6. Magnificent Old Growth
Photo by Ted Schmalz Interpretive Stops  1.  Along Aptos Creek  2.  Fern Grotto  3.  Twisted Grove  4.  Geologic Foundation  5.  Redwoods and Associates  6.  Magnificent Old Growth  7.  Fairy Ring in the Making  8.  Granary, Stump, and Burl  9.  The Pourroy Garden 10. The Little Slide 11. Smiley Face Stump 12. Big "Round" 13. Goosepen Tree 14. The "Advocate Tree" 15. The Ravine 16. Pourroy's Picnic Area Additional Information  Animals of Marcel's Forest  TimeLine  Glossary  Teacher Workshop		Typical Old Growth Redwood Unlike the magnificent old growth at this stop, most of the redwood trees in Marcel's Forest are second- or even third-growth redwoods. This tree and most of the other old growth redwoods that remain in the forest were probably once considered "cull" trees, or defective trees. Earlier loggers didn't cut defective trees since better redwood tree specimens grew nearby. Old Growths Exhibit Five Special Characteristics Redwood ecologist Steven Singer, who has extensively studied Santa Cruz Mountain redwoods, recognizes five characteristics of an old-growth redwood. Read Steven Singer's list below and see if you agree that all five characteristics can be seen in the magnificent redwood at this stop.  1. Large size, old, and slow-growing. It's easy to tell if a redwood is large, but how do you know if it's old? That is, how do you tell without cutting it down? One way is to look at its bark. Old-growth trees usually have broad, plate-like bark, often a lighter, duller brown, instead of the familiar reddish-brown seen on the nearby younger trees. This tree is 33.5 feet in circumference and 208 feet tall.  2. Round or flattish crown sometimes with a damaged or broken top. This redwood has what foresters call a "blownout" top. Instead of a crown that tapers into a point, often seen on younger redwoods, this tree's crown is broad. The crown probably toppled during a winter wind storm or may have been hit by lightning, an uncommon but occasional occurrence along the coast. Another redwood tree, measuring 27 feet and called a "reiteration," has sprouted from one of the top branches of this tree. The 27-foot reiteration is included in the total 208-foot height.  3. Deep live crown with an irregular, unsymmetrical outline. The crown of this tree is fairly thick and green, and the reiteration sprouting from its top makes the crown unsymmetrical. The thick, large branches at the top of the tree are what foresters call "platforms." Platforms similar to these are chosen by marbled murrelets as nesting sites at Big Basin State Park. Although marbled murrelets do not nest in Nisene Marks State Park, it is possible that they once inhabited the area. Logging and development probably destroyed the vast majority of old growths that marbled murrelets would deem habitable. In addition, murrelets appear to nest in forests made up of more than 50 percent coast redwood. The Marbled murrelet, a brownish-grey seabird that comes inland to nest and can fly up to 94.8 miles per hour (158 km/hour), lays its egg on large redwood platforms. Unfortunately, its egg is often eaten by Steller's jays, red-shouldered hawks, or ravens, one reason that their populations are diminishing. At this time, marbled murrelets are listed as an endangered species in California. For more information about the marbled murrelet, visit Big Basin State Park.  4. Defect is often present, such as damaged branches or goosepens. This tree has at least two visible defects: a goosepen (the large opening at the base of the tree) that is healing and a "blownout" top. Defects probably saved this tree from the logger's ax.  5. Thick bark, usually with burn scars. Do you see the fire scars (burned bark) on this tree? An ancient fire caused the goosepen at its base that is now trying to close and heal. Redwoods throughout Marcel's Forest have withstood many fires throughout the centuries. Since redwoods have a fire-resistant thick bark, mature trees are seldom killed by fire.  Back to REDWOODS AND ASSOCIATES   Forward to FAIRY RING IN THE MAKING	Marcel's Forest is not considered an old-growth redwood forest since it lacks a majority of old-growth redwoods. Except for "goosepens," Old-Growth Douglas-firs also have these five characteristics How tall is the tallest living redwood? The Mendocino Tree at about 367 feet. How tall was the tallest redwood ever recorded? The Eureka Tree at 380 feet, cut down in 1914. See "Sequoia Differences" for more information about the redwood See "Big Basin State Park" website for more information about the marbled murrelet

 

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