North Coast Forests

North coast Forests

 North coast forests occur along the wet western slopes of the Coast Ranges, and receive most of their precipitation as winter moisture or summer fog.  One dominant north coast forest tree you may be familiar with is the Coast Redwood. A subtype within the North coast Forest ecosystem is the Mixed Evergreen Forest, found in the interior coast ranges and containing many broadleaved evergreen trees like madrone and California bay, as well as the conifer Douglas-fir.

Watch this 12-minute Ecosystems of California video on north coast forests from Dr. Erika Zavaleta.   If you would like,here is the link to  the video without the questions embedded. Links to an external site. 

Study Guide

1.  Be able to describe the basic biology of chaparral, redwood forest and mixed evergreen forest.

• • • What types of plants live in these ecosystems?
    • Where are these ecosystems found in California?
    • What are the important interactions between species in these ecosystems? 
    • What adaptations do plants have to survive and reproduce in these ecosystems? To drought?  To fire? 
    • What is mineral soil? Why is it helpful for new seedlings after a fire?