February 9, 2023
Author’s note:
I write about collaboration in and between ecosystems. Much of the subject matter is gorgeous and fascinating because, well…nature is that. Some of the subject matter is serious because, as one of eight million species, we can improve our knowledge about interconnectedness on our planet. When we understand connections in and between ecosystems, we can make daily decisions that benefit all beings, including the soil, the air, and the watersheds.
I welcome your comments on this rare platform. With the freedom to write for YOU rather than for an editor, I may sometimes stumble. Feel free to point that out. Add your voice in the Comment section.
The photo of Roshi Joan Halifax was taken by Wendy Lau. Both women are such stellar advocates for the planet and all species. Gorgeous humans. I thank them for permission to use this 2023 photo.
INTRO TO ECOSYSTEMS
In 2019 Edward O. Wilson said, “Ecosystems, with their enormous origami-like relationships, are among the most complex of all natural constructions. To understand the patterns and laws of their common origins is one of the most important challenges of science in the present century.”
The word ‘ecosystem’ originated in the ancient Greek language. ‘Eco’ comes from ‘oikos,’ which means home, household, or dwelling place. An ecosystem is a community of species cooperating within their dwelling place, such as a forest, marsh, decaying log, or puddle of water.
Estuaries are ecosystems. They are magnificent watersheds of biodiversity. They are sanctuary places where saltwater and freshwater meet. They are temporary dwelling places for young salmon to modify their gear for the ocean. In a stunning process, freshwater salmon alter the type of water their gills can filter.
After several years in the ocean, salmon return to their natal stream to spawn. Imagine finding your way home by smell. Salmon navigate to their birthplace by smell, taste, and an internal compass. It is said that salmon are in relationship with their natal stream even during their ocean years. The upstream swim is a struggle. There are obstacles, such as dams. Additionally, salmon cannot reprogram their gills to filter fresh water. After the salmon spawn, they die. And yet their presence remains.
Bears eat salmon brains and fatty organs in preparation for hibernation. Salmon bodies, rich in nitrogen from their saltwater years, decompose in old-growth forests. Studies show that nitrogen travels from the salmon into the soil, to fungi, into tree roots, and is drawn up the tree trunk. The specific Nitrogen-15 nourishes trees. Nitrogen levels in Douglas fir tree rings help scientists determine salmon populations by year.
Salmon are a keystone species; they are essential to the balance and health of multiple ecosystems. Salmon populations suffer when we build restrictive structures in estuaries. This is why bays, marshes, coves-all the various forms of estuaries need to remain wild.
How do ecosystems affect your body? The human body is an ecosystem containing 50 trillion cells. Billions of neurons are connected by the nervous system. The vagus nerve is a stellar member of the body’s ecosystem. Referred to as the caretaking nerve, the vagus nerve originates in the brain, travels down the back of the neck, and around to the front, extending through the heart into the digestive system. This direct connection from the brain to the digestive organs is why the gut is called the ‘second brain.’ When the vagus nerve is activated, stress levels go down. Inflammation is mitigated. Digestive and immune systems improve.
How do you activate the vagus nerve? Engage in activities that light you up. I love to read, run with my dogs, take ballet lessons, and be outside with extensive views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. I feel better when I have had sufficient time outdoors.
We are connected to chemical compounds in nature. Receptor sites on our skin cells actively track chemical compounds that benefit us. The sound of flowing water activates the vagus nerve. The scent of flowers activates the vagus nerve. Science confirms the ancient Indigenous knowledge of our interconnectedness with other ecosystems.
The On Being podcast link with an in-depth discussion of these scientific studies is below in the Notes. I recommend Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer. With 45 references to ecosystems, we’ll revisit her work often.🌱
This week, here are three questions for your consideration:
How do you define an ecosystem?
Where or what is your favorite ecosystem?
What activities light you up?
Thank you for being here.
with much gratitude for our community,
Kath
Notes:
What I’m listening to: The On Being podcast with Krista Tippett. For the science behind nature, joy, awe, and the vagus nerve: https://onbeing.org/programs/dacher-keltner-the-thrilling-new-science-of-awe/
What I’m reading: Sweet in Tooth and Claw: Stories of Generosity and Cooperation in the Natural World by Kristin Ohlson.
What I’m working on: The upcoming article with Ana Shellem. Ana works with her mind and muscles in the marshes off the coast of North Carolina. We talk about wild harvesting shellfish, her unique relationship with marshes, her position as Commissioner of the NC Marine Fisheries, her love of writing and art, and more.
Please note: The audio version of this article is located at the top.
A dear friend pointed out the ecological relevance of this passage from World as Lover, World as Self by Joanna Macy:
From the ecological perspective, all open systems-be they cells or organisms, cedars or swamps-are seen as self-organizing. They don’t require any external or superior agency to regulate them, any more than your liver or an apple tree needs direction on how to function. In other words, order, or dynamic self-organizing, is integral to life.
Katherine, thank you for an articulate flow of words, feelings, information.
My eco system is gardens and meadows around our house in Vermont, all with a view of impressive Mt Abe. Beyond that, trails maintained by my husband meander through scrub land, abandoned orchards, and a young forest that has overtaken old pastures. Then into a broad wetland of sedge grass and old beaver dams. At the edge of this the trail crosses a gurgling creek behind which rises a dark moss-carpeted, fairy-like forest. We are blessed - and we continually learn more about how everything works in unison in this magical spot. We have let lawn turn to meadow and increasingly garden with native varieties, encourage snakes to stay, feed birds by the porch. I am learning more - the names of things.
A Raven pair I watch and feel strongly bonded to have staked this as their territory and I marvel at frequent fly-overs, watch their fledglings, write poems about them, listen for their discordant sounds, feel excitement every time I see them. Connections form if you watch and listen and smell. A happy pill, for sure.
This and other connections with a community of eco sages, artists, writers, activists - another part of my eco system. Thank you all.