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CHAPTER SEVEN SUMMARY |
Water is a very important feature. The elevation provides enough rainfall, sixty inches, plus twelve inches attributed to fog drip. The preferable temperature is sixty-five degrees. Where inland coastal redwoods grow conditions are provided along riverbeds where the inland heat can draw the moist maritime air. This occurs along the Russian River near Cloverdale. There are gaps in redwood forests for example in Mattole River Basin where the wind does not deliver the moist maritime air required yet this area has a high annual rainfall.redwoods grow on sandy soils or weathered limestone derived soils. Where soil changes occur boundaries set up and redwoods stop while pine and cedar take over. Fire in these forests has been considered beneficial because it clears away brush and low-lying branches eliminating competitive plants and providing more light for the regenerating burls. Fire also stimulates seed fall. Flooding provides new layers of soil and clears out underbrush.
Sphagnum Bogs
Sphagnum Bogs is named for the Sphagnum Moss that grows in this low-lying area fed by seeps and springs. Because this area has an acidic pH, only plants that can get nitrogen from an other source can live there. These are Carnivores plants that get nitrogen from the protein in the insects they eat. The largest of these is the California Pitcher Plant or Cobra Lily. Pitcher refers to the hollow part of the plant that actually contains digestive enzymes these plants basically need cold water flowing through a serpentine sub-stream.
Closed Cone Pine Forests of the Upper Terraces
The Bishop Pine appears in the second terraces but is more prevalent on the outer margins of the third fourth and fifth terraces. It grows in nutrient poor acidic soil. Trees can grow up to forty feet in the less deprived areas but where the soil is the poorest it grows like chaparral. When fire occurs the seeds come out of the cones and disperse. Because of fire dependency the trees in each area are about the same age. Knobcone Pines replace redwoods on the interior and ridges of the upper terraces. These are also closed cone pines. The Monterey Pine is large and spreading but becomes scrubby if exposed to salt water spray. There are ten species of Cyprus trees in California. Best known is the Monterey Cyprus. Most of these grow in the Carmel area. These Pines and Cyprus are endemic to the Coast of California
The Pigmy Forest
This forest occurs in Mendocino County on the ecological staircase. It grows in impoverished soil. The soil formerly bogs Acidic water carried minerals into deeper soil and formed a hardpan. Deep root growth was inhibited. The soil is white and acidic. The species that occurs are dwarfed conifers and they occur nowhere else on the earth. The trees that survive these conditions are Pigmy Cyprus and Pigmy Pine or Bolander Pine.
Other Upper &endash;Terrace Communities
Huckleberry Hill on the Monterey Peninsula has another pygmy forest. The dwarfed species are Bishop Pine and Gowen Cypress.
Animals of the Coast Ranges
The animals in the Coast Ranges are moisture loving. The Banana slug a shell less mollusk is a great processor of organic material. The male has a penus and impregnates the female internally. Other mollusks insects and amphibians are also common.
Butterflies.
Several million Monarch Butterflies migrate to the California Coast from Mendocino to San Diego. There they spend the winter. They have been known to travel for six hundred and sixty miles. Because they don't taste too good, predators don't eat them or even those who look like them e.g. the Silverspots and Viceroy. Because these Butterflies eat poisonous milkweed that they are immune to, ingestion by a predator could be fatal.
Amphibians
Sedentary animals of the Coast Ranges are sedentary e.g. some amphibians and reptiles. The slender salamanders are so sedentary that it was found that over an entire lifetime the salamander moved only four feet. In the St. Lucia Mountains there is an endemic species of the Pacific Salamander. In the Galbian Range on the side of the Salinas Valley there is another subspecies of the Pacific Salamander. Because of the sedentary nature of these animals it is no wonder some species area endemic. The Aboreal Salamander is seldom found away from oak trees.
Newts are another family of salamanders. They are not sedentary. In the summer they live in crevices of rocks or under logs. When it starts to rain they migrate to water in large numbers where they reproduce.
Reptiles.
The Western Pond Turtle lives along the coast of Lake Tahoe. In the Coast Ranges there is a northern and southern. The Ring neck is a sedentary species. It lives in moist habitats and feeds on slender salamanders
Birds
The scrub Jay actually plants Oak Trees by burying hundreds of acorns for its consumption and retrieving only a portion of them. The acorn woodpecker drills holes in trees and stores acorns in those holes. They have a noisy call. They will stuff acorns into any wood hole including cabin walls. These birds live in social groups with fifteen to twenty members. These groups defend their acorn stashes in their holes. A social group contains one to three breeders of each sex. The rest of the group is a worker. They gather food and feed the young insects not acorns. If one of the mating birds dies another is picked from a nearby colony after they compete for the position. Each bird can only drill a few holes a year. New granaries are started when all the holes in the first one are filled.
These birds nest in tall trees The California Condor is the largest flying bird in California.It is a vulture. It can cover hundreds of miles a day searching for carrion, which resembles the turkey vulture. Because of various ecological factors the California Condor is the rarest bird in North america..The Golden Eagle builds huge nests out of sticks. These nests are built on the top of tall trees or on high cliffs.
The Peregrine Falcon lives in California and in temperate regions throughout the world. It is the fastest bird in the world. This species persisted in Morro Bay in California and in the Coast Ranges in California. At one time the only two pairs in California were in these locations. These Falcons can nest in urban areas.
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Amber Shrum, Tammy Rease, Naida Blevin, and Miriam Koppel Chapter #7 (pp. 283 &endash; 312) |
Through podzolization, the soil of the redwood forest becomes acidic and turns into fine-grained, ash-gray soil (podzols or spodosols) with an acidic pH. Soils of the Mendocino coast are known to be the most acidic in the world (pH 2.8), and the second terrace is believed to be about 100,000 years old. Located at about 200 ft. above sea level and nearly a mile back from the sea cliffs, the redwood forest receives 40 &endash; 60 inches of rain annually. Species of trees such as Coast Redwood, Douglas Fir, Western Hemlock, Tanoak, and Pacific Madrone occur in the second terrace. Occurring only from the coastal Oregon border to San Luis Obispo, coast Redwoods are endemic to California. The pH of the rich forest soil is less acidic at 5.0 The redwood forest is dependent upon precipitation and fog drip, which is why the forest doesn't occur further inland.
In order for the redwood forest to exist, a combination of factors must occur. Temperature, moisture (viewed as the most important), soil and exposure to light all play a role. Precipitation and fog drip (up to 12 inches accumulated annually) keep the coastal redwood watered year-round. Wind patterns play a part in determining where Coast Redwoods occur. If the region has frequent offshore breezes, which carry warm dry inland air to the coast, the region rarely sees fog. These areas, like at Mattole, are covered in Valley Grassland and Oak Woodland. Coast Redwoods seldom grow very far inland because they occur along river bottoms only where the canyon mouth faces westward (and only on north-facing slopes in interior groves) most of California's river valleys run north to south. Redwoods grow only on sandy soils (old sand dunes, alluvial deposits, and weathered sandstone). At Red Mountain one can see the contrast in tree species created by the soil boundary.
Fires are very important in the growth of a redwood forest. Fire removes competing species, clears downed wood, recycles minerals, opens the forest canopy, and stimulates seed fall. After a fire or logging, redwoods rejuvenate rapidly from the burls created at the base of the trunk.
Flooding along the rivers help to deposit a new fertile layer of soil while clearing some of the dense undergrowth and promoting the growth of new roots. Redwood trees for a multiple layer of roots as new surface roots grow and the older ones are buried. Exposure to light and each new deposit of soil aid in seed germination and seedling survival.
Sphagnum Bogs &endash;
Sphagnum Bogs occur to the interior of the forest, in the center of the second terrace, where a different soil type lies. The area is low-lying and fed by seeps and springs, which either dry out in the summer or remain moist and covered with moss (sphagnum). The water in this location is very acidic due to decay and nitrogen deficient. Many plants in bogs are carnivorous since they cannot get the nitrogen they need from the water and soil they get it in protein from insects. California Pitcher Plants or the Cobra Lily are the largest of these carnivorous plants. Less conspicuous is the Sundew (4 inches). Carnivorous plants attract insects, trap them and use digestive enzymes to get the nitrogen they need.
Upper Terraces: Closed-Cone Pine Forests &endash;
Closed-cone pines are the dominant form of vegetation on the outer margins of the third, fourth and fifth terraces. They thrive on shallow, nutrient-poor, acidic soil. In poor conditions, closed-cone pines are short and scrubby. Bishop Pines never grow far from the influence of the ocean. In dry condition, they acquire water from fog drip. Bishop pines are nearly limited to California. Those that occur outside of California were isolated during the Ice Age. Knob-cones are the most abundant pine. Fog, fire, and fine-grained soil is required for the growth and spread of this tree. Knob-cones replace redwoods in the interior and mountain ridges.
Knobcone Pine, Pinus attenuate, has the largest distribution of the closed cone species. Monterey Pine, Pinus radiate, is located on the central California coast. Monterey Pine is the most commercially valuable timber crop in the world. Monterey Pine is located in the Ano Nuevo area, 30 miles from Monterey, Monterey Pine and Knobcone Pine hybridize in this area. Bishop Pine has needles in clusters of two and Monterey and Knobcone have clusters of three. Bishop pines cones are smallest and prickly, Monterey cones are rounder and without spines, and Knobcone pines are asymmetrical and largest. Pines in hot dry climates have larger cones.
There are 10 species of cypresses in the state. They have grey, fleshy cones and scale like leaves. Cedars, Junipers and Cypresses are in the family Cupressaceae. Two species of Cypresses occur in Southern California and three occur in the Sierra Nevada and the Cascades. The other five species are coastal. The most common is the Monterey Cypress, they occur in Point Lobos State Reserve and the Seventeen Mile Drive.
The Pygmy Forest -
On the impoverished soil of the Mendocino ecological staircase there is the pygmy forest. On the interior of the Bishop Pine there is a region of extreme podzolization, the land was formerly a bog. The soil has formed a hardpan where the percolation of water is prevented and the acidification process is accentuated. The soil is white, has strange mineral consistencies, is acidic, is oxygen poor, and has bad drainage. Pine and Cypress inhabit this land. The Pygmy Cypress may be centuries old but never reaches over 10 feet tall. The dwarfism is caused by lack of nutrients and oxygen, not lack of water. The Shore Pine or Lodgple is known as the Bolander Pine.
Other Upper Terrace Communities -
Huckleberry Hill on the Monterey Peninsula also has a pygmy forest. It is 400 feet in elevation. It is acidified and clay-pan soil as in Mendocino County. The Bishop Pine and Gowan Cypress are the dwarfed trees. The Santa Lucia Fir or the Bristlecone Fir is found on the upper terraces on the Santa Lucia range in Monterey County. This tree is limited by fire. It only inhabits steep slopes and ridges with little fuel for fire.
Animals of the Coast Ranges -
Coast range animals are typically Foothill Woodland and Chapparell. Banana slugs are detritus feeders. Slugs are mollusks and are hermaphroditic and have internal fertilization. Arioimax dolicophallus has a penis longer than its body and when they mate they impregnate each other.
Butterflies -
The Monarch butterfly migrates between Canada and the Sierra Madre of Central Mexico. Monarchs spend the winter on the Mendocino coastline to South of San Diego. Thousands of Monarchs roost on Pines or Eucalyptus. They travel 3000 miles and reach altitudes of 10,000 feet. In the spring they lay their eggs on milkweeds and then die. The eggs hatch in 2 -12 days depending on the weather. The caterpillars are greenish with black and yellow bands. They weave a bright green cocoon. In two weeks the metamorphosis takes place. The Monarch feeds on the poisonous milkweed. The poison in the Monarch acts as a defense against predators. Mimicry keeps other butterflies safe that are similar to Monarchs. The viceroy is the best mimic. In Southern California the Queen is also a milkweed feeder.
Amphibians &endash;
Of special interest in the Coast Ranges are sedentary animals such as certain amphibians and reptiles. A case in point is represented by slender salamanders, in the family of lungless salamanders. The distribution and diversity within this sedentary group of salamanders could be correlated with specific geologic terranes that experienced long-distance transport before becoming attached to the western border of North America. Once these animals arrived on the North American continent, the animals were free to move around, but these salamanders are so sedentary that they apparently chose not to move and have remained in place on the displaced terranes. As evidence of their sedentary nature, one researcher found that over an entire lifespan the farthest one of these salamanders moved was about 4 feet.
The distribution of these salamanders is that they are found in the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada, the Kern Plateau, and along the coast from southern Oregon to Baja California. They are associated primarily with various Oak Woodland communities.
In California there are six species of salamanders: The Pacific Salamander, the Black-bellied Salamander, the California Slender Salamander, the Inyo Mountains Slender Salamander, the Desert Slender Salamander, the Aboreal Salamander, and a seventh species is the Oregon Slender Salamander.
Another family of salamanders is known as Newts. The most common conspicuous salamanders in California, they are brownish on the back, and the underside is bright yellow, orange, or red, depending on the species. These are not sedentary salamanders. With the first rains of autumn they migrate to water in large numbers. This migratory habit enables these salamanders, more than any other, to colonize new habits. The three species could occur together, but the seldom do. Presently the three species are separated ecologically, but they were likely separated geographically in former times.
Reptiles &endash;
The Western Pond Turtle occurs along the coast and in the Lake Tahoe area of the Sierra Nevada.
Among lizards, the alligator lizards and the skinks are noted for their sedentary habits. Like salamanders, they spend a great deal of time under rocks, logs, and other debris. Both of these lizards are noted for their cigar-shaped bodies and small legs. They move in a snakelike fashion. Alligator lizards have conspicuous squarish scales on their backs. Skinks are very sleek and shiny and are noted for their bright blue or red tails.
The Ringneck Snake is a sedentary species found under a variety of objects throughout its range. It occurs mostly in moist habitats such s forests and Oak Woodland, and it commonly feeds on slender salamanders. It is a small snake, seldom over 12 inches in length. It has a dark-colored head with a yellow to red ring around its neck. The belly is also bright yellow to red.
Distribution of all these species of amphibians and reptiles, taken as a group, illustrates a remarkable pattern of biologic differentiation caused by the interaction of climatic and geologic history. These are but more examples of how California's diversity is the product of an evolutionary laboratory. (Schoenherr pp. 297-305)
Birds &endash;
Among the birds, those associated with oaks are the most conspicuous. This includes the Western Scrub Jay and the Acorn Woodpecker. The Scrub Jay is very important to Oak Woodland because it buries hundreds of acorns for future consumption, but it does not retrieve them all.
The most interesting thing about Acorn Woodpeckers is their social behavior. They are conspicuous, gregarious birds that are easy to watch. They are dark birds with a white chin and a small red cap. Apparently, the urge to fill a hole with an acorn is instinctive. Woodpeckers will continue to push acorns through a hole until the space becomes filled.
A social group may include one to three breeders of each sex; the remainder of the birds are non-breeding helpers. The helpers gather food, defend the granary (where acorns are stored) and feed the young. Each bird is capable of drilling only a few holes per year, and a granary has anywhere from a few hundred to a thousand storage holes. New granaries are produced only when all existing holes are filled and acorns are still abundant.
The California Condor is the largest flying bird in North America. It weighs about 20 pounds and has a wingspread of around 10feet. It covers hundreds of miles in a day searching for carrion, which is locates by sight and odor.
Activities of humans drove the California Condor to the brink of extinction. Conversion of Valley Grassland to farmland took away the feeding grounds. California Condor remains are found in caves all over the southwest, often in association with Indian Artifacts. In the early 1800's the California Condor still occurred along the Pacific coast. In 1806, the Lewis and Clark expedition recorded instances of California Condors feeding on dead salmon washed up on the banks of the Columbia River. In the early 1900's they were eliminated from southern California. In the 1930's it was estimated that there were 60 to 70 birds left in the wild. The population continued to decline and in 1965 there were an estimated 40 birds left. In 1983 there were 20, in 1986 there were 6 and the last wild bird was trapped and taken to a zoo in 1987.
Many authorities today consider lead poisoning to be the major cause of the California Condor's decline (thinning of eggshells due to DDT). The California Condor is now the rarest bird in North America.
The Golden Eagle is one of the few birds that might be confused with a California Condor in flight. They build huge stick nests in tall trees or on cliffs where they are afforded a good view of open country. Although Golden Eagles are not rare in California, they are not common either, and it is possible that these large birds could face a fate similar to that of the California Condor. A recent study confirmed that 30% of the Golden Eagles samples in the southern Coast Ranges contained high concentrations of lead in their blood.
Another victim of eggshell thinning is the Peregrine Falcon. Its numbers declined markedly in association with the widespread use of DDT. Morro Bay is one of the places in California where these birds have persisted in nature. In 1970 the pair at Morro Bay was one of only two nesting pairs known in the state. The other was in the Coast Ranges in Sonoma County. Their primary natural enemies are Great Horned Owls and Golden Eagles, which prey on chicks in nests.
In California, the species was hard hit by pesticides. All of the southern California populations and most of those in the Sierra Nevada were extirpated. Since DDT was banned in the United States in 1972 the Peregrine Falcon has been making a comeback. There is still a problem with thin eggshells, which may be attributed to DDT, DDE and various other chlorinated hydrocarbons still present in nature.
Management of the Peregrine Falcon represents a success story for captive breeding. Peregrines mate for life and annually breed in the same territory. The eggs that are removed from nests are hatched in an incubator and the chicks are returned to the nest for the parents to raise.
One of the most interesting success stories of the Peregrine Falcons is the fact that they have adapted to urban life. Throughout the United States and Canada, these birds are nesting in cities, on the ledges of skyscrapers. What an irony: the high-rise topography of cities that has displaced so many wild animals has become the home for one of the most endangered! The Peregrine Falcon is returning to California, largely because of the captive breeding program. (Schoenherr pp. 305 &endash; 312)
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Coastal Ranges and The Ecological Staircase of Mendocino County by the Chickadees (Jane Wright) |
The first part of our reading is centered upon Biotic Zonation. These are areas that are distinguished or set off by some special characteristics and how it pertains to living organisms within the different areas. An interesting place to study biotic zonation is the Ecological Staircase located in Mendocino County just north of the town of Mendocino. Here between sea level and 650 feet in elevation the area is terraced upward and each terrace has its own distinctive vegetation type. The zones are caused by differing soils, climate, and elevation.
The Lowest Terrace:
The Second Terrace:
Upper Terraces:
The Pygmy Forest:
Other Upper-Terrace Communities:
Animals of the Coast Range
Southern California &endash; Pacific and Black-bellied Salamander (Southern Oak Woodland, suburban gardens
Northern California &endash; California Slender Salamander (Coastal Ranges and foothills of Sierra Nevada &endash; Franciscan rocks) Oregon Slender Salamander (Oregon Cascades, Douglas Fir, Western Hemlock, and Big-Leafed Maples)
Isolated areas &endash; Inyo Mountains Slender Salamander, Desert Slender Salamander (palm oasis), Arboreal Salamander (fault lines)
Northern California &endash; Rough-skinned Newts (moist forests)
Southern &endash; Coast Range Newt (along streams)
Central Valley &endash; Sierra Newt
Redwood Forest &endash; Red-bellied Newt
Foothill Yellow-legged Frog
Mountain Yellow-legged Frog
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The soil is known as podzols or spodosols. The most acidic in the world at a ph of 2.8.
Precipipitation measures 40 to 60 inches per year.
Trees include Coast Redwoods, Douglas Fir, Western Hemlock, Tanoak, and Pacific Madrone. Normally only found on the coast because of its need for high humidity, redwood forest does occur inland along river bottoms. Redwoods are the tallest and fastest growing trees in the world.
Coast Redwood and Douglas Fir are the two most important timber crop of California.
Redwood groves occur associated with a complex set of factors, temperature, moisture, soil, and exposure.
In addition to the 60 inches of rainfall redwoods rely on the 12 inches of fog drip. When redwoods grow inland along river bottoms it is only on the north facing slope where canyon mouths face westward.
Fire is important to the redwood forest in that it removes competing species, recycles minerals, opens the forest canopy, and stimulates seedfall.
Sphagnum Bogs
The second coastal terrace of northern California. The redwood forest occurs primarily on the edge. In the center of the terrace the area is
low-lying and boggy fed by seeps and springs. The water in bogs is very acidic leading to a dificiency of nitrogen. Carnivorous plant are
associated with bogs because they get their nitrogen from the insects they eat. The largest of these plant in California is the California Picher Plant or Cobra Lily.
Upper Terraces: Closed-Cone Pine Forests
Appear on the interior of the second terrace on the Mendocino coast. Soil is podzolized, shallow, nutrient-poor, and acidic. Bishop Pines grow in this area up to 40 ft high best-developed strands. In impoverished conditions the trees are short and scrubby. Many firmly attached cones grow on the main trunds each year and remained closed for many years. If fire occurs the heat opens the cones. They never grow far from the influence of the ocean. The Knobcone Pine has a similar pattern along the Santa Cruz Mountains. On the central California Coast it is the Monterey Pine. It is a large spreading tree under ideal conditions, but in its native range it often scrubby. It has become the most commercially valuable timber crops on the world. Although the ecological requirements are similar, the three species seldom grow together. Bishop Pines have needles in clusters of two and the others have needles in cluster of three. Bishop Pines have the smallest cones with prickly spines. Monterey Pine are slightly larger and have no spines, and Knobcone Pine are larger still with pointed cusps on each scale.
The Pygmy Forest
The pygmy forest occurs on the most impoverished soils of the Mendocino County ecological staircase. These soils are formally bogs.
The soil is white, it has a peculiar mineral consistency, it is very acidic, it is oxygen-poor, and it has poor drainage. Only specialized plants survive here. Dwarfed conifers such as Mendocino cypress and the Bolander Pine.
Animals of The Coast Ranges
Most animals are typical of Foothill Woodland and Chaparral. Moisture-loving animals such as insects, molluscs, and amphibians. The banana slug processes organic material.
Butterflies such as the Monarch that makes a long-distance migratory round trip. 5 million Monarchs spend the winter months along the foggy California coast. It takes about four generations to make the round trip.
Amphibians
Included into the group are sedentary animals such as: salamanders.
Salamanders are assoc. with the various Oak Woodlands communities. They are a lungless species and diversified. They like moist habitats and are found under logs, rocks, and debris.
The distribution and diversity within this sedentary group of salamanders can be correlated with specific geologic terranes.
Newts are in the family of salamanders and they are non-sedentary. They reproduce in the water and remain aquatic throughout the breeding season.
Reptiles
Sedentary species:
1. Western Pond Turtle/found along the coast and in the Lake Tahoe area
2. Lizards
Alligator lizards
Skinks/bright blue or red tails
3. Ringneck snake
Birds
Those assoc. with oaks
1.Western Scrub Jay/plants many acorns and helps to disperse oak trees
2. Acorn Woodpecker/drill holes and store acorns in trees or buildings (Granaries)
Social habits are of more interestFeed and breed in cooperative groups
Defend a territory
3. California Condor/largest flying bird in N. America and rarest
Now mostly found in captive breeding programsEggshell thinning of many birds has become a problem. This is attributed to toxins such as DDT, DDE.
Chapter 7: The Coastal Ranges
by Julie Bywaters and Konocti Krowd
The coastal ranges are divided into several biotic zonations.
Second Terrace: Redwood Forest:The upper terraces on the Mendocino Coast are characterized by fine-grained, ash-gray soil with an acidic pH that has been measured as the most acidic in the world. The second terrace is about 200 feet above sea level and is believed to be about 100,000 years old. It is nearly a mile back from the sea cliffs. Salt spray isn't much of a factor. The increased elevation causes an increase in precipitation &endash; 40 to 60" per year. This is where the "towering rain forest" occurs with Coast Redwoods and Douglas Firs. Also present are Western Hemlock, Tanoak and Pacific Madrone. The forward portion of the terrace is old sand dunes. The soil is very rich with a lot of organic material and ample nitrogen.
Coast Redwoods are endemic to California and occur only near the coast from the Oregon border to San Luis Obispo County. Redwood forest does not occur far inland because it depends on high humidity provided by precipitation and fog drip. When they do occur inland, the forest is associated with river bottoms, such as the Eel River.
Because of its importance as a lumber crop, logging companies have thoroughly studied the ecology of the Redwood Forests.
Distribution of redwood groves is patchy, representing an ecological-island situation associated with a complex set of factors, including temperature, moisture, soil and exposure. Moisture seems to be the most important factor. The redwood forest is the southern extreme of the temperate rain forest that occurs along the coast from Alaska to California.
Coastal redwoods grow inland beyond the reach of sea spray but not beyond the influence of maritime climate. A combination of precipitation and fog drip keep them watered year-round. Fog drip adds approximately 12" of moisture yearly. Coast redwoods occur inland along river bottoms only where the canyon mouths face westward so that moist maritime air can be drawn inland, such as along the Russian River. Coast Redwoods occur only on north facing slopes, while Douglas fir occur on the south facing slopes of this region.
Wind patterns and soil also influence the distribution of coast redwoods. The coast redwoods grow on sandy soils and abrupt boundaries occur where the soil is derived from rocks such as serpentine or other ophiolites. On these soils you won't find coast redwoods but you will find Yellow Pine Forest species.
Fire and flooding are also important in the dynamics of a redwood forest. Redwoods will stump-sprout (ex: redwood burls) and begin to grow if they have enough light and water. Fire removes competing species, clears downed wood, recycles minerals, opens the forest canopy and stimulates seedfall. Each time a flood occurs, a new layer of soil is deposited and redwoods grow a new set of surface roots that penetrate the new soil. This results in a root system that penetrates deeply into the ground. Each new deposit also creates ideal conditions for seed germination and seedling survival, and where light is abundant, these seedlings grow rapidly. Disturbance is important to the health of a redwood forest. A combination of fog, fires to open the canopy and floods to stimulate proper germination represent the best of all possible worlds for a redwood forest.
Sphagnum Bogs:
To the interior of the redwood forest, in the center of the terrace, the soil is derived differently. The area is low lying and boggy, fed by seeps and springs. Some areas dry out every summer, but other areas remain moist and are invaded by thick layers of a moss called sphagnum. The water here is very acidic from the accumulation of waste products. This causes a nitrogen deficiency. Because of this you will find carnivorous plants here that get their nitrogen from the insects they east. Some of these carnivorous plants include the California Pitcher Plant or cobra lily, and the Sundew.
Upper Terraces: Closed-Cone Pine Forests
On the ecological staircase of Mendocino County, closed-cone pines first appear on the interior of the second terrace, and are a dominant form of vegetation on the outer margins of the third, fourth and fifth terraces. Soil here has become more podzolized It is shallow, nutrient-poor and acidic.
The bishop pine is found in this area. Distribution of the bishop pine is patchy in typical ecological-island pattern. They usually grow in fine-grained, nutrient-poor, shallow, poorly drained soil with an acid pH. They never grow far from the ocean. The Knobcone Pines and the Monterey Pine are two other closed-cone pines. The three species of closed-cone pines seldom grow together although their ecological requirements are the same. They can be told apart by their needles and cone size. The distribution of the closed-cone pines is a fascinating case of biogeography and isolation.
Another group of conifers with localized distribution along the coast are the cypresses. There are ten species in California, and eight of them are endemic. Cedars, junipers and cypresses are all in the cypress family. Perhaps the best known is the Monterey Cypress.
The phenomena of ecological islands, specialization, endemism and relicts are well illustrated by the pines and cypresses of the California coast.
The Pygmy Forest
The Pygmy Forest occurs on the most impoverished soils of the Mendocino County ecological staircase. The soil is white, has a peculiar mineral consistency, is very acidic, is oxygen poor, and has poor drainage. Only specialized plants can survive here, such as dwarfed conifers that grow nowhere else in the world. There are two species that grow here, a cypress and a pine.
Other Upper-Terrace Communities:
There is also a pygmy forest at Huckleberry Hill on the Monterey Peninsula at 400' elevation. The dwarfed species here are Bishop pine and Goven cypress. Here the pygmy forest is surrounded by a forest of Monterey Pines.
Animals of the Coast Range:
In the moist parts of the Coast Ranges there are many moisture-loving animals such as insects, mollusks and amphibians. Banana slugs are very important as processors of organic material. They are in the same group of mollusks as snails.
Butterflies:
Some five million Monarch butterflies spend the winter months along the California coast from Mendocino County to San Diego. In the spring, they fly northward and inland and lay their eggs on milkweeds. They seem to navigate by instinct. Other butterflies mimic the Monarch's appearance because predators have learned to avoid the Monarch.
Amphibians:
Sedentary animals such as some amphibians and reptiles are of special interest in the Coast Ranges. Slender salamanders (family of lungless salamanders) are distributed along fault lines or in association with major rock units with distinctive geologic histories, with breaks between distributions. They are associated primarily with various old woodland communities, although in Southern California they occur in various moist habitats, including suburban gardens. The California slender salamander occurs in the northern Coast Ranges and it is essentially a forest species.
Another family of salamanders is the newts. They are the most conspicuous salamanders in California. They are commonly active in daylight hours and their skin secretions are toxic to most animals. Newts are not sedentary salamanders. In autumn they migrate to water in great numbers. They reproduce in the water and remain aquatic throughout the breeding season. Because they are migratory, they colonize new habitat more than other salamanders. Even so, their distribution also seems to be associated with ancestral geographic barriers.
Reptiles:
The Western Pond Turtle occurs along the coast and around Lake Tahoe. Alligator lizards, skinks and the Ringneck Snake are sedentary reptiles in the coastal ranges.
Distribution of all of these species of amphibians and reptiles illustrates a remarkable pattern of biologic differentiation caused by the interaction of climatic and geologic history.
Birds:
Birds associated with oaks are the most conspicuous, such as the Western Scrub Jay and the Acorn Woodpecker. The scrub jay is very important because it buries hundreds of acorns for future consumption but doesn't retrieve them all. This is a major mechanism for planting and uphill dispersal of oak trees. One of the most interesting things about the acorn woodpecker is their social behavior. They feed and breed in cooperative groups; they are easy and fun to watch.
The California condor is primarily a species of the southern coastal ranges. As of 1988, there were no condors remaining in the wild. A captive breeding program was started, and in 1992 they began to be returned to their former range. The CA condor is the largest flying bird in North America. It is a large vulture, and roosts and nests in tall trees and on cliffs. It was human activity that made them nearly extinct, especially loss of habitat, although most of the decline since the 1960s was due to other factors such as DDT and lead poisoning. There has been a lot of controversy over the captive breeding programs, and in 1986 all of them were removed from the wild.
The Golden Eagle might be confused with the California condor in flight. Golden eagles can be seen over open country throughout the state. They are not rate in California, but they are not common either.
The Peregrine Falcon has also suffered from DDT and other pesticides. Their numbers have been increasing, however, with successful captive breeding, and they have actually been able to adapt to urban life.
Chapter 7 pp. 283-312
Summary of The Second Terrace: Redwood ForestPodzolization is the process by which soil is made more acidic. Ultimately a fine grained ash gray soil that is acidic. The upper terraces on our coasts are characterized by this soil and are the most acidic in all the world. It is this unique soil that makes our environment so good for Redwood trees. The second terrace is about 200 feet above sea level and is approximately 100,000 years old. This area is high enough to receive more precipitation than sea level but close enough to get quite a bit of fog drip.The forests in this area are made up of Coast Redwoods, Douglas Fir, Western Hemlock, Tanoak, and Pacific Madrone. The majority of these forests are made on old sand dunes where the pH is about 5.0. This rich soil contains lots of organic material and lots of nitrogen which are important for the growth of plants.
The Coast Redwoods are endemic to California which means they only grow here. Unfortunately many of the Redwoods have been harvested for their beautiful wood and one must travel to Redwood National Park or a state par to see the virgin forests. These forests do not occur inland because they require specific conditions to grow. The farthest inland they have been found is along a river that allowed coastal weather to penetrate inland further than most areas. These trees are also popular because of their growth. They grow so fast that within one year 42 cubic meters has been generated, greater than any other community in California. Redwoods are considered an ecological island situation because they grow in patches across the state. They require the right temperatures, moisture, soil and exposure to light to grow at their most effective rate if at all. Moisture is probably the most important factor in the growth of Redwoods. A combination of precipitation and fog drip keeps them watered year round and therefore they must grow in the right environment in which maritime weather can penetrate. Redwood boundaries can be abrupt where soil conditions are not conducive they do not grow. It is possible that within 100 feet there can be a complete change in species based on the change in soil composition. Another important fact about Redwoods is their ability to stump sprout. After logging or a fire the existing stump will sprout new growth. These sprouts are sold in many stores along the coast, and with the right conditions they will grow into large trees. Fire is also an important factor in the growth of Redwoods. Fire removes competing species, downed wood, recycles minerals, opens the forest canopy and stimulates seedfall in these forests. Even floods do not stop these magnificent giants.
They are able to send new and stronger roots down after a flood has placed new sediments higher along the bank to maintain the appropriate conditions for growth. These new levels of sediment create perfect conditions for seed germination and seedling survival. Light isimportant in the growth of Redwood trees. In areas where light is just right trees have grown to be over 180 feet tall at the edge of the grove where in darker areas near the center of the grove they are only 30 feet tall.
Sphagnum Bogs This natural ecosystem occurs to the interior of the forest where the soil is derived from springs and decomposing material. Some of these areas dry out in the summer and others remain moist all year. A particular moss called sphagnum creates water that is highly acidic due to accumulation of decaying products. This high acidic level creates an environment deficient of nitrogen which does not allow other species to survive. The plants that live in these areas are carnivorous plants such as the California Pitcher Plant or the Sundew. These plants create an enzyme that kills insects and digests them for energy unlike other plants that use light for energy. Most populations of these plants are clones because of the way they reproduce. Some have semi active ways of catching prey and others have more passive ways.
Upper Terraces: Closed-Cone Pine Forests Closed cone pine forests appear in the second terrace and are the dominant vegetation on the outer margins of the third, fourth and fifth terraces. The soil here is shallow, nutrient poor, and often times acidic. Only specific plants can grow in these conditions. The Bishop Pine can live in more impoverished areas but does best in these environments. These closed-cone trees require a fire to reproduce because their seeds are only released under certain conditions. This requirement for reproduction means that most trees were germinated at the same time in the same fire. Like the Coastal Redwood, Bishop Pines grow in patchy areas around California. Where soil is dry they rely on fog drip to water themselves. This species is not endemic to California. Knobcone Pine is another species that flourishes under these strange environmental conditions. It is much like the Bishop Pine. Monterey Pine is another tree that likes these conditions. It has become a very valuable product
commercially because it will grow straight and tall and mature within 25 to 30 years. These three varieties rarely grow together despite their> similarities and they are easy to distinguish. Cypresses also grow along the coast. They are characterized by gray, fleshy cones, and scale like leaves. Each variety grows best under different conditions. There are eight species that are endemic to California.
Pygmy Forest The pygmy forest grows in the worst soil of all and among us in Mendocino County. The region where they grow is extremely impoverished and extreme podzolization. These are places that used to be bogs. The soil is pale and has a strange mineral consistency, very acidic and oxygen poor. The trees that grow here are dwarfed due to the conditions. The dwarfism is not due to lack of water but lack of nutrients and when placed in better soil many of the species of trees growing here will grow taller. Many of these trees also have closed cones and are about the same age in a particular region.
Animals of the Coast Ranges Slugs, snails, butterflies, birds, lizards, snakes, turtles and mammals all live in these areas. Each has its own niche and its own rituals.
The Banana Slug is known for its bright color and its hermaphroditic fertilization.
Butterflies like the Monarch spend part of their time during the year in the forests along the coast. These butterflies eat a poisonous plant as protection and therefore have mimics (species that look similar to the Monarch to discourage predators). Butterflies travel great distances every year and it takes generations to make the trip from Canada down to Mexico. Monarchs use the sun to find their direction like all other migratory animals.
There are a number of kinds of salamanders and newts living in the area. Each has distinct features, colors, habitat, and environmental needs. Some need moist forest others need rocks and still others need desert. They show a awesome pattern of diversification in geological units.
The Western Pond Turtle occurs along the coast an in part of the Sierra Nevada. Northern Alligator Lizard, Southern Alligator Lizard, and Ringneck Snake are all animals that live in this region of the North America. There are lots of wonderful birds in California.
The Western Scrub Jay, Acorn Woodpeckers, California Condor, Golden Eagle, Peregrine Falcon all have unique characteristics, habitats, rituals, and family structures. The Acorn Woodpecker is interesting because it lives in communities with assigned roles. DDT has affected to lives of many birds for example the California Condor, Golden Eagle, and Peregrine Falcon. These great birds have suffered in population and habitat because of urban sprawl, hunters not finding their prey, and the widespread use of DDT in this country and other around the world.
Coast Ranges and The Ecological Staircase of Mendocino County
By The Orr Spring Scouts:The Coast Ranges in California extends about 2/3 of the length of the state. They are about 550 miles from the South Fork Mountains of the Klamath Province in the north, to the Santa Ynez Mountains of the Transverse Ranges on the south. The S.F. bay divides them into two ranges, the northern and southern Coast Ranges.
Climate
Drying occurs due to the rain-shadow effect on the interior of the Coast Ranges. On the south coast the slope effect is as distinct as will be seen anywhere in the world and are covered with Chaparral. The north-facing slopes are draped with evergreen oaks. Maritime climate predominates on the coastal side to the Coast Ranges.
Geology of the Coast Ranges
The ranges are folded and faulted on an axis that parallels the coastline. Formation is generally caused to events associated with subduction of the Pacific plate beneath the western border of North America.
North of S.F. is a geothermal field showing that tectonic pressures still exist in the area. Along the Sonoma-Lake county line numerous hot springs occur.
The southern Coast Ranges is mostly made-up of sedimentary rocks. Coastal terraces are formed by surf action on a rocky headland.
Biotic Zonation
Most of the Coast Ranges community is Foothill Woodland. Referred to as the community of Oak Woodland. It is a mixed community of trees and grasses. Several types of oaks dominate the area ranging from the Live Oak to the Blue Oak. Fog is common and vegetation is coated with reticulated, filamentous lichen known as Lace Lichen. Fog drip also provides a warming effect that enhances photosynthesis. The Foothill Woodland is a threaten community.
Maritime Chaparral
Chaparral is strong on south-facing slopes.
Mixed Evergreen Forest
Precipitation increases in the northern part of the Coast Ranges in Mendocino and Humboldt counties. On canyon bottoms, Oak Woodland merges with Mixed Evergreen Forest.
Riparian Woodland
The Riparian Woodland is similar to that of the Klamath Province. Conifers like Coastal Redwoods, Douglas fir and Ca. Nutmeg are species that grow in this area.
Yellow Pine Forest
Yellow Pine forest occurs in the Northern Coast Ranges in dry high elevations. In the southern Coast Ranges this communities of pine only exist in patches at high peaks such as Figueroa Mountain in Santa Barbara. This is an area dominated by several other pine and oak species.
Edaphic Communities
Communities are controlled by specialized soils. Serpentine soils and soils derived from sandstone.
The Ecological Staircase of Mendocino County
Contains the most interesting example of biotic zonation on the costal side of the mountains in Mendocino County. A walk along the ecological staircase is a walk back in time. The staircase is divided: the Lowest Terrace: Coastal Prairie, the Second Terrace: Redwood Forest, and the Upper Terraces: Closed-Cone Pine Forests (includes the Pygmy Forest).
The Lowest Terrace:
This is the youngest of the terraces hence is the closest to the water and uncovered beach of the ocean waters. This is the North Coast Grassland of the Coastal Prairie. Most grasses here remain green through out the whole year, which makes this area prime for dairy cattle. The Coastal Prairie is not capable of supporting much animal life.
The second terrace: Redwood Forest
Second Terrace- redwood forest (Upper terraces characterized by very acidic soil), is about 200 ft. above sea level and is about 100,000 years old. It is here that the "towering rain forest"occures, here you can find Coast Redwoods, Douglas Fir pine, Western Hemlock, Tanoak, and Pacific Madrone. The redwood forest of the north coast is considered one of California’s treasures and coast redwoods are endemic to the state. They are dependent on high humidity and grow on sandy soils such as old sand dunes. Redwood forest needs a combination of fog, fires, and floods to help grow and stimulate germination. The second terrace consists of Rich Soil, due to abundant organic matter and constant leaves and needles dropping. Redwood trees are coastal dwelling, and need plenty of moisture from fog and rain. They grow outside the salt spray, but close enough that they still receive coastal fog. They also grow along East-West running rivers that draw the fog inland.
Sphagnum Bogs
Due to conditions in the interior of the forest (pH-acidic water, lack of moisture, and lack of nitrate) certain plant cannot survive. Plants that are able to survive are carnivorous plants because they get their nitrogen from protein in the insects they consume. The California Pitcher Plant is one of the largest.
Upper Terraces
These are closed cone pine forests. Cypress such as Monterey grows on the coast. They need fire to germinate. Closed-cone pines are found in the interior of the second terrace. They are the dominant form of vegetation on the outer margins of the 3rd, 4th, and 5th terraces. The Bishop Pine is one of closed-cone pines found in Mendocino County. They usually grow on fine-grained, nutrient-poor, shallow, poorly drained soil with and acid pH. The Knobcone Pine is one of the closed-cone species with the largest distribution, and also requires fog, fire and fine-grained soils. It can be found in Santa Cruz Mountains, Southern California, and Baja California. The Monterey Pine has similar requirements and its distribution is limited to 3 regions in the central California coast. It has become one of the most commercially baluable timber crops in the world. The 3 species seldom grow together although their ecological requirements are similar.
Cypresses are another group of conifers. There are ten species of cypress in the state, and each is localized in distribution usually associated with a specialized soil. Eight of the species are endemic and two have limited distribution outside the state. Two occur in southern California, three in the Sierra Nevada and the Cascades, the other five are coastal forms and have similar requirement to the closed-cone pines.
The Pigmy Forest
The pigmy forest occurs on the most impoverished soils of Mendocino County. Once a bog, now mineral and oxygen deprived, Hardpan white soil. Pygmy cypress grows here rarely obtaining heights over 10 feet. The dwarfed conifers occur nowhere else in the world. Two of the species found are cypress and pine. The Mendocino Cypress seldom stands more than 10 feet tall. Its dwarf status is caused by lack of essential nutrients. The Bolander pine grows to 4 to 5 feet.
Other Upper Terrace Communities
The Monterey Peninsula also has dwarfed species, the Bishop Pine and the Gowen Cypress. In the Santa Lucia range in Monterey County an endemic fir is found, the Santa Lucia Fir (Bristlecone Fir), it is
Animals of the coats ranges
Banana slugs, monarch butterflies, salamanders and newts are found along the coastal ranges. Salamanders are found in different areas of California along fault lines and volcanic outcroppings. The western pond turtle, lizards, alligator lizard, skinks, and ring neck snakes are all sedentary animals. They rarely move from where they were originally located. In the moist part of the Coast Ranges there are moisture-loving animals-insects (butterflies-Monarch Butterfly, Viceroy, and Queen), mollusks (banana slugs), and reptiles (Western Pond Turtle, lizards-Alligator, Western Skink, Gilbert’s Skink, and the Ringneck Snake), amphibians (salamanders-Pacific, Black-bellied, California Slender, Oregon Slender, Inyo Mountains Slender and Desert Slender) and birds (Acorn Woodpeckers, Western Scrub Jay, California Condor, Golden Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Great Horned Owls, and pigeons).
Birds
Many outside forces have affected birds such as the peregrine falcon. They almost became extinct after pesticides, such as DDT, became popular. DDT causes thinning of the eggs shell. Through the banning of DDT, and human intervention, the peregrine falcon is making a comeback, from 2 to 103 birds.
Chapter 7 is about the California Coast Ranges
Chapter Summary - Chapter 7, page 261-282
By Konocti Krowd (Janis Andre)The coast ranges extend along the coast for about 2/3 the length of the state. They run from the South Fork Mountains of the Klamath Provice to the Santa Ynez Mountains of the Transverse Ranges.
San Francisco divides them into two ranges (northern and southern).
Southern Coast ranges have steep slopes where the mountains rise from the sea. Not extremely high (most peaks less than 6,000 ft.). The highest peaks are at the south end. Big Pine Mountain highest peak in the San Rafael Range. Mount Pinos (8826 ft.) In a terrane more appropriately apart of the Transverse Ranges.
Robinson Jeffers called the area "the greatest meeting of land and water in the world." Highway 1 between Cambria to Carmel constructed by convict labor.
Santa Lucia Range rises abruptly from the Big Sur coast to a height of 5868 ft.. At least 57 endemic plants including Coast Redwood in this area. Average precipitations at Big Sur is 60".
Northern Coast Ranges generally higher than the southern ranges. Solomon Peak in Trinity County reaches 7581 ft. Longest primitive stretch of coastline in the state is 23 miles of beach located south of the Mattole River along the King Mountain Range.
Coast Ranges consist of a series of north-south rending valley and ridges that lie along a series of parallel faults and folds. This causes many rivers to run northward.
Eel River runs northward about 140 miles to exit south of Humboldt Bay.
The Salinas River runs northward 100 miles and exits at Monterey Bay. Major river of the northern Coast Ranges is the Russian River. It runs southward then westward to the coast at Jenner. The east-west orientation permits marine air to flow inland.
Climate:
To the interior of the Coast Ranges, drying occurs because of the rain-shadow effect. At the southern end the Great Cental Valley near Taft is desert. The vegetation is Oak Woodland or Foothill Woodland in most of the Coast Ranges. The southern coast ranges have Coastal Sage Scrub and Chaparral. South-facing slopes covered with chaparral due to drought. North-facing slopes have evergreen oaks. The coastal side of the Coast Ranges has mainly a maritime climate. The ocean temperature along the California coast is cold because the water flows from Alaska. This causes the fog on the coast.
Geology of the Coast Ranges:
Coast Ranges are folded and faulted on an axis that parallels the coastline. Formation attributed with subduction of the Pacific plate. Many rock units of the Coast Ranges had their origin much farther south than they are today. Batholithic Rocks (granitics) were carried by right-lateral slip from south of the Sierra Nevada to their present position west of the San Andreas fault. The South Fork Mountain fault (between norther Coast Ranges the Klamath Province) is a thrust fault. Most of the northern Coast Ranges are Franciscan rocks (dominated by shales and sandstones that are a gray-green color called Graywackes). The rocks known as the Great Valley sequence is a belt of sedimentary rocks. Serpentine is the state rock. It is a Franciscan sedimentary rock that have become intruded by igneous rocks that have been metamorphosed to become a waxy green. Mixed in with the serpentine are other igneous rocks to become opliolites (ophidion is Greek for serpent).
Ophiolites are rich in magnesium and iron, but deficient in calcium sodium, and potassium. A geothermal field known as the Geysers is located along the Sonoma-Lake county line. It produces some electricity. West of the San Andreas is a zone of granitics and metamorphics known as the Salinian block. West of the Salinian block is the Nacimiento fault. It separates the granitics from the Franciscan rocks. The southern Coast Ranges are mainly composed of sedimentary rocks. These sedimentary rocks are easily eroded by surf. Landslides occur because these beds are not horizontal. They have been tilted by tectonic activity. When they become wet they slide off. Terraces that formed on rocky headlands allow us see the different levels.
Biotic Zonation:
Foothill Woodland is the predominant community of the Coast Ranges. Dominant tree species include Blue Oak, Quercus douglasii, and Digger Pine, Pinus sabiniana . On north slopes at higher elevations California Buckeye, Aesulus californica and Redbud, Cercis occidentalis.
The Northern Oak Woodland dominates ridgetops up to 5000 feet. This are has mainly Garry Oak or Oregon White Oak, Quercus garryana. Other oaks include Coast Live Oak, Quercus Agrifolia, Interior Live Oak, Quercus wislizenni and Valley Oak, Quercus Lobata. Valley Oak dominate in valleys. Coast Live Oak grows on north-facing slopes. Blue Oak goes on south-facing slopes. In canyons on north-facing slopes you will find Canyon Live Oak, Quercus Chrysolepis. Interior Live Oak is bright green and shiny on both leaf surfaces. The leaf of the Coast Live Oak is a darker green and shiny only on the top surface.
When fog is common, the vegetation is coasted with a reticulated, filamentous lichen known as Lace Lichen, Ramalina menziesii. The Foothill Woodland is a threatened community for some animals are decreasing and others increasing and the introducing of annual weeds that produce a large number of seeds has put stress on the trees in the area. Wild pigs are increasing which puts other animals that eat the same diet as they do to decrease. The valleys are also being used for crops.
Maritime Chaparral:
Maritime Chaparral occurs in patches on the coastal side of the southern Coast Ranges. There is an abundance of summer fog. The plants that grow here are endemic manzanitas (Arctostaphylos spp.) and California lilacs (Ceanothus spp.). Also Chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum) is the most common species. The Monterey are has many endemic shrubs of which nearly all is classified as threatened or endangered.
Mixed Evergreen Forest:
In Mendocino and Humboldt counties precipitation increases. The Forest is composed of conifers and broad-leaved evergreen trees with Douglas Fir being an important component.
Tanoak (Lithocarpus densiflorus) is an evergreen species of the beech-oak family (Fagaceae). It doesn't look like an oak. Leaves are large, oblong, and leathery and the undersides are hairy. This is a relict. Pacific Madrone (Arbutus Menziesii) looks like a large manzanita. Madrone has red bark that peels off in sheets and flower that are white and urn-shaped.
California Laurel (Umbellularia californica) is an evergreen with dark green, lance-shaped leaves. The most distinctive feature of the leaves is a peppery, aromatic odor. They are shaped like bay leaves. Also called myrtlewood. In the northern Coast Ranges, California Laurel is commonly called Pepperwood.. Coulter Pine (Pinus coulteri) is the southern California equivalent of Digger Pine. Large cones and long needles (10 Inches.).
Riparian Woodland:
The Riparian Woodland is not dramatically different than the adjacent forest areas. The conifers found here are Coast Redwood, Douglas Fir, and California Nutmeg (Torreya californica). Broad-leaved evergreen species are Pacific Madrone, Tanoak, and California Laurel.
The winter-deciduous trees are Big-leaf Maple, Pacific Dogwood, and Red Alder. The most common willow of the Coast Ranges are Red Willow (Salix laevigata) and Pacific Willow (Salix lasiandra). Bunchberry (Cornus Canadensis) is a spreading shrub in the dogwood family (Cornaceae).
Western Rose-bay (Rhododendron Macrophyllum) a flowering shrub is related to Western Azalea (Rhododendron occidentale). They may be sold under the name rhododendron.
Yellow Pine Forest:
True Yellow Pine Forest occurs in the northern Coast Ranges at high elevations and on dry sites associated with serpentine or other opliolitic soils. In the south Coast Ranges it occurs only on a few high peaks. The forest is dominated by Jeffrey Pine. Also in the area are Coulter Pine, Digger Pine, Big-cone Douglas Fir, Canyon Live Oak, Blue Oak, Coast Live Oak, and interior Live Oak.
Edaphic Communities:
Edaphic communities are those controlled by specialized soils. Serpentine soil has species of chaparral such as Chamise, closed-cone pines, Jeffrey Pine and Incense Cedar.
Anticline Ridge near the town of Coalinga has special soils derived from sandstone. This area weathers to sandy mounds that harbor a number of desert species. These include Narrowleaf Goldenbush and Mojave Sand Verbena. Also is California Juniper and California Joint Fir (used to make tea).
Species that indicate serpentine outcrops include Leather Oak (Quercus durata), Muskbrush (Ceanothus jepsonii), and Interior Silktassel (Garrya congdonii).
A herbaceous specie on many serpentine endemics is a group called Strptanthus, a highly diversified group of the mustard family (Brassicaceae).
The area known as the New Idria Barrens in Benito County is characterized by serpentine soils that are yellowish and nearly devoid of vegetation. Growth is extremely slow for the few things that can grow there such as Jeffrey Pines, Digger Pines, and Coulter Pines.
Endemic animals to this area are nine species and subspecies of butterflies.
The Ecological Staircase of Mendocino County
Near Fort Bragg is an ecological staircase with an interesting boitic zonations.
The Lowest Terrace is Coastal Prairie and is the youngest. The Coastal Prairie has been mostly converted to agricultural or
pasture land due to the moist coming from the next terrace and the accumulation of organic material that produced a rich dark soil (mollisol).
California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica), Owl Clover (Orthocarpus erianthus) and Beach Strawberry (Frageria chiloensis).
Coastal Prairie is not capable of supporting much animal life for if percolation from upper terraces does not occur primary productivity is low.
Coastal Prairie grades into a community of herbs and evergreen shrubs known as Northern Coastal Scrub where there is some protection from salt spray. Sticky Monkey Flower and Coyote Brush are associated with Coastal Sage Scrub.
Coastal Prairie has many herbaceous plants such as Varicolored Lupine (Lupinus variicolor)and Yellow Bush Lupine (Lupinus arboreus). Other species include California Blackberry (Rubus vitifolius) and salal (Gaultheria shallon).
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Marilyn Cannon. Nov. 5, 2002