Nurse Logs and Decaying Giants
The death of a tree is the birth of a log or a snag . Dead trees are essential to the health of the forest and they are the basis of its astonishing productivity.
Fallen trees are a substantial reservoir of organic matter and water that other plants and trees depend on.
The nutrients the forest requires are not only in the soil but also in the living and dead plant material itself. As trees and plants die and decay, they are recycled to the living forest. With this highly efficient system, the forest feeds itself: wasting nothing.
As a tree slowly decays, it becomes a nursery for plants. It may take 400 years or longer to become incorporated into the forest floor. During this time, a variety of shrubs and trees have the opportunity to develop part of or all of their root systems within the decaying wood.
It has been estimated there are 1700 species of plants and animals that depend on a single tree during its lifespan. There are over 600 living on a snag, but over 4000 species living in or on a downed log.
A newly fallen log soon sprouts "baby" trees. Eventually, a tree emerges from the log and may rely on the fallen log's root system.
Image courtesy of: Ancient Forest Alliance. Image courtesy of: Ancient Forest Alliance.
