Redwood forests of are considered to be temperate evergreen forests and resemble

Question

Redwood forests of are considered to be temperate evergreen forests and resemble boreal forests (Taiga) in many aspects but differ in a few key ones. Like boreal forests, the dominant vegetation is large coniferous trees, specifically redwood trees. They are found almost exclusively along the coastal ranges of California and Southern Oregon where the average annual temperature is moderate with low to moderate annual variability (ie summers are cool and winters are mild) but the annual average precipitation is moderate to high with high annual variability (ie wet winters, dry summers). Year round, but especially during the summertime, evening fog from the ocean rolls into the canyons of the coastal range and condenses on the tree leaves. This condensed fog falls to the ground as raindrops and the trees are able to use this moisture. A single tree can release up to 500 gallons of moisture into the air per day.

Fire plays an important role in the community dynamics of redwood forests. When fires result in a large area of forest become cleared of vegetation, coastal prairies first develop which are dominated by a mixture of annual and perennial grasses such as bunch grass. These gradually are replaced by coastal chaparral communities which contain a mixture of manzanita trees, ceanothus shrubs, tanoaks, madrone and evergreen saplings such as Douglas fir and redwood. The saplings eventually grow up to form mature forests dominated by either dense stands of redwoods only or a mixture of redwoods and Douglas fir trees. Following a fire, several key interactions between species can occur that influence the recovery process. Bunch grass can tolerate bright sunlight and can grow in soils that are low in moisture and nutrient content (and will increase the content of both in the soil over time). Manzanita shrubs shade the ground and increase the moisture content of the soil. Redwood and fir saplings demonstrate higher survival rates in areas with Manzanita trees than in areas with grasses.

Both redwood trees and fir trees will overgrow smaller trees such as madrone and tanoak and shade them from the sunlight but redwood trees have the potential to grow taller than fir trees. Furthermore, redwood and fir seeds can sprout and grow in shady conditions. Finally black tailed deer will graze on Douglas fir seedlings but not on redwood seedlings due to their chemical defense.

Using this information on coastal redwood forests, answer the following questions relation to succession. Is the scenario of succession following a fire an example of primary or secondary succession and what information presented above supports this conclusion? Pick a plant species for those described above that fits the characteristics of associated with the following three successional communities and indicate one characteristic that this species has that is typical of such a successional species

Pioneer species:

Mid successional species:

Climax community species:

Suggest an example for each of the following successional interactions that can be found in this system. Be sure to indicate what each species is doing to the other and if possible what type of interspecific interaction this might represent

Inhibition:

Facilitation:

Tolerance:

Explanation / Answer

After fire or any other natural calamity, succession arises in an area is termed secondary succession. It takes place in an area that was previously colonised. In this case, the area was previously colonised by redwood forest.

Pioneer species: Bunch grasses and other perennial grasses - These can grow in soils with low moisture content and can tolerate high sunlight levels.

Bunch grasses show tolerance to low soil moisture content.

Mid successional species:manzanita trees, ceanothus shrubs, tanoaks, madrone and Douglas fir. They increase the moisture content of the soil.

Manzanita shrubs show facilitation interaction with redwood by providing them with moisture.

Climax community species: Douglas fir and redwood. The forest is dominated by these species. Black tailed deer graze on the saplings of Douglas fir.

Redwood show inhibition reaction with fir saplings.

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