Life on the Rocks: Geology and Flowering Plants The Sault Naturalists Sault Ste Marie, MI. February 12, 2008 Andy Fyon Ontario Geological Survey / Ontario Wildflower Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
Disclaimers Outline Geology, society, and animals Geology and plants Desert Bog Alvar Insights
Not a biologist Not an horticulturist Am a geologist Wildflowers hobby Prefer not to discuss medicinal or culinary uses of plants Don't have all the answers
Geology is important! landforms animal and plant habitat minerals we eat and use dangers to society Plants different geology different habitats different survival strategies different plant communities Shrubby Cinquefoil
Geology, Landforms, Habitats
Geology - Animals Sheep at Mineral (Salt) Lick
Geology - Animals 10 Sheep At Mineral (Salt) Lick
Geology and Society Food Drinking water Energy Metals Construction
Geological Hazards Leda Clay Lemieux Slide 1993 - NRCan Mt St. Helens - Volcano Tsunami - Thailand
Geology in Our Lives - 1 Landforms Habitats Minerals Hazards Affects us! Affects animals! Plants?
Geology and Plants
Geological Desert Geological processes: Glaciation Erosion - Wind Organics Water Nutrients Solar intensity Temperature
Rock Desert Crevices, Depressions, and Plants
Lichen: algae + fungi Rock Desert Species Pale Corydalis Columbine Feb. 08
Rock Desert Outcrop Bristly Sarsaparilla Root beer plant Deep roots
Drought tolerant Narrow silver leaves Reflects sunlight Rock Desert Outcrop Pearly Everlasting
Rock Desert Outcrop Sedum Lance-leaved stonecrop Leaves are succulent to save water.
Rock Desert Outcrop Wintergreen
Leaf design Deep tap roots Community root system Photosynthesis Desert Plant Summary
Bog Geology James Bay lowland Isolated, acidic, poor nutrients, sedges, heaths, sphagnum moss
Bog Geology Image: Fettes College
Bog Plant Survival Tactics Carnivorous Non-carnivorous work with soil fungi (mycorrhizal association) Grass-pink orchid
Carnivorous Plants - Bladderwort Leaf traps www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/plants/plantid2/photopages/photo_uvulgariscloseu p.html
Carnivorous Plants Pitcher Plant
Carnivorous Plants Pitcher Plant Leaves - soup, hairs Drowned insects Nutrients
Carnivorous Plants Sundew Secretions Trap insects Nutrients
Non-carnivorous - Leatherleaf Mycorrhizal Fungi
Mycorrhizal Association Chanterelle Australian National Botanic Gardens Fungi Web Site Truffle
Non-carnivorous - Labrador Tea Mycorrhizal Fungi
Non-carnivorous - Laurels Mycorrhizal Fungi Sheep laurel Bog laurel
Geology bog basin acidic conditions Plant adaptation Carnivorous Mycorrhizal Bog Summary
Lake Huron Alvar
Precambrian Shield (>2 Billion years old) Limestone / dolomite (~ 450 Million years old)
Carbonate Rock Geology Bottom of tropical ocean 300-400 million years ago.
Special Alvar Species Calciphiles Calcium- and magnesiumrich soil Alkaline, bicarbonate groundwater Limestone, dolomite
Alvar Calciphile - Silverweed Red stolons White leaf hairs
Alvar Calciphile - Birds-eye Primrose Moist limestone or calcareous soil and seepage.
Alvar Calciphile - Lakeside Daisy Endemic and rare. Dolomite alvar. Misery Bay
Alvar Calciphile Kalm's Lobelia After Peter Kalm (1700's), collected North American plants for his teacher, Carolus Linnaeus - the father of plant classification.
Alvar Calciphile - Wild Paintbrush Semi-parasitic Flowers vs bracts
Alvar Calciphile - Fringed Gentian Damp, sunny, calcareous soil Magnesiumrich rock
Alvar Calciphile - Shrubby Cinquefoil
Alvar geological history Conditions Alvar Calciphiles? Geological Influence Calcium- and magnesiumtolerant plants Lakeside Daisy - Columbine Low Calamint
Geology face of the Earth part of our daily lives plant, animal, and human communities Plants different habitats different geological conditions different survival strategies Different plant communities Insights Shrubby Cinquefoil
Andy Fyon Ontario Geological Survey andy.fyon@ontario.ca Ontariowildflower.com andy@ontariowildflower.com