Good Evening,
Walking through a temperate rain forest varies from following the
game trails to breaking new ground. When you step off the trails you
can sink a foot or more into the pile of decomposing needles. If you
dig into that mass you’ll find a wide variety of fungi busy changing
needles, dead plants, and branches into soil. Due to our ecosystem most
of the nutrients are either in the trees, the plants growing on and
around the trees, or in that foot of decaying needles; little is
available from the clay beneath the needle layer. The number of fungal
species in this space differs with the age of the stand. 100 year old
stands of timber have a wide variety of species while younger areas have
a great deal fewer.
Some plants are dependent upon the order of the underlying mycelial
mats. While plants around a bog require the different acidic and basic
layers to survive our local Calypso orchid needs a certain series of
fungal layers to exist. As my forest matures the diversity increases
allowing me to look for mushrooms in more places. As I cut the dead,
standing trees I buck them in place and hand carry the chunks to a
road. The sawdust and slash are left in place as shelter for birds and
rabbits and to feed the forest floor. The best reward for my
stewardship is when the Calypso orchids bloom in late May. I get paid
back for all of my careful wood moving.
Please join us tomorrow on:
14050 kHz at 2200z Sunday (3 PM PDT Sunday)
7045 kHz at 0000z Monday (5 PM PDT Sunday)
73,
Kevin. KD5ONS
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