Ecosystem Structure Funstion and Change
Los Penasquitos Marsh
Los Penasquitos Marsh and Natural Lagoon is a natural marsh found on the northern coast of San Diego County within the Torrey Pines State Park. This narrow strip of land is approximately 635 acres and has been designated a Natural Preserve by the California Division of Parks and Recreation in order to preserve the natural ecosystem that has been in existence for approximately 10,000 years (Hubbs, 2010).
One among a series of natural lagoons that can be found on the Pacific Coast from San Diego to Los Angeles Counties, this particular lagoon supports six distinctive vegetation types: 1) Coastal Salt Marsh; 2) Cattail Marsh; 3) Forested Riparian; 4) Scrub Riparian; 5) Remnant Dune; and 6) Coastal Sage. The Coastal Salt Marsh is the most prominent covering over 350 acres of the Los Penasquitos Lagoon. The most limited vegetation type is the Remnant Dune which only covers a total of 7 acres and can be located on the southern-most point of the lagoon (Los Penasquitos Vegetation, 2012). Los Penasquitos Marsh also supports an extensive variety of fauna that range from commercially popular fish like California Halibut and Spotted Sea Bass to Gray Fox coyotes and Coastal Mule Deer. Millions of waterfowl, shore birds, and other water-associated birds utilize coastal wetlands as migrating stops between their native habitats located in Canada and Alaska (Los Penasquitos Wildlife, 2012).
Los Penasquitos Natural Marsh and Lagoon had remained relatively untouched for thousands of years until 1925 when the Santa Fe Railroad was structured to run through the center of the marsh essentially splitting it in half and disrupting the natural tide. Since then, further disruptions to the natural habitat include an expansion of Highway 101 that was built over the mouth of the lagoon disrupting the transfer of seawater from the ocean to the lagoon and the consistent dumping of sewage water. Humans have so affected the natural ecosystem of this
Los Penasquitos Marsh and Natural Lagoon is a natural marsh found on the northern coast of San Diego County within the Torrey Pines State Park. This narrow strip of land is approximately 635 acres and has been designated a Natural Preserve by the California Division of Parks and Recreation in order to preserve the natural ecosystem that has been in existence for approximately 10,000 years (Hubbs, 2010).
One among a series of natural lagoons that can be found on the Pacific Coast from San Diego to Los Angeles Counties, this particular lagoon supports six distinctive vegetation types: 1) Coastal Salt Marsh; 2) Cattail Marsh; 3) Forested Riparian; 4) Scrub Riparian; 5) Remnant Dune; and 6) Coastal Sage. The Coastal Salt Marsh is the most prominent covering over 350 acres of the Los Penasquitos Lagoon. The most limited vegetation type is the Remnant Dune which only covers a total of 7 acres and can be located on the southern-most point of the lagoon (Los Penasquitos Vegetation, 2012). Los Penasquitos Marsh also supports an extensive variety of fauna that range from commercially popular fish like California Halibut and Spotted Sea Bass to Gray Fox coyotes and Coastal Mule Deer. Millions of waterfowl, shore birds, and other water-associated birds utilize coastal wetlands as migrating stops between their native habitats located in Canada and Alaska (Los Penasquitos Wildlife, 2012).
Los Penasquitos Natural Marsh and Lagoon had remained relatively untouched for thousands of years until 1925 when the Santa Fe Railroad was structured to run through the center of the marsh essentially splitting it in half and disrupting the natural tide. Since then, further disruptions to the natural habitat include an expansion of Highway 101 that was built over the mouth of the lagoon disrupting the transfer of seawater from the ocean to the lagoon and the consistent dumping of sewage water. Humans have so affected the natural ecosystem of this
References: * Hubbs, C. W. (2010). Los Penasquitos Marsh. Retrieved June 2012, from Torrey Pines State Natural Preserve: www.torreypine.org * Los Penasquitos Vegetation. (2012). Retrieved June 2012, from Los Penasquitos Lagoon Foundation: www.lospenasquitos.org * Los Penasquitos Wildlife. (2012). Retrieved June 2012, from Los Penasquitos Lagoon Foundation: www.lospenasquitos.org * North San Diego Lagoons. (2012). Retrieved June 2012, from Natural Audobon Society : www.iba.audobon.org