The Climograph of Yosemite High Country
Soils of Yosemite High Country
Soils of Yosemite Valley
Soils of Mariposa Grove
The strength of granite, the power of glaciers, the persistence of life, and the tranquility of the High
Sierra. Yosemite National Park is one of the most known national parks in the world as its magnificent
scenic landforms attracts tourists around the world. It is a shrine to human foresight as it consists of a
variety of physical landscape and biogeographic patterns. The elevation of Yosemite ranges from
2000 ft to 13,000 ft, therefore the climate changes due to elevation. However, 95% of its participation
occurs between October and May with a cover of snow in most of Yosemite from November through
May. The climate in Yosemite National Park is generally the same as they are similar to the
Mediterranean climate which is dry in the summer and wet in the winter. The geology of Yosemite is
mostly characterized by granitic igneous rocks and remnants of older rocks. In Yosemite Valley,
meadow soils are found and it carries up to one-third of all of the plant species. In the Sequoias forest,
the soil contents are mostly well-drained sandy, wetland soils.
Climate Data.org, Yosemite Valley climate: Average Temperature, weather by month, Yosemite Valley weather averages - Climate-Data.org.
1) The Yosemite Valley
Yosemite Valley is a glacial valley in Yosemite National Park that is surrounded by high granite summits such as Half Dome and El Capitan. In the valley, you can find species that depend upon meadow habitat because of the richness in water. The Yosemite Valley has a diverse array of plant and animal species, it contains more than 400 species of grasses, wildflowers and thousands of species of insects.
Meadows are like sponges, it absorbs water as snowpack melts and holds that water very well. In 2003, an entirely new species of orchid called the Yosemite bog-orchid (fig.1) was discovered in the meadows, also one-third of all of the plant species found in Yosemite occur in meadows. The valley is also considered as a dry yellow pine forest as it has numerous large open meadows, which includes trees like Ponderosa Pine (fig.2), Sugar pine.
Mammals that are common in the Yosemite Valley are Mule Deer (fig. 3) and Rodents. Mule deer are seen commonly browsing on leaves and tender twigs from trees, grass, and herbs. Rodents consist of the highest proportion of Yosemite’s mammal species. An example of it is the Douglas squirrel as it often squeaks and snacks on pine cones.
Many bird species can also be found in the Yosemite National Park. Further, a newest bird on record was found in April 2011 in Yosemite Valley called White-face ibis.
The High Countries of Yosemite
The High Countries of Yosemite is located on the East side of the national park, due to its high elevation and mountains on California's Sierra Nevada mountains. There are also numerous mountains that are higher than 12,000 feet such as Mount Lyell, Mount Dana, Mount Kuna and many more which provide a high altitude type biome.
In the high countries, there are two types of forest zones. The subalpine forest and alpine zone. Around 8000 feet up in altitude, subalpine forests thrive as the climate is cooler and a shorter growing season due to long, cold, snowy winters. Species such as western white pine(fig.5), mountain hemlock(fig.6), and lodgepole pine are found in this forest. The alpine zone begins near 9,500 feet in elevation and is easily distinguished as it is above tree line. No trees grow in this zone due to extreme cold, snowy, long winter conditions. Herbaceous plants can be found for only a short period of summer as they need to flower and produce their seeds quickly during the short window of warmth.
Mountain Coyote(fig.7) can be found in the subalpine forest of Yosemite High Countries as they can adapt to the cold better than many others. They hunt for small mammals moving beneath the snow. The Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep(fig.8) can be found in higher elevations as it has an impressive ability to climb steep granite cliffs and avoid predators in the higher elevations.
Mariposa Groves
Located in the southern portion of Yosemite, the Mariposa Grove is known for its Giant Sequoias(fig.9) as it is the largest sequoia grove in Yosemite and is home to over 500 mature giant sequoias (NPS, 2021). The world-renowned Sequoia trees can grow up to 300 feet and 20 feet in diameter, which is far exceeding in size than any other species.
The Mariposa Groves has fallen in the Lower Montane forest zone as it is around 3000 feet in elevation. The Mediterranean climate in the region provides hot, dry summers and cool, moist winters. In the Mariposa Groves, different tree species such as California black oak(fig.10), ponderosa pine, incense-cedar(fig.11) can also be found, as the climate provides a suitable living conditions for a diversity of tree species.
Animals such as Tamiasciurus douglasii (fig.12), known as Chickarees can be found in the region. They are small, darker, and brilliantly energetic squirrels. They remain active all winter as they cache hundreds of sequoia seeds in the ground and effectively planting them.
2)Fire disturbance regime has been a big part of California, which doesn’t exclude Yosemite National park. Some species in Yosemite National Park even rely on the effects of fire to survive which is also known as fire dependence. In Mariposa Grove, lodgepole pine and giant sequoia trees use fire to help open their “serotinous” or sealed cones to remove litter and duff from the ground. This helps the seeds to germinate, and to burn open the canopy, providing the sunlight they need to grow big and tall.
The introduction of non-native insects and disease can sometimes lead to environmental or economic damage. An example that has concerned Yosemite National Park is a pathogen called sudden oak death. It started spreading from coastal California locations and now is a threat in the national park. The presence of sudden oak death has led to a quarantine of firewood and soil materials from various countries. Disease such as this can heavily change an ecosystem, for example the destruction of riparian hardwoods by sudden oaks death could increase stream water temperatures and reduce the amount of habitat for native trout.
Sources in text
fig.1
https://www.usgs.gov/media/images/yosemite-bog-orchid
fig.2
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YTDEDwEY8jA/YHUKlVvydkI/AAAAAAAAACg/PgqabYrM1Lo3-5WtwHcDzoCnjoWFV1qUQCLcBGAsYHQ/download.jpg
fig.3
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dkT- kfUsL0M/YHULGmg7KoI/AAAAAAAAAC0/HmXiDdtKpis2NDD0z2OQ15ALfgnaLRPGwCLcBGAsYHQ/download%2B%25281%2529.jpg
fig.4
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bhmUWQi4H-U/YHULD26cVLI/AAAAAAAAACw/9obpz8DSTc4OgXFQ5NJXa7v8KsuLlJ0bgCLcBGAsYHQ/75224021-1200px.jpg
fig.5
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rmhoKLrz64k/YHUMtXfHHGI/AAAAAAAAADI/BXMYtK5ttb0IZuuEVsNARJd7O-wVw4_pwCLcBGAsYHQ/western-white-pine-pinus-monticola-yosemite-national-park-california-E5HJTY.jpg
fig.6
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zvCv3GdqOmo/YHUMyBo-ZVI/AAAAAAAAADM/GEkuvftmObEy_VdcsTFTyGF3kl1bMLHKQCLcBGAsYHQ/download%2B%25282%2529.jpg
fig.7
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LbhoOOiSzog/YHUM2YgWzEI/AAAAAAAAADQ/RlF7lOd_p8wzomg82imZOS-0ocd7g02nACLcBGAsYHQ/Coyote_cover_688x344.jpg
fig.8
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-urXIUW5jcsM/YHUM7oLVI3I/AAAAAAAAADg/Swz8C3bYPHc-H4ci9yYvncKBvFhzZPO8ACLcBGAsYHQ/download%2B%25283%2529.jpg
fig.9
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JGhaTVS1MgE/YHUNpf97QnI/AAAAAAAAAD0/Y-JnrL2u0MQ7nMph5cAnL8fg0-I1dzZeQCLcBGAsYHQ/SNP_President_2_Winter_2017_NWM-web.jpg
fig.10
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GQgpGEwaZp8/YHUNrFi1t3I/AAAAAAAAAD4/hvJWBJnd2AYI1VDUv1bSa8JkSDo4XCcQQCLcBGAsYHQ/1200px-Quercus_kelloggii_Las_Trampas.jpg
fig.11 https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0qKStoxdD5w/YHUNsyBJIhI/AAAAAAAAAD8/x4JJGFi6AqMAEXG_OcgZ5kibb0W1X9-4wCLcBGAsYHQ/img_0094_2.jpg
fig.12
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oRVVg0rxXMM/YHUNuQWdOCI/AAAAAAAAAEA/AZuhNJyJD54nBNhnPPj_cO7p4E_4OjO7ACLcBGAsYHQ/download%2B%25284%2529.jpg
National Park Service, Animals - Yosemite National Park (U.S. National Park Service), 2021 https://www.nps.gov/yose/learn/nature/animals.htm
Tenaya Lodge, Guide to the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, 2021, https://www.tenayalodge.com/things-to-do/explore-yosemite/mariposa-grove
National Park Service, Forest Pests - Yosemite National Park (U.S. National Park Service), 2021, https://www.nps.gov/yose/learn/nature/forest-pests.htm
National Park Service, Plants - Yosemite National Park (U.S. National Park Service), 2021, https://www.nps.gov/yose/learn/nature/plants.htm
Part III
1.
In Yosemite National Park, the battle against invasive species has been on-going since the 1930s. It is known as the largest threat to biodiversity within Yosemite. The ecological effects of non-native species have been well documented at the population, community, and ecosystem levels, as have the economic costs associated with environmental damage and control (Underwood, 2021). Currently, over 275 non-native plant species have been documented within the national park. Since 2012 over 28 non-native species have been found. It is caused by four million annual visitors crossing through weed-infested lands or unintentionally bringing invasive plants seeds in socks, shoe laces, vehicle tires. The impact on native wildlife can be severe, as they depend on each other for their survival and well-being. Many native animals, insects, plants are highly specialized in their food intake and habitat, a sudden disruption by strong non-native species can be devastating to the ecosystem even if as little as one species gets affected.
The Yellow Star-thistle (fig.1 ) is regarded as the Yosemite’s high priority weed because of the aggressiveness in invading. It has become well established in the Sierra Nevada foothills. Along the steep river canyons, land managers are trying to stop its eastward spread. The aggressive invader can outcompete most other vegetation and form monocultures if it is not being controlled. A native plant species such as the bog-orchid can simply be outcompeted by the Yellow Star-thistle in the Yosemite Valley.
The New Zealand Mud Snail (fig. 2) is a threat towards the whole state, this invasive species can grow in populations where it reaches phenomenal densities. This snail can outcompete many native aquatic insects that provide food for many aquatic and terrestrial animals. Animals like brown bears in the High Countries will be threatened. Even native squirrels in the Mariposa Groves like the Chickarees can be threatened.
2.
Yosemite’s climate is changing alongside with the temperature of the whole globe. Weather data have been collected in Yosemite since 1895 and it gives us a good understanding of how the temperature is rising since then. Over the period from 1896 - 2016, the total area within park boundaries warmed at a rate of 1.6 F per century (IPCC, 2007). This affects the climate in Yosemite significantly as there is an increase in higher low temperatures and longer frost-free days. This change can be agreed by the vast majority of scientists due to the greenhouse gases that humans produce that also get trap and store heat within the planet’s surface. Projected future analysis suggested that a rise in temperature of 6.7 -10.3F between 2000 and 2100.
This massive change in temperature can severely threaten all ecosystems in the Yosemite National Park. In the high countries of Yosemite, species like the Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep will be forced to move to a lower altitude due to the melting of glaciers which can increase the exposure from the predators.
In the Mariposa Groves, the ancient, magnificent sequoias trees will be threatened to move due to the change in snow and rain. Giant Sequoias have limited ways to move due to the short distance spread of seeds.
In the Yosemite Valley, the rise in temperature can increase evapotranspiration in the ecosystem which causes drought-stressed trees to develop health problems. Species of trees such as pines, red and white fir trees can be more vulnerable towards the attack from insects and fungus because of the increase in drought. The domino effect of that can be severe towards the whole ecosystem.
3.
Mariposa Grove
In December 2013, the Restoration of the Mariposas Grove of Giant Sequoias was prepared by the National Park Service (NPS) at Yosemite National Park. Since 1864, the Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Grove have been listed as landmark legislation due to its significance in the natural and the human world. The Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias supports about 500 mature giant sequoia trees and it contains 86 percent of the park’s mapped adult giant sequoias. It was also estimated that more than one million visitors visit the Mariposa Grove annually. In order to reserve and protect this national wonder, a conservation plan such as the Mariposa Grove FEIS was designed to plan and conserve the area. The FEIS response to conditions in the Mariposa Grove area that adversely affect the ecological health of the Grove and diminish the quality of the visitor experience. The current conditions that are affecting the ecological health of the Grove include: roads, trails disrupting the natural hydrology of the Grove, foot and vehicle traffic throughout the Grove is damaging giant sequoia trunks, the deteriorated water distribution system through the Grove is leaking which may affect hydrology and vegetation.
The Yosemite Valley
In 2004, the Yosemite Fire Management Environmental Impact Statement guided the implementation of a fire management program. The program was designed to include wildland fire suppression, wildland fire used, fire prevention, fire ecology research and many different methods to reduce the threat of wildland fire to its natural and cultural resources and the urban communities. The Yosemite Fire Management Plan assists in achieving land management objectives that are defined in the 1980 General Management plan, all major forest and chaparral communities in Yosemite evolved under the influence of periodic fires, and many plants have developed adaptations to a regime of frequently occurring fires. However, decades of fire suppression have changed park vegetation which can threaten the growth of the wildlife habitat. Therefore, the restoration of fire to its natural role in park ecosystems is a top natural priority for Yosemite. This plan can provide specific purposes to reduce the risk of catastrophic fire especially near wildland/ urban, identify and implement methods to restore the park ecosystem and allow fire to play its natural role. Around Yosemite Valley, many plants and trees are fire dependent. For example. Lodgepole pine uses fire to help open their “Serotinous” or sealed cones, to remove litter from the ground to allow seeds to germinate, and to burn the canopy to provide sunlight for the seedlings to grow (Stephenson, 1990).
Yosemite High Countries
In the Yosemite high countries, glaciers are apparent indicators of climatic changes because their health depends on winter precipitation and summer temperatures. Melting has accelerated rapidly in the past decade, especially during the drought that began in 2012. In 2006, park managers outlined strategies for reducing emissions from transportation, electricity use, and waste management. National Park Service initiatives and partnerships continue to focus on these areas to reduce the park’s carbon footprint. Other than that, the park also implements park operations, research, education, and connection as they are powerful tools to confront people with the reality of climate change. For the four to five million people who visit each year, Yosemite offers a new perspective on the shared experience of global change. The constant melting of ice and glacier will slowly force species to recalibrate, which could threaten species such as Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frogs or bighorn sheep.
References
fig.1
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xc28nP2eduI/YIx-O1kBfXI/AAAAAAAAAEk/B5-rDAJLMSgWKq65aHD2loRv9yNV3kHZACLcBGAsYHQ/star-thistle-brown-background.jpg
fig.2
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PIRDXd18oC8/YIx-0FClccI/AAAAAAAAAEs/xzT4O27Z6ZIYiD9E9Mqd2Hni1NS7BmtzQCLcBGAsYHQ/Potamopyrgus_antipodarum_2.png
National Park Service, Invasive Plants - Yosemite National Park (U.S. National Park Service), 2021, https://www.nps.gov/yose/learn/nature/forest-pests.htm
National Park Service, Climate Change - Yosemite National Park (U.S. National Park Service), 2021, https://www.nps.gov/yose/learn/nature/plants.htm
National Park Service, Planning - Yosemite National Park (U.S. National Park Service), 2021, https://www.nps.gov/yose/learn/nature/plants.htm
E. Underwood, R. Klinger, P. Moore, 2004, Predicting patterns of non-native plant invasions in Yosemite National Park, California, USA, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/j.1366-9516.2004.00093.x
. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Climate Change 2007: Synthesis Report Contribution of Working Groups I, II, and III to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC, Geneva, Switzerland, 2007).
Stephenson, N. L., D. J. Parsons, and T. W. Swetnam. 1990. Effects of fire history on forest age structure in sequoia-mixed conifer forests. Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America 71(2):336.
Comments
Post a Comment