[CINC] Article

[Catherine French]

We have been taught by Tanya Atwater that there has been no land bridge as previously thought. I have asked Derek to send out a definitive answer, as all our materials disagree with Peter's comment.


Sincerely,

Catherine French
cfrench1366 at aol.com
805.815.3523


-----Original Message-----
From: islandkayaker at earthlink.net
To: CINMS-CINC Listserv <channel_islands_naturalist_corps at rain.org>
Sent: Sun, 20 Apr 2008 1:40 pm
Subject: Re: [CINC] Article



Hmm...? Looks like we and or Peter needs some clarity...

"Channel Islands were once connected to the mainland much farther south."

I was under the impression that the islands were never connected to the main land...? Anyone have the facts here?

Thanks,

Scott




-----Original Message----- 
From: Ron Dreher 
Sent: Apr 20, 2008 11:45 AM 
To: CINMS-CINC Listserv 
Subject: [CINC] Article 



Channel Islands alive with plants from another epoch Pacific Log Peter Howorth 





?





April 20, 2008 12:00 AM

PETER HOWORTH PHOTOS

The Channel Islands are home to many species of plants that, like the recently discussed island night lizard, are representatives of long-past ages. Above, giant coreopsis plants grace Prisoner's Harbor on Santa Cruz Island. At right, a monkey flower is pictured on Santa Cruz Island, one of only three places the species exists. At far right, a live forever, a succulent with thick pointed leaves, is shown on San Nicolas Island.

Last week's Pacific Log dealt mainly with fossils on the Channel Islands. But a number of plants still living on the islands represent ages long gone, while others reveal how plants can evolve into forms found nowhere else in the world.

Santa Cruz Island ironwood is a case in point. This lovely tree graces steep slopes along the island's north side, where it grows in cool, shaded groves. Like the island night lizard (discussed recently in this column), the ironwood is a relict species, meaning a leftover from another epoch -- this species was widespread on the mainland 6 million to 19 million years ago. Now it is only found on Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa and San Clemente islands, thus it is considered an island endemic.

Actually, this is not entirely true; Santa Cruz Island ironwoods, like a number of island plant species, have found their way to gardens on the mainland. Santa Catalina Island also has its own ironwood species, although it only grows naturally on its namesake island.

Another interesting tree is found in a small area along the east end of Santa Rosa Island. This is the Torrey pine, most often associated with the Torrey pines near La Jolla. That Torrey pines are found on Santa Rosa Island is no accident; while the huge section of the earth's crust known as the oceanic plate dives under the continental plate, it has also been slowly moving northward. Instead of a land bridge near Point Mugu, what are now the northern Channel Islands were once connected to the mainland much farther south.

The Santa Cruz Island pine has been the subject of controversy among taxonomists for some time. Some researchers say it should be considered a separate species, while others see the Santa Cruz Island pine and the Bishop pine as one and the same. Some botanists have noted intermediate forms between the two. Suffice it to say that pines grow near China Harbor, from Pelican Bay to Fry's Harbor, and inland from Christy Ranch, on the west end of the island.





ShowFord(); ?





Various trees are not the only unusual plants found on the islands. Live-forevers, succulents with thick pointed leaves, grow on many of the islands. Some are unique to one island, while others are found on two or more islands and sometimes on the mainland as well.

Santa Cruz Island has its own live-forever, along with another species that is found both on Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa islands.

One species of monkey flower is found only along cool canyons and slopes of Anacapa, Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa islands. Island endemic buckwheats include the Santa Cruz Island buckwheat, which is also found on Anacapa and Santa Rosa islands and St. Catherine's lace, endemic to Santa Catalina Island and often planted along coastal highways.

One of the most spectacular plants looks most of the year as if it died a terrible death. This is the sea dahlia, sometimes simply called the giant coreopsis. Like many plants, it is found not only on the islands but also on the mainland. A small colony exists just west of Gaviota. North of Point Conception it is more widespread. It is also found along Highway 1 south of Point Mugu.

Except in early spring, the dull brown coreopsis trunks, sometimes standing over five feet tall, are crowned only with dead foliage. But the plants are very much alive, and come spring, carrot-like leaves appear, along with beautiful yellow flowers. Parts of the Channel Islands become so bright with the flowers of this plant that the colors can be seen from the mainland on a clear day.

Arguably the best place to see the plants of the Channel Islands is right in our own backyard, at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden. An entire section is devoted to plants found on the islands of California and Mexico, plus island plants can be found in other parts of the garden.

Peter Howorth is director of the Santa Barbara Marine Mammal Center.

?





_______________________________________________
Channel_islands_naturalist_corps mailing list
Channel_islands_naturalist_corps at rain.org
http://www.rain.org/mailman/listinfo/channel_islands_naturalist_corps

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://www.rain.org/pipermail/channel_islands_naturalist_corps/attachments/20080420/780d6ef1/attachment-0001.html