Forests of Western Washington

Washington’s Climate

Washington’s Biomes: Washinton has three main biomes: Boreal forest Temperate rain forest Grassland

Characteristics of Washington’s Old Growth Boreal Forests:

Multi-story canopy Large amount of biomass Lots of dead wood on floor Snags Mostly conifers Some wildlife diversity, but not much

Common Tree Species in Western Washington: Alder Douglas-Fir Western Red Cedar Sitka Spruce Western Hemlock

Alder: Common decidious tree Nitrogen-fixing Occurs in early stages of succession

Douglas-Fir Very important economically “Groovy” bark Short, hard, spiky needles (spruce) Tallest species in WA

Western Red Cedar “Stringy” bark Soft, flat needles Most biomass of any tree in WA Most common in mature forests

Western Hemlock Occurs mostly at lower altitudes “Droopy” branches Most common in later stages of succession Needs very wet climate to survive

Sitka Spruce: State Tree of AK Short, spiky needles Grows mostly in low-lying, coastal areas Long life span

Tree Comparison:

Energy Pyramid:

Threats to Washington’s Forests: Development (Building roads, shopping malls, houses, etc.) Climate change Logging (only a threat to old growth; heavily managed forests are replanted anyway)

Homework: LO: Describe interactions between species in Pacific Northwest Boreal Forests. SLE: Articulate ideas clearly and effectively Using these elements in a PNW forest, create a food web and energy pyramid: Abiotic elements (sunlight, air, water, soil), fungi, bacteria, black ants, moss, grass, salal, Devil’s Club, Douglas-fir, Western Red Cedar, Alder, vole, chipmunk, grey squirrel, barn owl, raven, bald eagle, salmon, mule deer, Roosevelt Elk, cougar, grizzly bear.

LO: Describe common tree species in PNW forests SLE: Articulate ideas clearly, creatively, and effectively Trees of Western Washington Book: Create a book that describes 5 common tree species in the Pacific Northwest. Include: A title page (with picture) Three facts about each tree species A color drawing of each tree A color drawing of the cone of each tree species A color drawing of the needles of each tree species.

Discuss/Share: Name two major land biomes in WA. What major biome is Camp Hamilton in? Name three major conifer species in WA. Discuss at least one distinctive feature of each one. Why are alders important to the life cycle of forests? Why are dead trees important to the health of the forest ecosystem? What kinds of animals can you expect to find at Camp Hamilton?