Cultural Influences on the Evolution of Midwestern Ecosystems

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Austen Merritt
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1 Cultural Influences on the Evolution of Midwestern Ecosystems

2 CO2 Sunlight energy 6H20 + 6CO2 -> Energy + Oxygen 6 Molecules Chlorophyll of Water + 6 Molecules Carbon Dioxide Produce C6H12O6 + 6O2 6 Molecules of Oxygen + 1 Molecule of Sugar PHOTOSYNTHESIS H2O

3 Re-circulation through evapo-transpiration Shallow ground water flow Aquifer recharge

4 CO2 increased runoff and soil erosion CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 Afterloss Tillage The several exposes of a strong years highly of perennial repeated organicground soil tillage, to the cover theatmosphere, extensive exaggerates root promotes the system rate oxidation and of prairie of accumulated amount disappears of soil altogether soil loss organic andand resources carbon, carbon a once which as highly the in exposed organic turn reduces soil soilbecomes becomes the soil soil s primarily increasingly s tilth and its capacity susceptible mineral intocomposition. absorb to windrainwater and waterand erosion. hold nutrients. Compaction and loss of root structure and organic matter content alters soil il b bulk lk d density i causing i water infiltration i fil i rates and d capacity i to drop d dramatically. Introduction of tile accelerates rate of water loss, oxidation, and depletion of soil nutrients. Crops need significant additional resources to grow.

5 Algonkian Speaking People Eastern Ojibwa, Chippewa, & Ottawa Fire: shkode Prairie: mshkode Western Algonkian Tribes Fire: ashcota or shcota Prairie: mushcota or mus-quota Mascoutens: The People of the Fire

6 Contemporary Conditions Generate Runoff & Erosion

9 Snyder Heritage Farm Polk County, Iowa Photo: Carl Kurtz Tiber Ridge Farm Decatur Co., IA

The Importance of a Healthy Rhizosphere & the Implications of its Systematic

native bunch grasses is destroyed: d a contiguous connection to the stable

surface mineral soil, or other surfaces, become vulnerable to significant

conservative organisms, including flora and fauna, have difficulty

animals that can survive such circumstances, while most native species are

reduced, the moderating effects of water are lost, and the surface of the

13 The Importance of a Healthy Rhizosphere & the Implications of its Systematic Destruction When the rhizosphere which includes the deep root systems of the native bunch grasses is destroyed: d a contiguous connection to the stable thermal mass of the subsoil ceases to exist soil moisture decreases and the surface mineral soil, or other surfaces, become vulnerable to significant daily temperature fluxes no longer able to thermo-regulate, many conservative organisms, including flora and fauna, have difficulty maintaining a stable metabolism the land defaults to the few plants and animals that can survive such circumstances, while most native species are simply unable to compete evapotranspiration at the surface is drastically reduced, the moderating effects of water are lost, and the surface of the earth heats up the shifts in temperature and hydrology effect weather patterns, biodiversity, and even global warming.

14 Chicago City Hall Green Roof Chicago, Illinois

15 Growing medium Media separator Drainage layer Water proofing Roof deck

16 Chicago City Hall Green Roof Chicago, Illinois

17 Chicago City Hall Green Roof Chicago, Illinois

18 Conservation Design Forum: City of Detroit East Riverfront District

20 Porous Pavement: Infiltration (Retention) and Detention Capacity Detention ti Volume Retention ti Volume

27 Charles City Streetscape Proposed Alternate 2: perennial edge

28 Charles City Streetscape

29 Charles City Streetscape

30 Independence Parkway: Houston, TX - Plan

31 Independence Parkway: Houston, TX Cross Section Cross-section designed to provide filtration, infiltration, and storage in order to allow for virtually zero discharge up to a 10-year event. Swales also provide conveyance for a 100-year event. Each project component is designed for multiple functions: Gravel road base also provides stormwater infiltration and storage Bioswales provide stormwater filtration, conveyance, and storage Check dams provide stormwater storage as well as platform for epic art

32 Independence Parkway: Houston, TX Epic Art

33 Potsdamer Platz Urban Bodies of Water, Berlin, Germany Atelier Dreiseitl

34 Potsdamer Platz Potsdamer Platz ca. 1920

35 Potsdamer Platz ca. 1963

36 Potsdamer Platz 1995

37 Potsdamer Platz 1998

41 Biological Cleansing

42 cleansing biotope

48 Unsustainable Row Crop Agriculture Sustainable Agriculture Rotational Grazing Rotational Seed & Biomass Production Sustainably harvested woodlot Organic produce

49 James Patchett (630) (630)

Queens Botanical Garden Flushing, NY. Jeff Goldberg/Esto

Queens Botanical Garden Flushing, NY Jeff Goldberg/Esto Queens Botanical Garden Flushing, New York Jeff Goldberg/Esto Queens Botanical Garden Flushing, New York Jeff Goldberg/Esto Queens Botanical Garden