Seeing the land

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Rayleigh_Scattering

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I'm trying to find reference sources.

As I walk through the bush I can see that there are patterns of plant growth. I vaguely get that they involve ground water, chemistry and sunlight.

It looks like there is a progression from bare dirt -> tamarac as soild moisture increases, with grass and birch liking it dryer than aspen does.

It looks like there is prefferred mortality for the aspen where the soil is thinner (they tend to fall young where the rock is closer to the surface).

It looks like variations in slope correlate with the local sandstone lenses (I'm on the edge of the paskapoo).

It looks like a few dozen pioneer pines are colonizing the undergrowth with their offspring, intending to take over.

It looks like there are places where the slope cuts layers with different water permeabilities which cause slow seeps.

But that's all tentative, and I'm sure there are other important layers of the pattern I'm not even seeing yet.

Like, I don't know why I've got only one thin band of choke cherries, but a acres of Rochart-Mask hazelnut clumps that change year by year.

And the game trails are so... random. These fellows aren't just out for a wander; they're heading from somewhere to somewhere else, but most of the time I don't perceive what the source and destination are.

What is the study of the intersection of soil chemistry, ground water movement and plant progression called?

I want to know so that I can start trawling biblio for "The <something> of Western Canada."
 
Yes, ecology. And to narrow it down, it sounds like you may be interested in forest and wetland ecology. My knowledge of the accessible literature is focused on Ontario, but there is a common terminology across all the provinces and territories, and in the feds, for describing ecological systems at multiple scales, which is called "Ecological Land Classification". This is a hierarchical descriptive method that nests smaller units of land and water, like what you see 10 feet around you, all the way up to sub-provincial/territorial and provincial/territorial scales.

Here's a link to a free PDF download I found with a quick google search that can get you started: Alberta Agriculture and Forestry: Derived Ecosite Phase, V 2.0, Nov 2020:

https://open.alberta.ca/dataset/49c...af-derived-ecosite-phase-version-2-0-2020.pdf

This is heavy technical reading, but as you scroll through it you will see all the key words and subject matter, and reference links to get you started in your research. It will give you a good overview of ecological land classification, and it looks at the smallest mappable unit scale called "ecosites", and subdivisions into smaller units, which was the scale you were sort of describing in your post.
 
Physical geography

You could absolutely approach it through ecology as well, but physical geography incorporates elements of ecology, geology and soil science

Generally speaking environmental sciences will also cover some of what you’re looking for and it is also a multi disciplinary approach

If you want to explore the concept of forest succession you will find ample writings in both forestry and ecology texts. The current discipline of forestry being informed by soil science, ecology etc

I don’t know why someone has to be high to marvel in the wonder of nature and ask questions about it. If only more adults had this desire…
 
Thank you for the link. It was exactly what I'd been looking for.

I worked through it to the Central Mixedwood ecosites (shading into Dry Mixwood on the south-facing slope) and am seeing very much what I've been walking through.

The interrelated plants changing as groupings is something which I didn't pick up on at time but in hindsight was clearly there.

>heavy technical reading

I see that, but that's how it is with specialized terminology. Most of it looks like shorthand for classification/breakdown systems.

I'll need to get a better grip onto soil chemistry, and stick a spade in at areas of interest to see it first hand.

And I can kick myself for walking past all those low bush cranberry plants without taking advantage of their bright red berries. Crush and smear onto campfire grouse...Mmmmm.
 
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