User:CrystalPenguins/sandbox

= Hawthorne Park =

Geology
In Hawthorne Park there are two main bodies of water, Bon Accord Creek and Hawthorne Stream. On the sides of the streams, there are large, white granite rocks lining the edge. It is a common practice that workers position rocks in a specific way, so that over time when erosion occurs, the river will not widen. If the river were to widen, it would cause structural problems, or unstable grounds. In Hawthorne Park, the soil has traces of till, iron, calcium, salt, and magnesium. Calcium is found from the heavy precipitation in the Guildford area. Iron is very common in stream paths and can be spotted if the area of water and rocks are tinted with a copper tone.

Landscape
The landscape in Hawthorne park is mostly flat with small hills which is beside the parking lot. Hawthorne park is similar to the plains in some areas, it is a large park with mostly flat or low landscapes. The land near the Hawthorne park could be considered fertile based on the many different types of berries and plants that grow in the area. This feature in the park makes it good land for flowers and plants (English Ivy, Morning Glory, Elderberry, Salmonberry etc..), which attracts different species of bugs and wildlife (Bees,, Woodpeckers)in the area. The park is not dry and infertile like the plateaus, although the shape of the land looks similar to the plateus. Rivers in Hawthorne Park don't flow as often in plateaus, therefore they are more dry than the plains.. Hawthorne Park has many man-made aspects such as small wooden bridges,erratic boulders to prevent erosion, granite rocks, small fences, and trails. The elevation of Hawthorne Park varies between 101-106m with the highest elevation being the main parking lot (49.194009, -122.825645) and the lowest being a patch of forest 91-95m.

Trails
Walking along the nature trails through Hawthorne Park will only take less than an hour because the trails are approximately 2.6 kilometres long. Considering that Hawthorne Park is a deciduous forest, there are many trees in and around the park. However, the three main trees that the forest consists of are the Paper Birch, the Red Alder and the Black Cottonwood tree. Another popular tree that is in Hawthorne Park is the Dogwood tree which is British Columbia’s official tree. When walking along the trails, you can hear birds chirping in the trees and some of the other wildlife that live in and around the park can be heard as well. One of most common animals that is seen in the park are the ducks. They are usually found swimming in the pond. Some other animals that live in the park but are not seen as much are the geese, the squirrels, the bees and the butterflies. Even though the trails are considered as "multi-use" pathways, they are quite rocky. Since the trails are not paved, cyclists who are planning on bike riding through the park, should be sure that the bike's tires are appropriate for trails.

Aboriginal
A few aboriginal groups inhabited the area around Hawthorne Park include Sto:lo, Coast Salish peoples, Kwantlen First Nation, Qayqayt (Pronounced: Kee-Kite) First Nations, Tsawwassen First Nation, Squamish Nation,Musqueam Indian Band, and Semiahmoo First Nation. One of the closest groups to Hawthorne Park, are the Qayqayt. The Qayqayt are an aboriginal group that lived very close to the area. Sadly, there are not very many members left in the Qayqayt tribe. Almost all of the members were wiped out by the small pox epidemic. They went from 400 members to only 6 officials and up to 100 rumoured to still be alive. Since there are so little left they lost almost all of their land including the area around Hawthorne Park. When the government found out that there were still Qayqayt members, they received special permission to fish in the Fraser River.

Native Plants
There are many native plants in Hawthorne park. Native means that the plants that grow in their home environment are native to that area. native plants are good because they are already adapted to the weather conditions in the area, help wildlife, and last but not least they are beautiful and help the ecosystem. A couple of the trees in Hawthorne Park are Betula papyrifera (paper birch), red alder, Populus trichocarpa (black cottonwood), and more. Many benefits of native plants in Hawthorne Park are that it cuts down the amount of pesticide used. Native plants also improve the air quality and maintains the bodies of water.

Native plants are plants that are restricted to a certain area, occur naturally, and grow without human help, not like non-native plants that have been introduced by human activity. In Hawthorne Park there are many different types of native plants for example, the salmon berry, the cedar trees and more. Native plants in Hawthorne Park are shelters for different types of animals and are a food source for mammals. Native plants can also protect themselves from many different types of bacteria. They have protein inside them to protect them from bacteria. Native plants also absorb excess run-off. Native plants need less water than normal plants.

Pacific Dogwood
The Pacific Dogwood is a type of Dogwood that can be found in the western part of North America from the lower land of British Columbia to the mountains of California. This tree can grow up to 10 to 20 metres tall. The leaves are opposite. The leaves have pointed tips and a slightly toothed edge. Its veins are also visible. The flowers are small. The white petals are actually a type of leaf and are called "bracts".

Paper Birch
The Paper Birch is a small to medium sized deciduous tree. Paper Birch trees reach the height of 30 meters tall. The bark peels in papery strips, white to copper-brown, is smooth, and marked with brown horizontal lines. The leaves are an oval, rounded shape and is sharp-pointed. They are about 10 cm long, sometimes they are very shallowly lobed, dull green above, or paler and hairy below.

Western Hemlock
A common-looking Western Hemlock consists of a height usually around 60 meters with a narrow crown. The Western Hemlock is not a deciduous tree, and that is why the branches swoop downwards. It is because if it snows around the winter time, it will be easy for the snow to fall off itself. The bark is scaly, rough, and reddish-brown in colour. The needles can be identified by their short, flat, blunt and inadequate sized length.

Salmonberry
The Salmonberry is a another commonly found berry in Hawthorne Park and is usually mistaken as a raspberry. A fully matured salmonberry is a yellow-red sort of colour and has a sort of sweet and sour taste. When the plant shoot is at a young age and raw, it is edible. Similar to the raspberry and blackberry, the salmonberry is also a compound berry. The salmonberry grows in moist coastal forests like Hawthorne Park.

Mint and Lavender
The other edible plant is the mint also called "mentha". It is not freshly eaten because it has to go through a process to make it edible same thing with lavender (lavandula), its not freshly eaten and also has to got through a process in order to make it into a herb. you can rub the leaves for both lavender and mint (mentha) to smell it.

Red Elderberries
Many parts of the red elderberry are poisonous when eaten. The wood, bark, leaves, raw flowers, and the fruit contain cyanogenic glycosides that should not be eaten. A common symptom after eating a red elderberry is at abdominal aching. However, when cooked the berry is safe to eat.

Meadow or Tall Buttercups
Meadow or Tall Buttercups can cause intense pain and burning of mucous membranes. Can also cause blisters on sensitive skin that are difficult to heal. Touching poisonous buttercup might also increase the risk of sunburn. Fresh buttercups blister the mouths of grazing animals and can cause salivation, pains, diarrhea, slow heartbeat, muscle spasms, blindness and rarely death. Meadow buttercups also have a narcotic effect on cattle and give a bitter taste to their milk. Human poisoning from buttercups is very rare. In the past, meadow buttercups were used as medicine, but caused blisters, pimples, and plague sores. Meadow or Tall buttercups are very common at Hawthorne Park.

Periwinkle
Periwinkle is a plant from the Apocynaceae family. Periwinkle is considered invasive to Hawthorne Park because it is grows exceedingly fast, and takes up space that native plants need. They are usually found in forests, along streams or road sides and produce flowers in March and April. Periwinkle comes in different variations of colour. The flower’s colour can be either blue or violet. The leaves are about 2 - 3cm long and the colour of the leaves and stem are dark green. Periwinkle was brought to North America, originally came from Europe.

Stinging Nettle
The stinging nettle is a plant from the Urticaceae family. They are widely invasive and copulate quickly. The Stinging Nettle is usually quite easy to identify, being comprised of a tall weed with spikes on the end of each of its leaves.Upon human or animals contact with the spikes,a stinging sensation is caused. This sensation leads to a rash with visible bumps. The fine hairs on the leaves and stems contain irritating chemicals that are released when the plant comes in contact with the skin. The spines on the plant are very painful to touch.

Himalayan Blackberry
The Himalayan Blackberry provides food for many animals in Hawthorne Park. However, the blackberry is a widely known invasive species that takes up quite a lot of space and strangles, or suffocates plants underneath or around it. It can also prevent trees from getting sunlight and water. For humans, the blackberry can limit a path when it overgrows. This makes it harder for humans and or animals to pass considering the fact that the stems of the plant are covered in large thorns. Dead stems and leaves could also pile up and obstruct a walkway or trail.

The Himalayan Blackberry is one of the most popular berries in Hawthorne Park. They can be distinguished by their large thorns with red tips on the stem and on the undersides of the leaves. When the blackberries are fully matured they are very sweet, but when they are not, they are quite sour. You can preserve a Himalayan Blackberry by drying it. Blackberries are an example of a compound berry, just like raspberries. Compound berries consist of a tight cluster of smaller pieces, and are usually edible. Blackberries are edible.

English Holly
Visually appealing for its glossy leaves and bright red berries, English Holly is popular plant amongst gardeners. It grows well, regardless of shade or sun.However English Holly consumes a lot of water, growing fast, and taking up a lot of space, causing problems to native species. It also produces red berries, which are poisonous to humans and many animals, but edible to birds.

English Ivy
Identified by its green colour, and habit to climb up tall trees and buildings. English Ivy is both good and bad. This plant attracts bees, and butterflies, its berries offer food for birds and other animals. However, English Ivy is evergreen and grows very quickly. It climbs onto trees and strangles them, depriving them of new growth.

Morning Glory
This plant appears to be a harmless flower, but what civilians do not know, is that Morning Glory can grow out of control and breach the personal space of other plants. Its effects and habit are similar to the English Ivy, however this plant isn't all cons, it's fragrant scent attracts butterflies and bees. The Morning Glory’s appearance is also considered attractive.( To humans. ) When you walk through Hawthorne Park you might not see Morning Glory. This is because Morning Glory is a seasonal plant. This particular flower is normally seen in the summer and in the fall. It is rarely seen in the spring, unlike most plants, and in the the winter, typical of seasonal vegetation.

Scotch Broom
Scotch Broom is from the Fabaceae family. It grows fast and competes with native species for sunlight, water, and nutrients. Scotch Broom reproduces very fast and its seeds travel farther with human interaction by clinging to their clothes or cars. Its large size and thickness makes it difficult for large animals to pass-through them. There opaque thickets can also increase the chance of wildfires.

Edible Plants
In Hawthorne Park ,the edible plants include, the Himalayan Blackberry, Salmonberry, and Mint and Lavender.

Poisonous Plants
The poisonous plants in Hawthorne Park include, Red Elderberries, Meadow or Tall Buttercups, and English Holly.

Nurse Tree
Nurse trees are any species of tree that is the largest and the fastest growing tree in the world. They provide shade for little trees, plants, insects, and animals in the forest. In Hawthorne Park, Nurse Trees are located by streams and water and are surrounded by little plants. They also contain a lot of holes so small animals can live in them. Nurse log are nurse trees that have fallen, are usually covered in moss and whose primary contribution is providing shade for little animals. Also, a Nurse Stump is formed at the original location of a Nurse Tree when it falls. Whether it is a Nurse Tree, Nurse Log or Nurse Stump, many animals including crank worms, aphid, tent caterpillars, skeletonizer, wasps and hornets will usually be found habituating there.

Mallard Ducks
Mallard ducks are commonly spotted in Hawthorne Park, and the males can be identified by their green heads and their curled tail. The females and ducklings on the other hand are distinguished by their mottled brown feathers and their orange-and-brown bills. The Mallard duck is probably one of the most easily identified ducks.

Garter Snakes
One of the most known native species is the garter snake. The Garter snake is found in many different types of habitats such as; woodlands, grassy knolls, and meadows. They are often found near water. Garter snakes are venomous although Garter snakes can’t kill a human with the type of venom they produce it’s rather hard to actually inject the person, because their teeth are too far back in their mouths their gums are exceedingly big so it's impossible for them to bite people. Seeing how their teeth are mildly useless towards humans if the Garter Snake feels threatened by something they let out a stinky spray similar to a skunks defense mechanism warning predators to stay away. That doesn’t make them completely harmless though because the venom can be spread through wounds.

Bees
Bees are a keystone species native to British Colombia. The honey bees have been around for millions of years and are environmentally friendly and are vital as pollinators. The leader of the bees is the Queen bee. She makes 2500 eggs per day. Unfortunately, the bees' lifespan is 5 to 6 weeks. Bees can fly 25 kilometres hourly and they are the only insects that make food for people to eat. It is estimated that 1100 honeybee stings are fatal and bees can't sleep at all. Sadly since 2006, Bees have been disappearing due to CCD, also known as Colony Collapse Disorder caused by neonicotinoids which are a type of pesticide that harms honeybees and their colonies.

Bees are important because they keep our plants, trees and flowers alive by pollination. In Hawthorne Park, they pollinate the gardens and also the forest. Bees live in hives and they make honey not just for us, but for themselves. That is worth double the millions of dollars. If bees were to go extinct, then flowers and plants would die because of the lack of pollination.

Coyotes
Even though they are dangerous, they are still a keystone species. They eat small animals like mice, rats, squirrels, and rabbits. Coyotes keep the small predator population in check. However, if the coyotes become extinct, then small predators like rats and mice will multiply and diseases will break out. Also, the birds will be eaten due to the small predator population.

Bald Eagles
The coyote is not the only animal that keeps the small predator population in check, there are a lot of animals, like the Bald Eagle. The Bald Eagle swoops down and eats fish and rats. Bald Eagles chase other bird predators like Osprey, Gulls, Ravens and Hawks.The Bald Eagle is about 7 ft. tall. The Bald Eagle is not really bald, It is called Bald Eagle because of it's white head, questioning people if the Bald Eagle is bald. The Bald Eagle live in all sorts of places, mostly at North America because they live in waterways, oceans, and lakes. The Bald Eagle can live up to 30-40 years. The Bald Eagle can swim, in fact, they are really good swimmers! The Bald Eagle's enemies are raccoons and owls but mostly poisoned food supply and less nest trees. The female Bald Eagle can lay 1-3 eggs.

Squirrels
Squirrels are a keystone species, but how? In winter, they collect nuts, people say all they do with nuts is eat but actually on the last day of winter and the first day of spring, they used the nuts left over to plant some flowers. There are more than 250 squirrel species worldwide. If a squirrel feels incoming danger, it remains...motionless. (If a squirrel is on the ground) It will run up to its tree where it can be safe. (If a squirrel is in his tree) It will circle the trunk of the tree and press up against the bark with its body. Squirrels can trust people and can also eat food out of a person's hand. In the United Kingdom and other colder regions, squirrels plan ahead earlier than the humans to survive the frozen months. The frozen months are November, December, January and February. Squirrels tend to run in rocky paths to escape predators. Squirrels know which kind of food is good or bad for them.

Woodpeckers
Woodpeckers are master woodworkers and they make habitats for animals and they abandon their nest for other bird Woodpeckers are neither herbivores nor carnivores but omnivores! Their cuisine is tree sap, nuts, seeds, insects and eggs. Like frogs, woodpeckers have a long tongue to capture insects. Woodpeckers drill through trees with their beak for getting food and making nests. There was over 180 woodpecker species around the world, but they are nowhere to be found in Madagascar, Australia and New Zealand. The 2 biggest woodpeckers in the world are the Imperial woodpecker and the Ivory-billed woodpecker. But they may be extinct... but the biggest woodpecker in South Asia is the great Slaty woodpecker and the biggest woodpecker in North America is the Pileated Woodpecker! A Woodpecker's lifespan is 6-11 years, depending on what kind of species it it. The female woodpecker will lay 4-7 eggs and she will sit on her eggs for 2 weeks. The young woodpeckers do not leave the nest for 4-5 weeks. Woodpeckers drum new holes in trees, and the old holes are sometimes used by birds for nests.

Keystone Species
Keystone species are plants and animals that play a special role in the ecosystem. Without them, the ecosystem will not function. There are two kinds of species, native and invasive. Native species are animals that are from British Columbia and that have not been introduced in our land from elsewhere. Invasive species are animals that are not from BC and were introduced to our land who also steal food and shelter and have the potential to harm people and our ecosystem. Some of the keystone species in Hawthorne Park are Bees, Coyotes, Bald Eagles, Squirrels, and Woodpeckers.

Eastern Grey Squirrel
The Eastern Grey Squirrel may seem to be a harmless animal, but it has a strong impact on an ecosystem. They are a highly invasive species and can be found throughout British Columbia, including Hawthorne Park. They compete with native squirrels for food and habitat, which results in the native squirrels becoming threatened or endangered. To some they are also considered as a household pest because they can make nests in buildings, destroying electrical wiring and woodwork. They were first brought to Canada in 1914 when eight of the squirrels were released into Stanley Park, Vancouver. Since then, they have been repopulating and have spread into other areas of British Columbia. To avoid predators, they prefer an ongoing forest canopy so that they can travel and forage mainly in the trees, rather than on the ground.

House Sparrow
The House Sparrow is a small beautiful bird, but it is also a fierce competitor to the ecosystem. This bird, as any other, spends it's time for survival, killing and hunting other bird’s nests and eggs. It competes against other native birds for food and homes, pushing the native animals out of their habitat, which most likely leads to death. House sparrows were brought to British Columbia in 1898, and later on they migrated to Hawthorne Park. To the naked eye this bird may be hard to spot considering it's small and beige coloured body, but is most commonly located in Cedar trees.

Domestic Pets
While house pets are domesticated, they are still interact with the animals in the environment, such as small mammals or amphibians. Small pets like cats and small birds can also face the chance of being killed. In addition, dog's waste also contain a lot of nitrites and nitrates, so when it rains, the nitrate and nitrite infested waters feeds the algae, leading to eutrophication. Walking a pet in the park can also scare native species, or the pet can trample across growing plants or homes of organisms.

Environmental Issues
A variety of environmental issues that affect health, wildlife, the streams and more exist in Hawthorne Park. These issues include Climate change and global warming, Land pollution, Water pollution, and Noise pollution.

Climate Change and Global Warming
Climate change and global warming are potential issues for Hawthorne Park, as well as most environments in British Columbia, Canada. Global warming is predominantly caused by greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) created by humans, and such will almost certainly continue to worsen the issues. Over the last hundred years, the average temperature of some regions of BC have increased between 0.5 - 1.7 degrees Celsius, with projections estimating a probable increase of 0.9 - 1.8 degrees Celsius by 2080. . Increase in water, weather and climate catastrophes through the last 30 years are thought to be attributed to the changing climate. The City of Surrey projects that in the future, there will be hotter summers, increased frequency of severe rain and wind events, water shortages, and drier weather that will incite more forest fires. All those factors may affect wildlife and natural environments in Hawthorne Park.

Land Pollution
Land pollution, or soil pollution, is when pollutants or harmful chemicals get into the soil and change its quality. There is currently a large amount of litter in Hawthorne Park, comprised mainly of food packaging, cigarette butts or filters, furniture, and other garbage left behind by humans. Ducks, coyotes and other wildlife could mistake the litter for food and ingest it, resulting in illnesses, diseases and even death. In addition, the consumption of litter can block the intestinal tract of animals, which may lead to malnutrition and starvation. Furthermore, there is the chance that the animals at Hawthorne Park could get tangled up in plastic material and suffocate.

Water Pollution
Litter and chemicals have been found in Hawthorne Creek and Bon Accord Creek, which can change the pH level, affect the turbidity, and destroy habitats. An acidic or alkaline pH level can result in the death of insects, fish, and plants in the water, while a high turbidity prevents sunlight from reaching aquatic plants requiring photosynthesis. The origins of the chemical substances in the water can likely be traced to the storm drains, car fluids, cigarette butts or filters and possibly even drugs in the proximity. Cigarettes especially, can leak many toxic chemicals into the water that may harm the aquatic ecosystems. Aside from the chemicals, littering and the dumping of large objects destroy plant life, as well as the habitats of animals or insects. Finally, animals, such as dogs, take in nitrates and nitrites from their food, which when excreted and comes into contact with the water may cause eutrophication.

Noise Pollution
As shown by Vancouver International Airport's "Web Track-YVR” web tool, Hawthorne Park is located directly under several different flight paths to and from YVR. .Noise pollution is also caused by the cars by on the two major roads 104 street and 108 street. Animals are also disturbed by the houses along the perimeter of Hawthorne Park.