life on the rocks: geology and flowering plants

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)

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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:andy.fyon@ontario.ca

andy@ontariowildflower.com