Lasqueti Island ER #4 Overview, Biological and Physical

ORIGINAL PURPOSE To protect vegetation and fauna characteristic of the Coastal
Douglas-Fir Zone

Access: Much of the reserve was selectively logged in the 1960s, and old
logging roads are present. Part of the reserve is fenced to keep out
feral sheep.

See the complete PDF: lasqueti

COMPOSITION

The reserve contains a rocky, irregular hill with slope exposure to the south and
east, the steepest slopes, including cliffs to 30 m in height, being near the
shoreline. About two kilometres of shoreline is included. Large areas of bare
volcanic bedrock are exposed on hill tops, steep slopes, and along the shoreline.
Significant soil formation is limited to a few narrow draws and small valleys, and
to less rugged terrain near the north boundary. A small peninsula and a cove are
present along the eastern shoreline.
Biological: As a result of southerly exposure, location at sea level and thin soils, the
vegetation here is representative of the very driest habitats within the Coastal
Douglas-fir forest. Most of the reserve is covered with open stands of Douglasfir, arbutus and shore (lodgepole) pine, interspersed with mossy, grassy or bare
rock openings. Western redcedar, western hemlock and red alder occur in a few
moist draws, and wetland plants in three small swamps. seaside juniper, including
specimens of record size, is common near the shoreline, in association with other
dry-site plants like prickly-pear cactus, Puget Sound gumweed, and introduced
species such as early hairgrass and soft brome.
At least 15 plants considered rare in the province occur here. Most are limited in
distribution to the Coastal Douglas-fir Zone, but may be fairly common within hat zone. This restricted distribution rather than small population size results in
most of these plants being in the category of least concern.
Numerous birds have been recorded, some of the more notable being the Turkey
Vulture, Bald Eagle, Osprey, Great Horned Owl, Pygmy Owl and Pigeon
Guillemot. Native mammals are few, being limited to the Wandering Shrew,
Townsend Vole, Deer Mouse, Mink, Raccoon and Black-tailed Deer. River
Otters occur along the shoreline. The Pacific Chorus Frog, Northern Alligator
Lizard, Western Terrestrial Garter Snake and Northwestern Garter Snake have
been recorded.

SIGNIFICANT SPECIES/ECOSYSTEMS

Douglas-fir – arbutus association
Douglas-fir – dull Oregon-grape
giant chain fern
Brewer’s monkey-flower
poison oak
Northern Pygmy-owl, ssp. swarthi
Bald Eagle
Great Horned Owl
Hooker’s onion
Turkey Vulture

 

RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES
A descriptive list of the major plant communities is available.
This is a good opportunity to study the effects of climate change on
island populations. The changes could accentuate the island
biogeographic effects.

SCIENTIFIC NAMES OF SPECIES MENTIONED IN THE LASQUETI ISLAND ER
ACCOUNT
Flora
alder, red (Alnus rubra)
arbutus (Arbutus menziesii)
brome, soft (Bromus hordeaceus)
cactus, brittle prickly-pear (Opuntia fragilis)
Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziezii)
fern, giant chain (Woodwardia fimbriata )
gumweed, Puget Sound (Grindelia integrifolia)
hairgrass, early (Aira praecox)
hemlock, western (Tsuga heterophylla)
juniper, seaside (Juniperus maritima)
monkey-flower, Brewer’s (Mimulus breweri)
pine, shore (Pinus contorta var. contorta)
poison oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum)
redcedar, western (Thuja plicata)
Fauna
Deer, Black-tailed (Odocoileus hemionus hemionus)
Eagle, Bald (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
Frog, Pacific Chorus (Pseudacris regilla)
Guillemot, Pigeon (Cepphus columba)
Lizard, Northern Alligator (Elgaria coerulea)
Mink, American (Neovison vison)
Mouse, Deer (Peromyscus maniculatus)
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
Otter, Northern River (Lontra canadensis)
Owl, Great-horned (Bubo virginianus)
Owl, Northern Pygmy (Glaucidium gnoma)
Raccoon (Procyon lotor)
Shrew, Wandering (Sorex vagrans)
Snake, Northwestern Garter (Thamnophis ordinoides)
Snake, Western Terrestrial Garter (Thamnophis elegans)
Vole, Townsend (Microtus townsendi)
Vulture, Turkey (Cathartes aura)