Josh O'Brien - September 8-10, 2004
by Meg McPhaden

     Biologist Josh O'Brien, Mary O'Brien's son, took us for a fabulous backpacking trip in the Eagle Cap wilderness in Oregon from September 9th to 10th. We learned about plant heat budgets, studied the alpine wilderness, and went on an awesome gondola ride up Mt. Howard.

     Josh O'Brien is currently a graduate student at the University of California at Davis, researching bunch grasses in Idaho and Oregon. (Mary is so proud!) At Wallowa Lake in the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, he taught us about plant heat budgets and had us observe plant shading. We split up into groups to examine forested, open, and riparian areas in terms of how the plants that live there compete for sunlight, water, and protection from the wind. After gathering and discussing our discoveries, we noted the dramatic change in scenery during a spectacular gondola ride up Mt. Howard from the lake. We left behind thick ponderosa pine and douglas fir forests with dense, green underbrush for sparse limber pines, alpine lupines, and an amazing view of Wallowa County. After hiking three miles, we set up camp, watched the sunset, ate some quality camp food, and fell asleep under the stars.

     The next morning, we studied different aspects of the alpine area in partners. Each pair came up with their own question, hypothesis, and method to explore their question. Kristen and I recorded the percent plant cover near large granite rocks and found that the plant density next to large granite rocks is highest when directly in contact with the rock, and decreases as distance from the rock increases. We believe this to be a result of the wind protection and rock water runoff that granite rocks provide for alpine vegetation. It is very exciting to learn about an area by participating in independent scientific research experiments rather than from trusting a book. Not all student pairs came up with scientifically significant results, but the morning still provided an excellent exercise in outdoor biology experimentation.

     Alpine areas are rich in biodiversity, protected by difficult human access, and can fix just as much carbon as tropical rainforests. They are vital ecosystems, but have recently been threatened with global warming. In the past century, the global temperature has increased by one degree Celsius, which has raised the tree-line 600 feet and threatened alpine areas around the world. Josh's biology class provided us with a deeper understanding and respect of these unique and beautiful ecosystems.