Zoo InternQuest, Author at San Diego Zoo… – Page 29 of 32 – San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Stories

Zoo InternQuest is a seven-week career exploration program for San Diego County high school juniors and seniors. Students have the unique opportunity to meet professionals working for the San Diego Zoo, Safari Park, and Institute for Conservation Research, learn about their jobs, and then blog about their experience online. Follow their adventure here on the Zoo’s website! When we think about the cornerstones of ecosystems, we most likely imagine the animals. Emily Howe, Research Coordinator at the San Diego Zoo’s Institute for Conservation Research, is trying to change that mindset. Ms. Howe manages and participates in the restoration of local areas, such as Lake Hodges and the San Clemente fields, bringing back native plant species and doing away with the detrimental invasive ones. Reintroducing native plant species will not only boost the local ecosystem, but will also help local animal species. So in other words, plants are leading the fight in this battle of conservation! When it comes down to preserving our local wildlife, Ms. Howe is always on the front lines, leading the fight against extinction. With a background dedicated to plants, Ms. Howe has always been striving to rid the San Diego area of invasive species, and bring back native foliage. Year after year, the abundance of native plants has decreased dramatically due to wildfires, and more recently, drought. When a wildfire burns through an area multiple times in a single decade, the local plants can’t re-grow fast enough to make the area a suitable habitat. In their place, invasive grass and weed species sprout up at an alarming rate, taking up all the space and resources in an area. As a result, local wildlife such as insects and birds can’t live in the area, thus disrupting the natural balance of the ecosystem. This is where Ms. Howe steps in to change the tide: to restore the landscape to its original form, and bring back native species. By applying localized herbicides very carefully to the weeds and grasses, Ms. Howe clears the landscape, making room for native species. Then, by transplanting parts of native plants such as the prickly pear cactus and Coastal sage scrub, she replants them in the area and nurtures them through their first year. Once the plants have got solid roots in the ground, she leaves them be and lets nature take its course. Before long, birds and insects and other creatures are roaming the area again. In this manner, Ms. Howe has helped restore many landscapes in the San Diego area, a true act of conservation! Of her many accomplishments, Ms. Howe has even rediscovered a plant species once thought to be extinct! During her earlier years of plant conservation, Ms. Howe would roam through San Clemente Island, just off the coast of San Diego, and record every plant species she found. If she came across a species that she didn’t know, she would then take a sample and bring it back for further research. On one of these days, Ms. Howe came across an unfamiliar plant. Not thinking much of it, she took a sample and proceeded on with her day. Once back at the lab, she took out one of her plant books to identify the mysterious plant. By using process of elimination, Ms. Howe finally came across her startling discovery. “I was afraid to even ask my peers,” Ms. Howe remembers, not even believing herself. But after several confirmations, it was official! Ms. Howe had rediscovered the previously extinct Dissanthelium Californicum! Fast forward to the future, Dissanthelium Californicum is slowly recovering, and is expected to be reintroduced to the wild. After we got to meet and talk with Ms. Howe, we got to do a little of our own restoration! In preparation for the Lake Hodges restoration project, Ms. Howe had us plant many prickly pear cacti. The process was extensive, as we had to prepare fresh soil and pots, and of course, plant the cacti. It really made me appreciate the work Ms. Howe and her team do on a daily basis to conserve plant life. While working, Ms. Howe shared with us her most prideful experience. Seven years ago, habitat in the San Clemente area was completely infested with invasive species. Weeds and grasses covered acre upon acre, and there wasn’t a tree in sight. Ms. Howe arrived to assess the situation and immediately upon arrival knew she had some work to do. After several months of restoration and replanting, Ms. Howe got a heart-warming result. “Almost all the invasive plants were gone. It was all natives,” Ms. Howe stated, reflecting on the memory, “I came back, and the trees I planted were nearly fourteen feet tall.” Through hard work, dedication, and persistence, Ms. Howe had changed a landscape riddled with invasive species into a native lovers dream. As people like Ms. Howe fight to save our natural landscapes, there is something you the reader can do to help! “Plant natives!” Ms. Howe exclaimed. Even a small patch of lawn covered in native plant species is better than grass. Migrating birds can use the mini ecosystem you’ve created as a rest stop on their long journey— plus, you get to see some cool wildlife. A few more of Ms. Howe’s tips are to not hike off a trail, volunteer and projects, and just get involved with projects like the Lake Hodges restoration. “We need to raise more awareness about natives,” Ms. Howe advised. We have a lot of work to do, so grab a shovel, grab a native plant, and get digging. Patrick, Conservation Team Week Three, Winter Session 2016