An ancient redwood forest once occupied 2 million acres of the Northern California coastal forests within the oceanic fog belt.[1] This temperate coniferous forests ecoregion of coastal Northern California and southwestern Oregon.[2] Redwoods[3][4] assisted migration [5]
The dominant forest type in this ecoregion is the coastal redwood forest. These are the tallest forests on Earth, with individual redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) trees reaching heights of 100 metres (330 ft). These forests are generally found in areas exposed to coastal fog. In the north, they occur on upland slopes, in riparian zones, and on riverine terraces. In the south, where annual precipitation is lower, they are constrained to coves and ravines. Coast Douglas-firs (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii) are nearly always associated with redwoods, but in the north the forests can also include Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis), western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) and western red cedar (Thuja plicata). Like coast Douglas-fir, tanoak (Notholithocarpus densiflorus) is often present. Other hardwoods include California bay laurel (Umbellularia californica), red alder (Alnus rubra), madrone (Arbutus menziesii), and bigleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum). The deep shade cast by redwoods often results in a sparse understory, but shade-tolerant species include thimbleberry (Rubus parviflorus), redwood sorrel (Oxalis oregana), elk clover (Aralia californica), dwarf Oregon grape (Mahonia nervosa), salal (Gaultheria shallon), and many ferns, such as deer fern (Blechnum spicant), sword fern (Polystichum munitum), and leathery polypody (Polypodium scouleri). [6]
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Notholithocarpus densiflorus, with Coast Douglas-firs Pseudotsuga menziesii subsp. menziesii and Coast Redwood behind in Sunset Trail, Big Basin Redwoods State Park, Santa Cruz Mountains, California. -
Forest of Coast Douglas-firs Pseudotsuga menziesii subsp. menziesii
See also edit
References edit
- ^ Reid, John (September 25, 2023). "Thinking Long-Term: Why We Should Bring Back Redwood Forests". Yale E360. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
- ^ "Californian Coastal Redwood Forest". NatureServe Explorer 2.0. October 29, 2022. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
- ^ Robbins, Jim; Bates, Ian C. (August 15, 2023). "Reviving the Redwoods". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
- ^ Bartlett, Amanda (January 7, 2024). "Anonymous private owner donates 'very unusual' California land". SFGATE. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
- ^ "Can We Save the Redwoods by Helping Them Move?".
- ^ "Comprehensive Report Ecological System - California Coastal Redwood Forest". NatureServe. Retrieved November 26, 2012.