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This garden includes native plants from two distinct habitats found here on the Colorado Plateau: 1) high elevation moist and cool; and 2) low elevation moist and warm. The setting portrays a gradient between an aspen grassland and a riparian habitat. High Elevation Moist and Cool(6,500-10,000 ft, 25-30” precip/year)The plant community surrounding the pond represents a native habitat in which annual moisture comes as snowfall, from November through May, and as rain in July and August. The small creek leaving the pond is an ephemeral drainage—meaning that it flows only during periods of snowmelt or after heavy rainfall. The pond was initially a cattle tank for an area ranch, but has been modified to accommodate aquatic life. In 1992 it was stocked with the Little Colorado River spinedace, a threatened species. These fish are successfully reproducing.The rare water-loving Arizona willow growing on the slopes of the pond occurs naturally near perennial streams and high elevation meadows in eastern Arizona and southern Utah. Its populations are threatened by cattle, elk, insect, and rust herbivory (a fungus that eats plants), as well as habitat degradation. Arboretum researchers are examining reintroduction techniques and the impacts of wild and domestic ungulates (having hoofs) on plant growth.The soil has been amended with organic material and an irriga tion system added. The upland component of this habitat has gentle slopes of clay soil and rock. Organic matter in the soil supports several species of coniferous trees and other vegetation naturally occurring on the San Francisco Peaks.Low Elevation Moist and Warm(4,000-6,000 ft, 13-23” precip/year)The lush riparian (streamside) ecosystem reproduced along the banks of the creek flowing into the pond receives naturally occurring moisture as well as a moderate amount of supplemental irrigation during dry periods. Temperatures are generally moderate and soils moist. Riparian ecosystems provide abundant food, water, and shelter for a unique community of native plants and animals not found elsewhere. You can find this environment in the canyons at the southern edge of the Colorado Plateau, such as Oak Creek Canyon near Sedona. Water in this section of our creek recirculates with the help of a pump.Throughout the world, streamside habitats are threatened due to development, dams, and introduction of non-native plants and animals. Non-native species often outcompete natives, which leads to decreased biodiversity and reduced support for life, weakening the system’s ecological stability. |
Copyright © 2007 The Arboretum at Flagstaff
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