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General formation of the current Sierra Nevada
- -Tilted fault block of granite, 400 miles long.
- -Covered by glaciers
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ecotone
- Transition zones.
- Where communities meet and species overlap.
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The four principal climatic zones
- 1)Lower Montane (Yellow Pine Forest)
- 2)Upper Montane (Red Fir/ Lodgepole Pine Forest)
- 3)Subalpine
- 4)Alpine
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Role of Elevation
- ~ every 1000 ft increase in elevation is = to moving 300 miles north
- Increase in elevation=decrease in temp. (3-5°F/1000 ft)
- Shallower soils
- Higher wind and drier air
- Less CO2&O
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Climatic Factors
- -Rainshadow Effect, from west to eat
- -Precipitation, from north to south
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Yellow Pine (Lower Montane Forest)
- Highest amount of rainfall
- Contains:
- Incense Cedar, Giant Sequoia, White Fir, Sugar Pine, Douglas Fir, and Ponderosa Pine
- Fire important to keep openness (8-15yrs)
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Upper Montane (Red Fir / Lodgepole Pine Forest)
- has the highest snowfall in CA
- Snow adapted not fire adapted
- Growing season approx. 4 months
- Contains: Red fir, Wolf lichen
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Subalpine Woodland
99% of precipitation is snow
Created by glaciers
Drought conditions
High winds
Very little soil - Vegetation: Bristle Cone Pine, Foxtail pine
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Alpine
- Little precipitation
- Intense light, lots of UV rays
Growing season 40-70 days
Temperature is very cold, -40°F - No trees
Animals: Bighorn sheep, Yellow-bellied marmot
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Ponderosa Pine ( Pinus ponderosa)
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- Over 100 ft tall
- Needles in 3's
Fire adapted
Seeds need fire to germinate
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White Fir (Abies concolor)
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Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)
Second tallest conifer, 329 ft and 15 ft diameter
Not true firs
Unique cones
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How fire alters the Lower Montane & why they're necessary
- Giant sequoia and ponderosa pine seeds need it to germinate.
- Fire removes litter and provides nutrients to the poor soil
Fire also causes some species (Giant sequoia)
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Sugar Pine (Pinus lambertiana)
Can reach heights of 250 feet with a diameter of 18+ ft
BIG cones average 18 inches long
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Giant Sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum)
- Live 3,200 – 4,000 years
- Bark to 24” thick
- 225 ft plus in height
Adult trees are fire adapted Seeds need fire to germinate Cones need fire to shed seeds Have an extensive, "pancake" root system
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FIRE Cycle in the Lower Montane
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PRESCRIBED/CONTROLLED BURNING
- Management tool to bring back a normal fire cycle
- Cut and pile smaller trees to burn in heaps
- Then set a ground fire
USFS, NPS, State Dept. of Forestry and - California Dept. of Parks and Recreation use this method
- •Success in germination and survival in
- sequoia groves
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How are mountain meadows formed?
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Difference between the formation of a “U”-shaped vs. “V”-shaped valley
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Adaptations that flowering plants have in the alpine zone?
Why is
plant growth limited in the sub-alpine and alpine zones? Describe Krummholz.
Why is
plant growth limited in the sub-alpine and alpine zones? Describe Krummholz.
Why is
plant growth limited in the sub-alpine and alpine zones? Describe Krummholz.
Why is
plant growth limited in the sub-alpine and alpine zones? Describe Krummholz.
Why is
plant growth limited in the sub-alpine and alpine zones? Describe Krummholz.
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