For the February BioBlitz, KCCB and the BioBlitz club hosted a joint BioBlitz event at Hellyer County Park for the first time this year. Hellyer Park is considered to be a hotspot for biodiversity because of conservation efforts made by Santa Clara County, KCCB, and other volunteers that help preserve Hellyer Park and Coyote Creek. It was a productive day at the BioBlitz, with over 50 attendees, we were able to document nearly 180 different species with over 700 observations! We’ll take a good look at some of the species we found during the BioBlitz and why they’re important to Hellyer Park’s ecosystem.
Botta’s Pocket Gopher (Thomomys bottae) Photo by Merav Vonshak
I call these species “ecosystem engineers” as each one contributes heavily to the preservation and growth of their respective habitats. In this case, parts of Hellyer Park are considered to be riparian oak woodland habitats. One of the most observed species at the BioBlitz was Coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia), which is a personal favorite of mine because of its abundance in California. Coast live oak provides food and shelter for birds and mammals, but most importantly, it can host hundreds of different insect species. The more insects means more food for birds and more pollinators for plants. Coast live oak contributes to Hellyer Park’s biodiversity as it provides a consistent food source for many different forms of life.
California Scrub-jay (Aphelocoma californica) foraging on an oak tree (genus Quercus) Photo by Merav Vonshak
Another important species that helps boost Hellyer’s biodiversity is the California Scrub-jay (Aphelocoma californica). They are able to bury thousands of acorns per year, which ultimately helps the spread of oak (Genus Quercus) in oak woodland habitats. They do so well at spreading acorns that they are considered to be a keystone species to oak woodlands. With the amount of acorns they plant, they have a strong influence on where the spread of oaks happens. Isn’t that so cool? I think we need more oak trees. A fun fact about California Scrub-jays is that they are able to mimic hawks as a warning to scare away others.
Pacific poison (Toxicodendron diversilobum) oak in fall. Photo by Deb Kramer
Pacific poison oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum) was also one of the most observed species at the BioBlitz. Pacific poison oak is toxic to humans, so it would only be natural to feel fear when you encounter this friendly-looking plant. It’s okay though; it isn’t as bad as it seems. This plant is an important “ecosystem engineer” since it is able to outcompete invasive plants. This is especially helpful for our native insects as a lot of them specialize in our native plants. Pacific poison oak is considered to be a “pioneer plant” because it can stabilize disturbed soil for other native plants to grow. See? It isn’t so bad, but we still need to be careful when we encounter one.
These species are essential to our ecosystem, and luckily these species are commonly seen around us. I honestly never get tired of seeing wildlife that the park has to offer since they’re especially special to me. Hellyer Park gives me the opportunity to see them interact with one another, and that’s why it’s always fun doing a BioBlitz here. When we learn about their roles in nature, we can appreciate them and help advocate for their conservation.
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