Grade Grouping: 10-12

Team Size: 1

Subject Area: Environmental Science

Project Type: Descriptive

Language: English

Software Tools Used: Internet Explorer, Paint, Notepad, Adobe Photoshop CS, Adobe Imageready CS, WS_FTP pro, Adobe Audition, Windows Movie Maker, Google Earth, Adobe Acrobat Professional, Flash MX, Dreamweaver MX, River Past Screen Recorder

Hardware Tools Used: Digital Camera, Scanner, GPS, Dell Inspiron Laptop

Source of Idea: My Mother

Special Skills: Javascript, HTML, CSS, Working with images/movies

Awards Won: Calgary Youth Science Fair: Travel Award (Nationals), Grant MacEwan Nature Protection Award, Grassroots NW Environmental Awareness Senior Runner Up

Summary:

Biodiversity or Monoculture?
         Which would you prefer?

Invasive alien plant species, such as smooth brome and creeping thistle, are compromising the native biodiversity of the rough fescue grassland ecosystem in Whispering Woods natural area park in northwest Calgary. If these expansions are left unchecked, then they will devastate the natural habitats in Whispering Woods, leaving behind a monoculture of weeds.

This study had four objectives: a) to map the extent of the smooth brome and creeping thistle in Whispering Woods, and to monitor three successive years' growth; b) to investigate the impact invasive alien species have on global biodiversity; c) to promote awareness and conservation of native prairie ecosystems; and d) to continue being a steward for Whispering Woods natural area park.

Field observation excerpts: Brome is more common at the base of hills and in slight basins where there is more moisture. Brome and thistle grow inward from the sides of the park, and outward from the pathways. Fescue grassland still exists within the newer growth of brome, but has become compromised. Thistle has grown outwards by large amounts every year, despite efforts to control it by hand pulling.

Smooth brome may be allelopathic in that it produces chemicals or toxins that damage other plants, e.g. fescue and rose, by inhibiting their root and plant growth. Fescue isn't weak. but brome has advantages. Thus brome is a management problem. Current brome management practices include chemical, mechanical, controlled burning, and reverse fertilization methods. We need biodiversity to support the whole ecosystem. There is much more there than just the grasses, such as native birds, voles, and insects. Grasslands are important in carbon cycling, and actually use more carbon per acre than trees. Root structures of native grass are deeper than those of non native grasses, and are also deeper than trees. Thus erosion of non native areas is more drastic than in native areas. For example, more riverbanks were lost in the June 2005 flooding in areas with non natives.

Invasive alien species are the second greatest threat to global biodiversity after habitat loss. Non native plants and animals can disrupt native ecosystems to such an extent that the native species can no longer compete. Environmental Management must balance the benefits and costs to both the economy and the environment Monocultures often precede ecosystem collapse. Thus, managing for biodiversity must take priority in ensuring we all live in a healthy, shared habitat.

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