone rocks
Alvar Calciphile – Prairie Smoke
• Alvar + tall grass prairie• Name = seed head in wind• Dry, well drained, full sun
Alvar – Calciphile - Shrubby Cinquefoil
Alvar Calciphile - Wild Paintbrush
• Semi-parasitic• Flowers vs bracts
Alvar Calciphile - Lakeside Daisy• Great Lakes • Rare• Manitoulin Gold• Thick, rubbery leaves store water to withstand dry spells.
Misery Bay
Alvar - Geological InfluenceCalciphile Plants
• Alvar geological history• Chemical conditions• Calcium- and magnesium-
tolerant plants
Low Calamint
Lakeside Daisy + Columbine
Geology and Plants
Different Habitats
Landforms
Plant Communities
Geological Processes
Face of Earth Affects our lives Plant and human
communities
Dr. Andy Fyon
(Geology Hat)Director, Ontario Geological Survey
www.ontariogeologicalsurvey.caor
(Wildflower Hat)www.ontariowildflower.com
E-mail:[email protected]