ER #74 Pacific Spirit Regional Park Annual report 2011

ECOLOGICAL RESERVE 74.
PACIFIC SPIRIT REGIONAL PARK.
ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2011.
MAY, 2012

Warden Terry Taylor made five visits to the ecological reserve during 2011 – January 9, February 13, April 20, July 5, and October 4.

No new incursions into the reserve were seen, but short dog trails continue to go a few metres into it at various locations. These do not pose any problems, except for possibly Cutthroat Creek. If dogs continue to enter the creek there could be impact on the trout spawning sites. There seemed to be more siltation in the creek on the October visit, but this seemed more likely due to runoff than dogs. The annual illegal trail survey of the reserve and surrounding areas was done on April 20.

No fish were seen in Cutthroat Creek, except for the sighting of one trout on July 5, which confirmed that they are still here. They are very difficult to see against the dark creek bed.

Several plants and fungi were seen which have not been recorded previously. These are:

Osmorhiza sp. – sweet cicely. No fruits or flowers present, but is probably O. berteroi.

Calypogeia azurea – a leafy liverwort.

Crataegus monogyna – European hawthorn or may tree. A commonly planted European tree.

Dicranella heteromalla – a moss often seen on overturned tree roots.

Thelotrema lepadinum – bark barnacle lichen. A crustose species of tree trunks.

Rubus leucodermis – black raspberry. I do not know of any other ones in the park, at present.

Grandinia sp. – a crustose, toothed wood decay fungus.

Aesculus hippocastanum – horse chestnut. Introduced.

Gymnopilus sp. – a wood decay mushroom.

Trametes hirsuta – wood decay fungus. Similar to turkey tail.

Anisotoma beetles were seen on the slime mold Stemonitis, on south side of Southwest Marine Trail, adjacent to the reserve. These beetles eat slime mold spores, and are only found on slime molds.

Three Douglas fir trees appear to have Armillaria infection, and are showing active gummosis. Two are beside Salish Trail, and the other beside Southwest Marine Trail.

Terry Taylor.