Transcript Planetline Project 2

Central St, The Hill of
Somerville
A Planetline through Somerville
By Josh Resnick
Observation Point #1
Yellow Nuts Edge
Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Angiosperms
Class: Monocots
Order: Poales
Family: Cyperaceae
Genus: Cyperus
Species: Cyperus Esculentus
You are here
Observation Point #1
Our first stop at the bottom of the hill.
Here we can see nature attempting to
reclaim its environment. Plants grow stronger
as a population size increase. With multiple
species coming together in a small corner of the
street creates a community of plants.
The sand must
have been
dumped from the
nearby
construction.
This could easily
be the downfall
of the
community, it
all depends on
the resilience of
the plants each
as individuals
and a
community.
Observation Point #2
Eastern Grey Squirrel
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordate
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Sciuridae
Genus: Sciurus
Species: Sciurus Carolinensis
You are here
Photo by F. Eugene Hester. Copyright ©
1996
Observation Point # 2
In front of a building is
our next stop. It is here
that we continue to see a
complex system of
interactions between
humans and nature. The
plants and trees are not
able to grow in their
natural ways, there are
signs of their branches
being cut off to
“maintain” the property.
The small group of
humans in the apartment
building alter the growth
of not only the tree but of
the micro ecosystem that
exists around the tree.
There is moss, ivy, insects, birds and even
rodents whom this individual tree provides
both nutrition and shelter for a whole
community of life.
Observation Point #3
Rock Pigeon
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Columbiformes
Family: Columbidae
Genus: Columba
Species: Columba Livia
You are here
Observation Point #3
On a more
ecological note,
there is a
diminishing
effect from the
church on the
diversity and
growth of the
ecosystem in
the
surrounding
area.
There is a Greek Orthodox Church only
slightly up the street from our last destination.
The individuals gather together sharing similar
values and beliefs creating a “species” within the
greater population of Somerville. This is an altruistic
gathering that has many similar characteristics
as a pack, including hierarchy and collective altruism.
A Quick Aside
Green Powder Lichen
A Quick Aside
Any Lichen are organisms comprised of
a photosynthetic alagae and a fungus.
These two partners create a semicomplex organism with an extreme
resilience against the climate allowing
the species to thrive in the harshest of
environments.
Kingdom: Fungi
Phylum: Ascomycota
Class: Lecanoromycetes
Order: Lecanorales
Family: Stereocaulaceae
Genus: Lepraria
Species: Lepraria Incana
Observation Point #4
You are here
Green Ash Tree
(In Autumn)
Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Angiosperms
Class: Eudicots
Order: Lamiales
Family: Oleaceae
Genus: Fraxinus
Species: Fraxinus Pennsylvanica
Observation Point #4
Here we see the fractal
system of a branching
tree, each leaf can be
seen as an individual, one
part that functions to
benefit the whole. It in
essence is works like a
cities economy with the
people who go to work
everyday help keep
money circulating in
the local economy.
The branching
pattern of a single
tree also shows
exponential
growth, the more
branches it has,
the more leaves it
has to produce
more food thus
growing larger,
faster.
Observation Point #5
You are here
Carpenter Ant
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Genus: Camponotus
Species: Camponotus
Pennsylvanicus
Observation Point #5
Looking back down the hill, the walk takes a whole new perspective.
It was a rainy day and I saw the beginnings of the deluge that occurs
on this block whenever enough water accumulates in any spot. The
flow of energy, nutrients and pollution (unfortunately). I thought back
to when I took a prior observational walk, there was garbage strewn
about a small dirt patch at the bottom of the hill and it clicked. Any
garbage that is discarded throughout the block will end up on that
dirt patch from the deluge, no matter the location of the drop.
Simple as it sounds it is
further evidence of the
tragedy of the commons,
no one will ever claim
responsibility and let the
area become worse.
Observation Point #6
You are here
American
Yellowwood
Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Angiosperms
Class: Eudicots
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Genus: Cladrastis
Species: Cladrastis Kentukea
Self Organized criticality is the idea that
any system maintains an “acceptable”
equilibrium through means which have
developed into the system itself.
Observation Point #6
Now think about this, within a
single apartment complex
there are multiple units with
renters who share the
facilities on the grounds. The
renters agreement (our
system) is that the renters
pay a person/entity in turn for
the space, facilities and
maintenance agreed upon in a
contract. If the contract is
breached on either end, the
other party can get in trouble
with authorities. It is the fear
of punishment and desire for
their respective needs that
keeps the apartment complex
running as a complex system
containing individuals and
families.
Observation Point #7
You are here
Palm Warbler
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Parulidae
Genus: Dendroica
Species: Dendroica palmarum
Observation Point #7
Here we have the Somerville Museum, a
location whose dedication is to preserve the
precious history off a neighborhood. Albeit
not exactly a complex system, there is much
we can learn about the increasing complexity
of systems through observations of the past.
“Those who cannot
remember the past are
condemned to repeat it”
-(George Santayana)
Observation Point #8
You are here
Stone Crop
Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Saxifragales
Family: Crassulaceae
Genus: Sedum
Species: Sedum Spurium
Observation Point #8
Observation Point #9
You are here
Orchard Oriole
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Icteridae
Genus: Icterus
Species: Icterus Spurius
Observation Point #9
Each individual is just en route to their respective destinations, but
now stepping back and looking from the scale of the biome, each of these
individuals/the community/ the population is helping contribute to the over
abundance of greenhouse gasses in our atmosphere. One of the
greatest challenges we face in our time is finding the ability to
share the perspectives and benefits of observing the world on multiple
levels.
Observation Point #10
You are here
Norway Maple
Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Angiosperms
Class: Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Family: Sapindaceae
Genus: Acer
Species: Acer Platanoides
Observation Point #10
At this final stop we get to see displaced
trees, individuals who are too dispersed
with no chance to act as a population.
When given the opportunity though, the
trees will follow natures one true law of
ever growing complexity at an
exponential rate.
The true is the same of a
Corporation, it starts off as
any other business in only
one location. By both
dominance and excellence
the strongest businesses
survive and thrive opening
more stores to make even
more money.
References
 http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/eastern_gra
y_squirrel.htm
 http://www.garden.org/weedlibrary/
 http://plants.usda.gov/plantkeys/massachusetts_grasse
s/MASSACHUSETTS_GRASSES.html
 http://www.bhg.com/gardening/plant-dictionary/
 http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/nation
al/technical/alphabetical/plants/tools/?&cid=stelprdb104
5110
 http://identify.whatbird.com
 http://www.garden.org
 http://species.wikimedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
References Cont.
 http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/?ss=16&n
avtype=SUBNAVIGATION&cid=stelprdb1044954&navid=120
160320130000&pnavid=120000000000000&position=Not%
20Yet%20Determined.Html&ttype=detail&pname=PLANTS
%20Interactive%20ID%20Keys:%20Introduction%20|%20
NRCS
 http://oregonstate.edu/dept/ldplants/Plant%20IDLeaves.htm
 http://www.realtimerendering.com/cgibin/flowers.cgi?object=73
 http://inspectapedia.com/exterior/Stone_Stain_Diagnosis.h
tm
 http://www.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/forums/showthread.php
?t=10333
 Google Maps