| Northern California coastal forests | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Ecology | |
| Realm | Nearctic |
| Biome | Temperate coniferous forests |
| Borders | |
| Bird species | 232 [1] |
| Mammal species | 77 [1] |
| Geography | |
| Area | 13,300 km2 (5,100 sq mi) |
| Country | United States |
| States | |
| Climate type | Mediterranean (Csb) |
| Conservation | |
| Conservation status | Critical/Endangered [2] |
| Habitat loss | 4.6828% [1] |
| Protected | 15.76% [1] |
The Northern California coastal forests are a temperate coniferous forests ecoregion of coastal Northern California and southwestern Oregon.
 |
The ecoregion covers 13,300 square kilometres (5,100 sq mi), extending from just north of the California-Oregon border south, to southern Monterey County. The ecoregion rarely extends more than 65 km inland from the coast, narrower in the southernmost parts of the ecoregion.
The ecoregion is a sub-ecoregion of the Pacific temperate rain forests ecoregion, which extends up the Pacific Coast to Kodiak Island in Alaska. The ecoregion lies close to the Pacific Ocean, and is kept moist by Pacific Ocean storms during the winter months, and by coastal fogs in the summer months. These factors keep the ecoregion cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, as compared to ecoregions further inland. The ecoregion is also defined by the distribution of the Coast Redwood ( Sequoia sempervirens ), with isolated groves located in protected canyons as far south as Redwood Gulch, in southern Monterey County. The greatest concentration of remaining Old-growth forest are in the northernmost portion of the ecoregion, primarily within Humboldt and Del Norte counties.
Major urban centers located within this ecoregion include the montane portions of various cities of the San Francisco Peninsula, Fort Bragg, Eureka, and Brookings.
Redwood forests are interspersed with several other plant communities throughout this ecoregion.[ citation needed ]
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 ). [3]
Mixed evergreen forests are found just inland of the redwood forests, on Franciscan Assemblage soils that receive moderate to high rainfall. The trees are a variety of needle-leaved and broad-leaved evergreen species. Characteristic trees include coast Douglas-fir ( Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii ), canyon live oak ( Quercus chrysolepis ), tanoak ( Notholithocarpus densiflorus ), madrone ( Arbutus menziesii ), California bay laurel ( Umbellularia californica ), and golden chinquapin ( Chrysolepis chrysophylla ). The shrub understory is dense and diverse; beaked hazel ( Corylus cornuta ), evergreen huckleberry ( Vaccinium ovatum ), Pacific rhododendron ( Rhododendron macrophyllum ), salal ( Gaultheria shallon ), Sadler's oak ( Quercus sadleriana ), dwarf Oregon-grape ( Mahonia nervosa ), and poison oak ( Toxicodendron diversilobum ) are typically found. [4]
Closed-cone conifer forests are found in small, scattered patches throughout the ecoregion, typically adjacent to maritime chaparral. Common pines are lodgepole pine ( Pinus contorta ), bishop pine ( Pinus muricata ), Monterey pine ( Pinus radiata ), and knobcone pine ( Pinus attenuata ). These forests can also be home to several endemic cypresses, including Monterey cypress ( Cupressus macrocarpa ), Gowen cypress ( Cupressus goveniana ), and Santa Cruz cypress ( Cupressus abramsiana ). Shrub species include glossyleaf manzanita ( Arctostaphylos nummularia ), bog Labrador tea ( Rhododendron groenlandicum ), evergreen huckleberry ( Vaccinium ovatum ), salal ( Gaultheria shallon ), Pacific rhododendron ( Rhododendron macrophyllum ), and California bayberry ( Myrica californica ). Soil conditions sometimes cause these forests to take on a pygmy form. Lichens and mosses are diverse and can be abundant. [5]
Maritime chaparral is composed of a variety of shrubs that grow in the fog belt. Endemic species of manzanita ( Arctostaphylos ) and Ceanothus are locally common. Manzanita species include woolyleaf manzanita ( Arctostaphylos tomentosa ), glossyleaf manzanita ( Arctostaphylos nummularia ), Hooker's manzanita ( Arctostaphylos hookeri ), pajaro manzanita ( Arctostaphylos pajaroensis ), Montara manzanita ( Arctostaphylos montaraensis ), and others. Gasquet manzanita ( Arctostaphylos hispidula ) occurs in southern Oregon. Among Ceanothus, hairy ceanothus ( Ceanothus oliganthus ) is common, while Mason's ceanothus ( Ceanothus masonii ), Carmel ceanothus ( Ceanothus griseus ), and wart-stem ceanothus ( Ceanothus verrucosus ) are local endemics. Other widespread shrubs and trees include chamise ( Adenostoma fasciculatum ), California buckwheat ( Eriogonum fasciculatum ), black sage ( Salvia mellifera ), coffeeberry ( Rhamnus californica ), buckthorn ( Rhamnus crocea ), and coast live oak ( Quercus agrifolia ). This habitat is often found near closed-cone conifer forests and woodlands. [6]
Northern coastal grasslands, or coastal prairies, are generally found below 1,000 feet (300 m) on coastal terraces or mountain balds. In areas where fire has been suppressed, coastal scrub plants invade. Common grasses include bentgrass ( Agrostis spp.), California brome ( Bromus carinatus ), Nootka reedgrass ( Calamagrostis nutkaensis ), California oatgrass ( Danthonia californica ), red fescue ( Festuca rubra ), Idaho fescue ( Festuca idahoensis ), tufted hair-grass ( Deschampsia caespitosa ), prairie Junegrass ( Koeleria macrantha ), tall trisetuem ( Trisetum canescens ). Common forbs include Douglas iris ( Iris douglasiana ), western blue-eyed grass ( Sisyrinchium bellum ), hairy gumplant ( Grindelia hirsutula ), and footsteps of spring ( Sanicula arctopoides ). [7]
Northern coastal scrub consists of shrublands found at elevations below 1,500 feet (460 m) on bluffs, terraces, dunes, and hills near the coast. This habitat is often subject to wind and maritime fog. The shrubs are mostly evergreen, small-leaved, and sclerophyllous. Characteristic species include coyote brush ( Baccharis pilularis ), yellow bush lupine ( Lupinus arboreus ), blueblossom ( Ceanothus thyrsiflorus ), seaside woolly sunflower ( Eriophyllum stoechadifolium ), sticky monkey-flower ( Mimulus aurantiacus ), poison oak ( Toxicodendron diversilobum ), California blackberry ( Rubus ursinus ), thimbleberry ( Rubus parviflorus ), salmonberry ( Rubus spectabilis ), coffeeberry ( Rhamnus californica ), oceanspray ( Holodiscus discolor ), salal ( Gaultheria shallon ), cow parsnip ( Heracleum maximum ), and western sword fern ( Polystichum munitum ). Coastal grassland succeeds to coastal scrub in the absence of fire, and coastal scrub succeeds to mixed evergreen forest under further absence of fire. [8]
Riparian woodlands and shrublands are a mosaic of tree-dominated plant communities and open shrublands found along rivers. Species composition varies with elevation, slope, floodplain width, and flooding history. Nevertheless, common trees include white alder ( Alnus rhombifolia ), red alder ( Alnus rubra ), box elder ( Acer negundo ), Fremont cottonwood ( Populus fremontii ), red willow ( Salix laevigata ), coast Douglas-fir ( Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii ), California sycamore ( Platanus racemosa ), coast live oak ( Quercus agrifolia ), and bigleaf maple ( Acer macrophyllum ). Common shrubs include sandbar willow ( Salix exigua ) and arroyo willow ( Salix lasiolepis ). [9]
Live oak woodlands and savannas are dominated by coast live oak ( Quercus agrifolia ). Canopy cover varies from dense forest to open savannas. In forests, California blackberry ( Rubus ursinus ), creeping snowberry ( Symphoricarpos mollis ), toyon ( Heteromeles arbutifolia ), and poison oak ( Toxicodendron diversilobum ) are common in the understory. [10]
Some of the rarest forests that occurs in this coastal region are the Maritime Coast Range Ponderosa Pine forests, an example of which occurs in the Carbonera Creek watershed of Santa Cruz County, California. These forest are dominated by ponderosa pine ( Pinus ponderosa ).[ citation needed ]
Chaparral is a shrubland plant community found primarily in California, in southern Oregon and in the northern portion of the Baja California Peninsula in Mexico. It is shaped by a Mediterranean climate and infrequent, high-intensity crown fires.
Pseudotsuga is a genus of evergreen coniferous trees in the family Pinaceae. Common names for species in the genus include Douglas fir, Douglas-fir, Douglas tree, Oregon pine and Bigcone spruce. Pseudotsuga menziesii is widespread in western North America and is an important source of timber. The number of species has long been debated, but two in western North America and two to four in eastern Asia are commonly acknowledged.
Pseudotsuga macrocarpa, commonly called the bigcone spruce or bigcone Douglas-fir, is an evergreen conifer native to the mountains of southern California. It is notable for having the largest cones in the genus Pseudotsuga, hence the name.
The Douglas fir is an evergreen conifer species in the pine family, Pinaceae. It is native to western North America and is also known as Douglas-fir, Douglas spruce, Oregon pine, and Columbian pine. There are three varieties: coast Douglas-fir, Rocky Mountain Douglas-fir and Mexican Douglas-fir.
Temperate rainforests are rainforests with coniferous or broadleaf forests that occur in the temperate zone and receive heavy rain.
California mixed evergreen forest is a plant community found in the mountain ranges of California and southwestern Oregon.
Peavy Arboretum is an arboretum operated by Oregon State University and located on Arboretum Road, Corvallis, Oregon. It is open to the public daily without charge.
Carbonera Creek is a 10.2-mile-long (16.4 km) watercourse in Santa Cruz County, California, that eventually flows to the San Lorenzo River.
The Coast Range ecoregion is a Level III ecoregion designated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the U.S. states of Washington, Oregon, and California. It stretches along the Pacific Coast from the tip of the Olympic Peninsula in the north to the San Francisco Bay in the south, including Grays Harbor, Willapa Bay, and the Long Beach Peninsula in Washington, the entire length of the Oregon Coast, and the Northern California Coast. Named for the Coast Range mountains, it encompasses the lower elevations of the Olympic Mountains, the Oregon Coast Range, the Californian North Coast Ranges, and surrounding lowlands.
The Klamath Mountains ecoregion of Oregon and California lies inland and north of the Coast Range ecoregion, extending from the Umpqua River in the north to the Sacramento Valley in the south. It encompasses the highly dissected ridges, foothills, and valleys of the Klamath and Siskiyou Mountains. It corresponds to the Level III ecoregion designated by the Environmental Protection Agency and to the Klamath-Siskiyou forests ecoregion designated by the World Wide Fund for Nature.
The Sierra Nevada lower montane forest is a plant community along a strip along the western and eastern edges of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in California. This zone is also known as a yellow pine forest.
The Mediterranean California lower montane black oak–conifer forest is a major forest association and ecosystem of the California mixed evergreen forest bioregion in certain mountain ranges in California and southern Oregon in the Western United States; and Baja California in northwest Mexico.
The California coastal sage and chaparral is a Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub ecoregion, defined by the World Wildlife Fund, located in southwestern California and northwestern Baja California (Mexico). It is part of the larger California chaparral and woodlands ecoregion. The ecoregion corresponds to the USDA Southern California ecoregion section 261B, and to the EPA Southern California/Northern Baja Coast ecoregion 8.
The California montane chaparral and woodlands is an ecoregion defined by the World Wildlife Fund, spanning 7,900 square miles (20,000 km2) of mountains in the Transverse Ranges, Peninsular Ranges, and Coast Ranges of southern and central California. The ecoregion is part of the larger California chaparral and woodlands ecoregion, and belongs to the Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub biome.
The California interior chaparral and woodlands ecoregion covers 24,900 square miles (64,000 km2) in an elliptical ring around the California Central Valley. It occurs on hills and mountains ranging from 300 feet (91 m) to 3,000 feet (910 m). It is part of the Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub biome, with cool, wet winters and hot, dry summers. Temperatures within the coast can range from 53° to 65 °F and 32° to 60 °F within the mountains. Many plant and animal species in this ecoregion are adapted to periodic fire.
Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii, commonly known as Coast Douglas-fir, Pacific Douglas-fir, Oregon pine, or Douglas spruce, is an evergreen conifer native to western North America from west-central British Columbia, Canada southward to central California, United States. In Oregon and Washington its range is continuous from the Cascades crest west to the Pacific Coast Ranges and Pacific Ocean. In California, it is found in the Klamath and California Coast Ranges as far south as the Santa Lucia Mountains with a small stand as far south as the Purisima Hills, Santa Barbara County. In the Sierra Nevada it ranges as far south as the Yosemite region. It occurs from near sea level along the coast to 1,800 metres (5,900 ft) in the California Mountains. Further inland, coast Douglas-fir is replaced by Rocky Mountain or interior Douglas-fir. Interior Douglas-fir intergrades with coast Douglas-fir in the Cascades of northern Washington and southern British Columbia.
Mixed coniferous forest is a vegetation type dominated by a mixture of broadleaf trees and conifers. It is generally located in mountains, below the upper montane vegetation type.
The California Coast Ranges Biosphere Reserve was a UNESCO Biosphere reserve located along the California Coast Ranges of northern California and the San Francisco Bay area until June 2017. This biosphere reserve includes a highly diverse complex of evergreen sclerophyllous woodland, coastal, estuary and marine ecosystems.