Physical Land Analysis of The DDO Lands
Kyle Edward Kuthe
🕒 Estimated reading time: 8-10 minutes
Conducting the fieldwork consisted of four visits; each around a week apart and with a different objective. The initial visit was to record and develop a sense of the place and space at the DDO park and to get familiar with the natural ecosystem and human interactions which occur. During visit number two, the site was analyzed from the perspective of human well-being and their interactions in/with the space. To conduct relevant observations, criteria were used to examine what makes a “restorative environment” in theory for humans. Visit three focused on assessing the ecosystem's health by conducting field surveys to identify the presence of plant, animal and insect species. The last visit considered the integrated and reciprocal health perspective of the park, recording perceptions and experiences and contemplating the past, present, and future of the site.
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For full methodological and theoretical analysis, see report by Kyle Kuthe June 29th, 2023.
Plant & Tree Survey
A large variety of 36 different types of plant species were discovered and each finding was recorded (see table B1). Later the list was organized into Figure B3, to further classify and group the species to find patterns and trends. It was found that there was a large number (19) of different tree species compared to 7 herbaceous, 4 shrubs, 3 vine species 2 grass, and 1 moss. This variety could be found all over the DDO property in the meadows, experimental forests, coniferous forests, and the main areas landscaping. It provides the area with a lush variety and complex diversity of plant life; a large part of the ecosystem. However, it was also found alongside the newly paved trails, there was a large amount of dead plant and tree material decomposing in the forests. It appeared many of the tree roots were simply being ripped from gravity due to the moist ground not supporting the root systems. Many areas with such occuring did not appear very healthy and looked as if the areas along the tracks were affected by the tree/branch debris that was not cleaned up from the clearing of the paths. The vast amounts of plants that remain after deforestation provide the ecosystem with much habitat area. However, much of this ‘variety’ of plants are invasive species. For instance, hogweeds, horseweeds, which are mainly taking over the meadow/field areas, and garlic mustard invading the entire floor of the forested areas. As well, much of the eastern forests were overpowered by common buckthorns which can be invasive species and outcompete native plants and reduce biodiversity (Invasive Species Centre).
Animal & Insect Diversity
Surveys were done to get more insight into the biodiversity of animal and insect species. First looking at the animal species found (table B2.); there was a fairly high species richness calculated using the Shannon-Wiener diversity index and the Simpson index. A vast amount of animal species were found, some in a large abundance like the gray squirrels, Canadian geese, black-capped chickadees, and a family of four black-tail deers. It was also found on this microscopic scale that there is a fairly high species richness of insects too. It is also significant to point out that these two surveys (animal and insect) produced very similar index results, which can confirm the measurements of the species richness in the DDO natural environment were relatively accurate.
The field surveys conducted to assess biodiversity revealed a high species richness of both animal and insect species. “Species richness is the easiest way to quantify diversity and is a simple tally of the numbers of unique species in a collection or set of observations” (Cardinale 62). The Simpson diversity index ranges on a scale of 0 to 1 and between the two surveys (macro and microscopic), the DDO area has an average index of 0.92 (Cardinale et al. 64). The Shannon diversity index is not nessicarily compared to a scale, but to other shannon diversity indexes (Cardinale et al. 64). When comparing, the animal/macroscopic survey has a slightly higher shannon diversity index than the insect’s index (table B2).
Soil Assesment
Throughout the natural environment, there are extremely high levels of saturation in the forest areas, meadows, and fields. Significant runoff along the trails lacks proper drainage, causing over-saturation, which uproots well-developed trees, resulting in dying tree life and decaying plant material on the forest floor. This issue persists even without recent rain, indicating severe soil drainage problems. ​Vegetation shelters the soil surface, preventing soil compaction and erosion by rain splash, while plant roots provide pathways for water flow into the ground. The decay of dead roots and bioturbation by soil organisms enhance soil infiltration capacity in forested watersheds (Runyan 45). Deforestation increases the watershed's susceptibility to runoff, particularly during intense weather. Trails with poor drainage exacerbate this, leading to water pooling and oversaturation. Construction of forest roads and compacted soils results in faster water flow during high-intensity storms, with water accumulating in housing areas (Runyan 47).
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Additionally, white-yellow substances accumulate along the trails, suggesting nutrient buildup. Deforestation in 2015 for housing has contributed to over-saturation, as vegetation that shelters the soil and prevents compaction was removed. This exposed soil is now more prone to erosion and runoff, particularly during intense weather. Poorly drained trails exacerbate this issue, causing water to pool and oversaturate the ground. Nearby marshland, now isolated by houses, contributes to runoff problems. Harmful algal blooms on trails suggest potential eutrophication, a process uncommon in forest areas but harmful if unchecked.
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In the eastern part of the property, bordering the new housing development, man-made slopes cause runoff, creating ponds of polluted water and spreading construction debris and trash into the forest. Sedimentary rocks with white mineral buildup indicate excessive moisture infiltration, further evidencing land degradation. At this slope where runoff was occurring, many large sedimentary rocks were outcropping and/or excavated from the housing developments.
The mineral built on the rock discovered can be referred to as efflorescence. It mainly is the evaporation residue of salts and calcium-rich minerals within the water that comes into contact with the rocks (Dai et al. 106323). Over time, the minerals accumulate to form the white, crystalline deposit seen in Image A18. Efflorescence is commonly observed in areas where there is high water content such as constant over-saturated land like at the DDO and is an indication of excessive moisture or water infiltration (Dai et al 106323). Therefore further evidence this has been frequently occuring over time and there is land degradation throughout the environment.
Anthropogenic Activity
On the final day at the site, time was used to reflect and further look into humans' impact on the natural environment. It appears human actions have generally changed the natural environment over time, using the land’s resources to build housing communities and recreational resources like landscaped park space. The efforts the effort that have been put in to restore the ecological integrity after deforestation, such as planting more trees and removing invasive species, have not seemed to be very successful. Many newer tree plantations are located in the “reforested trail” areas. However, when assessing their health, it appeared the majority were in the extremely over-saturated ground and had died/were not reblooming at all. It was very clear that the town had been planting these trees in poor soil conditions and in areas that were/were not ever forested, such as in the meadows.
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Conclusions
The findings from this study at the DDO park can serve as a microcosm of the larger global issue of anthropogenic forces exceeding the limits of local ecosystems. The case of deforestation and land degradation in the DDO area reflects a broader trend seen in many other regions. The results of the fieldwork underscored the complex interplay between human actions and the natural environment at the DDO park. While efforts were being made to restore the ecological integrity of the site, such as through new plantations, there were still challenges that needed to be addressed, including drainage issues and the potential impact of ongoing development plans. Additionally, the presence of runoff and pollution from nearby construction highlighted the need for better management practices to mitigate the negative impacts on the environment. The presence of construction debris and trash near the forest edge emphasized the need for proper waste management and the prevention of pollution from nearby human activities (construction). Balancing human activities and environmental preservation is crucial to ensure the long-term sustainability and well-being of the DDO ecosystem.
