Strawberry Canyon fire trail - Moist Evergreen Forest: 2/12/13

California Slender Salamander - This salamander was spotted under piles of decaying leaf litter under a fallen log, which was providing a dark, damp/moist environment for the salamander to thrive in to protect it from the dry & sunny days.

Miners Lettuce - I found these plants growing in between a break in the trees where just enough sun could reach them, but not too much to the point that the ground beneath was going to dry out. This species prefers cool, damp conditions, which I think is why it does so well living here with all the bay area fog that creeps along the ridges of Strawberry Canyon. The best stands are found in partial-shaded areas, and that is where I spotted them growing most abundantly.

Thimbleberry - Thimbleberry is found in forest under-stories near trails and road cuts, which is where I found this one growing. I think they are adaptive to this environment because they survive by retaining the water that comes in from occasional periods of damp weather, but the plant still remains hardy enough to tolerate the occasional drought.

California Blackberry - Another hardy plant species that I found which can tolerate the occasional drought. It prefers moist areas, but it adapts to the climate when it comes time to bear fruits; so when water is very abundant its fruits will be larger than when water is less abundant.

Turkey Tail - A fungus that survives/grows off the decaying oak trees in this evergreen forest. When periods of moist weather pass through the area, the fungus will appear on the decaying tree bark, and the fungus will begin its natural decomposition process.

Publicado el febrero 19, 2013 11:42 TARDE por