Sunset from the eastern side of the Cascade Mountain Range.

Too much of a good thing? It is possible.

This article outlines and discusses the varied effects of anthropogenically sourced nutrient loading to coastal environments. From farming to fertilising the lawn, these power packed essentials that promise to raise vibrant life can have unintended consequences to ecosystems near and far. What nourishes photosynthetic terrestrial organisms nourishes the marine equivalent. Many nutrients needed for photosynthetic life occur in lesser concentrations in oceanic ecosystems. Nutrient runoff from land is a vital contribution to coastal productivity, but as the title implies, how much runoff is too much?

Primary Production, A Way of Life.

What makes your life on earth possible? Why, primary producers, of course! These organisms produced the first habitable atmosphere on earth and maintain said atmosphere to date. Additionally, as the base of the food-web, autotrophs of all sorts literally helped create all food that you eat and have ever eaten. Not to mention, they are viable food source used in ancient and modern cooking. The ability to take carbon, nitrogen, along with numerous other atoms, and create a sweet, sweet strawberry is an enviable super power. Not only do these organisms provide vital oxygen gas, they range in size from microscopic to gigantic. Inhabiting thousands of diverse environments and highly specialised, autotrophs exemplify how the basic needs of life and lust for survival are found everywhere from mountain tops to abyssal trenches.

Sunrise over the Cascade mountain range, Puget Sound, Wa.

Creature of the Week!

These productive little trichoptera are wonderful examples of the how even small organisms make a vital link between land and sea. They act as indicator of watershed health and feed hungry sea run fish!

Local Action, Global Impact!

"In contrast, low barriers included low levels of knowledge about resources, biases and prejudices, unwillingness to compromise, and lack of trust among members." (Constantz, pg 2)

These are some of the biggest challenges that we face as humans and conservationists. However, these are challenges that we can overcome! This article offers great insight into the difficulties experienced when working in groups and highlights the need for interdisciplinary research and efforts to ensure the prosperity of all our endeavours. By working together these people have made great strides in saving not only their homes and land, but in reducing siltation and terrestrial runoff to coastal environments.