Point Reyes National Sea Shore

             The Point Reyes National Seashore in located on the Pacific Ocean coastline of Northern California. Due to its geography and shape of the peninsula (a body of land surrounded on three sides by water) it is home to many ecosystems. Most recognizable is the Black Forest of Douglas Fir along the Inverness Ridge, which resembles other fir forests of the Pacific Northwest more than it does other forests in near proximity. Another ecosystem is the marine ecosystem or “open ocean” which exists directly off of the seashore and around the Farallon Islands. Other Point Reyes ecosystems are the estuaries, mudflats, shoreline/coastal, intertidal zone, “Riparian corridors”, Douglas Fir Forest, Bishop Pine Forest.

               The Point Reyes Peninsula is defined by the San Andreas Fault line and the plate tectonic movements of the area. Though the Pacific plate moves at a rate of only 2 inches per year, during the 1906 earthquake it moved as much as twenty feet within a matter of seconds. The Point Reyes National Seashore and Olema Valley’s natural landscape where affected as a result. The San Andreas Fault Line is basically the determining factor of the shape of the Point Reyes Peninsula and the characteristics of land that comprises it. The granite which is the bedrock of the peninsula differs from the rock of the Franciscan Foundation which is found east of the fault.

               As the rock types in the Point Reyes Peninsula differ from that just east of the fault, so does, obviously, the soil. The peninsula’s plant life is commensurate to the type of soil that is located there. For example, the coast redwood which is found in many parts of Northern California (particularly the area east of the fault) is not found on the Point Reyes Peninsula because this plant species does not grow well in granitic soil. This soil does allow for very large forests of Douglas Fir trees and Bishop Pines, which are of the most recognizable features in the forest.

               The climate at the Point Reyes Seashore is considered a Mediterranean climate. It has a rain season which occurs from October to March, and a dry season which occurs from April to September. The area, however, differs from the Mediterranean in the large amount of fog that characterizes both the Point Reyes Peninsula and the coastal area in Northern California of which it is a part. Often the weather varies within the peninsula, the coastal areas consumed by fog and the inland valleys dry and warm.

Point Reyes Plants

 The Monkey Flower (Chrysothamnus nauseosus)

	The Monkey Flower or the "Sticky Monkey Plant" as it is often called, is found
on slopes and banks and in open woods. Its range extends form South-west Oregon 
to Southern California and eastward to the base of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. 
The Monkey Flower is a shrub with woody branch stems and flowers which release a
sticky secretion  which accounts for the plantâ??s name. The Monkey Flower has a
long blooming season and therefore is a viable and nearly constant source of nectar
for feeding birds and some insects. When touched by an insect, a hummingbird or 
a long blade of grass, the stigmas of the flower move close together and allow for
a protected chamber in which pollen can form.







Tan bark Oak (Lithocarpus densiflorus)

The Tanbark Oak

	The Tan bark Oak tree is an evergreen, but is not a true oak and is instead is 
classified as a chestnut. This tree is an evergreen, and has a growth of up to 100
feet. The Tan bark Oak is native to the Pacific Coast (Oregon and California) and
is found in the Santa Cruz Mountains and Northern California, including the North
Bay in particular, and completely excluding the East Bay. The oak is usually located
within Douglas Fir Forests and grows well in moist valleys and sloping mountains.
The tan bark oak got its name because of its bark which was once used as a tanner
for hides.

Douglas Fir (Pseudotjuga menziesiie)

	The Douglas Fir is of its own genus and is not actually a fir tree at all. The 
scientific name of the Douglas Fir, pseudotsuga menziesie, translates to "false
hemlock". The Douglas Fir bark has formations of patterns in the shape of a V.
The needles are distributed evenly all around the broaches and the Douglas Fir cones
are situated at the tip of every branch. New growth needles are yellow-green in 
color, and when crushed, omit a smell like that of the lemon.
	When cones from the Douglas Fir trees fall, they are intact and can be eaten by
rodents or birds. A remarkable self-sustaining survival tactic is the "popping"
or bursting of a cone (under extreme heat pressure like that of a forest fire) to
scatter new seeds on the forest earth which has just been renewed by the fire. This
occurred about ten years ago in the Mt. Vision fire of Point Reyes.

The Huckleberry Shrub  (Vaccinium ovatum)

	The Huckleberry shrub of California is a relative to eastern blueberries and cranberries.
The Huckleberry is located in coastal forests, both redwood and spruce or fir. The
shrub thrives in forests with a great deal of moisture and acidic soil which retains
water during the high temperatures of the summer months, as well as the ample shade
that the Douglas Fir forests provide. The Huckleberry flowers from April to May 
and produces small deep purple berries in the fall and summer. These berries area
very important source of food for birds and forest-dwelling mammals, the aforementioned
California Quail, coyote, etc.

Panic Veldt Grass (Erharta Erecta)
	Ehrharta Erecta (as it is commonly called) is a non-native and extremely invasive
weed that has, of recent years, severely threatened the native plants and the natural
biodiversity occurring in the Point Reyes National Seashore. The grass is composed
of a long shaft (about 7-10 inches long) bend over from the weight of the seeds 
which are distributed evenly up the weeds stem. These seeds can be spread very easily.
Birds, for example, lack the digestive power to fully  break down the seeds. Therefore,
when the bird then excretes its waste, the seeds are usually in whole form, and 
transported to whatever location the bird has flown to. Seeds often lodge themselves
into the ruts of a bicycle wheel or into the hoof of one of the many horses that
is allowed access to forest trails. Perhaps most commonly, loose seeds are simply
picked up by the wind and carried to a foreign location.

Point Reyes Animals

The Tule Elk (Cervas elaphus nannodes)

	The Tule Elk  is a subspecies that is exclusively native
to, and located in, California. Female elk reach sexual maturity by the age of two,
and most all reproduce in their lifetimes, having about six to ten calves each. 
Males are not able to breed until they have proven their strength by "competing
with other bulls to defend a harem of cows". Half of all males take part in reproduction
in their lifetime. The female Tule Elk has a gestation period very close to that
of humans- about eight and a half months. Calves begin feeding on grass when they
are less than one year old and nurse for five months. The average Tule Elk has a
lifespan of about 12 years, and at the Point Reyes National Seashore the elk are
very seldom preyed upon. The elk is actually very capable and defending themselves
against and defeating coyotes, and less often mountain lions. Both sexes have horns,
which are permanent, but antlers usually only grow on male elk. Elk shed and regrow
their antlers once a year. In the spring, the antlers go through the "velvet"
stage, during which blood vessels cover the antler and nourish it during its growth.

The Mountain Beaver (Aplodontia rufa)
	The Mountain Beaver is a stocky rodent of medium size with very small eyes, ears
and tail. Unfortunately, mountain beavers are relatively rare to Point Reyes National
Seashore due to the vast destruction of the Mt. Vision fire. These beavers are found
in brush and thicket along creeks. Sometimes they can be found on hillsides covered
in brush with near proximity to bodies of water. Populations of mountain beaver 
can be identifies by evidence of burrows. The beaver feeds on leaves of many trees
and shrubs such as maples, deerberry, dogwood and alders, as well as wild berries.
	Unlike other rodents that produce a multitude of offspring, the mountain beaver
has only two to five young per year. The Mountain Beaver is actually not related
to the "true" beaver, but it is the only lasting subspecies of primitive rodents.
The Mountain Beaver is particularly unique because it does not travel any further
South that Marin County due to its preference for moist soil and ample sword fern
populations. The beaver will make "hay piles" out of ferns and other local vegetitation,
and in areas with winter snowfall, make tunnels.

The Coyote (Canis latrans)

	The Coyote is not found exclusively in California. It is also located in the other
parts of the world such as Alaska, Canada, Panama, and in US regions west of the
Mississippi. The coyote preys upon rabbits (jackrabbits and cottontails) as well
as squirrels and mice. In addition to rodents, the coyote eats fruit, berries and
insects. The coyote mates in February and has five to ten pups per litter, after
a gestation period of two months. Coyote families remain intact until autumn. During
the winter the families "disperse" to increase their chances of finding food.
The coat of the coyote is gray in color, the legs, feet and ears are brown. The 
coyote is generally a solo hunter, but when hunting large prey it will hunt in a
group, taking turns to rest. Coyotes are fast runners (up to 40 miles per hour.)

The Turkey Vulture (Carthares aura)

	The Turkey Vulture is a scavenger and feeds off the carcasses of many large animals
such as elk, deer or even sea lions. The vulture has special digestive enzymes which
are one of the most powerful enzymes found in nature and can break down intensely
powerful microorganisms. The turkey vulture has an extremely important role in its
habitat. Without the turkey vulture, diseases from dead carcasses could easily spread
to other animals and organisms; the turkey vulture removes waste that cannot decompose
as other organisms do. The turkey vulture has no feathers on the top of its head,
which allows it  burrow into carcasses. The vulture has, compared to most birds,
an unusually keen sense of smell as well as good vision. This enables it to locate
a carcass (or carrion) in the forest. These qualities were adapted for the bird 
to be able to spot a carrion, particularly in a forested area.

The Black-tail Deer (Oducoileus hemionus)

	The Blacktailed deer (also the Mule Deer) is named both for its black tail and 
for its large ears which bear resemblance to those of a mule. Bucks can weigh anywhere
from 100 to 475 pounds, while does weigh only up to 160. During the summer, the 
deer are brown in their coloring in the winter they turn grey.These deer are located
in the lowlands and mountainous forest. In the late summer, the neck of the male
begins to swell, which marks the beginning of the rut (the sexual pursuit of the
doe). Does breed at one and a half years old while males breed at age two and a 
half. Gestation lasts for a period of six to seven months. One or two fawns are born in
May or June, weighing eight pounds. A once-bred doe has a single doe, and older 
does have twins. They are concealed for the first month, and then are nursed until
the end of the summer.

The California Red-Sided Garter Snake (Thamnophissirtalis infernalis )

	Red-Sided Garter Snakes live together in dens, which maybe caves, hollowed treed,
or even sewers. The garters snakes mate and reproduce in a very intricate system
of formation of mating balls. Garder snakes are preyed upon by small mammals and
and birds such as raccoons, owls and hawks. The Red-Sided Garter Snake uses a system
of ground vibrations to find the source of their prey, which may amphibians, small
rodents or birds.

The Quail (Callipepla California)

	The California Quail is the state bird of California. The quail is found from Washington
and Oregon to the north to Baja in the south and was introduced to Canada. The quail
is brown-gray in color with a black and white throat and a distinguishable black
feather directly atop its head. The California Quail has a very distinctive call,
often compared to a human loudly vocalizing the question who are you? or, in three
syllables, chi-ca-go. Male quail are very territorial and often mark their territory
by sitting on a high post and posturing and calling. Quail families collectively
take shelter in trees, but after the breeding season are rather unshy and are know
to make family outings. 

Fallow Deer (Dama damadama)

	The Fallow deer is a native of the Mediterranean lands and of Asia Minor, though
there are some who believe that the white fallow deer originated in Sri Lanka. The
non-native fallow deer, as well as the axis deer were introduced to the area in 
the 1940s  and '50s by ranch owner Dr. Millard Ottinger. Twenty-eight deer were
originally introduced to the area, there are now more than 1,300. The fallow deer's
coloration is "polymorphic" (many different color morphs may occur within the
population). Ten different color types have been identified for the species, but
only four of these are present within Point Reyes National Seashore (common, black,
white, and menil). However, the seasonal molting patterns which result in varying
changes of color of the deer's coats, as well as individual variation result in
a very unique presentation when the fallow deer travel in a large herd. Fallow deer
mate by season. Males shed their velvet (see Tule elk) in August, as destroy many
thickets and shrubs when they attempt to rub the velvet from their antlers. Rutting
season is in late September and continues until early November when male deer "spar"
and engage in violent competition by clashing their antlers in open meadows. Antlers
are then shed again in the spring, and the fawns are born in the middle of May.

The Spotted Owl  (Strix occidentalis)

	The Spotted Owl is located in the wooded areas of Mexico and the Pacific Northwest.
The spotted owl is a highly elusive nocturnal bird; during the daytime it is quiet
and sits high on a tree limb. The spotted owl in 20 inches height and dark brown
in color, with a soft round head and brown eyes. In the last 20-30 years there has
been great controversy about the spotted owl and the loss of its old-growth forest
habitat. It usually breeds in old-growth forests and requires a large territory 
for breeding. In successional forests, the spotted owl infant mortality rate is 
90%. This has been in part made worse by the invasion of the barrel owl.

The Banana Slug (Ariolimax columbianus)

     
   The Banana Slug is a mollusk and of the class Gastropoda meaning a "muscular foot". 
They are Pulmonates which means that within their bodies, they have a small lung, which
 has an opening to let in air. Banana Slugs are the second largest slug in the world and they 
can measure up to 25 cm long. They are aptly due to their resemblance of the banana, and have
 a special adaptation which allows them to, over time, camouflage themselves to blend into 
the leaves on the forest floor. Depending on the light and food availability, their yellow color 
becomes either lighter or more intense. The banana slug is a decomposer and plays as important 
a role in the ecosystem as the turkey vulture does as a scavenger. The slug feeds of dead and 
decomposing plants and fungi as well as animal feces. The banana slug takes part in the spread 
of seeds and spores through its feeding process. Banana slugs travel through undulating movements, 
essentially acting as a single foot. Hence, they travel very slowly. The slime which is often associated 
with slugs helps them to ease over surfaces without damaging themselves. The slime also protects
 them from predators, who often have to roll them in dirt before attempting to eat them. The slime is 
so strong that the banana slug can climb a completely vertical tree and then drop to the ground on a 
string made of their slime. Scientists believe banana slug slime to be the most powerful of natural glues. 
Trails of slime also serve as a guide for potential mates. Banana slugs can live up to two years.

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Human Impact:

	The Point Reyes National Seashore is a governmentally-protected land, therefore
adverse human impacts such as mining, deforestation and commercial enterprising 
cannot (by law) occur. However, one human impact that threatens this areas biological
diversity and natural status quo is the introduction (whether accidental or intentional)
of non-native species. The Fallow Deer and the Ehrharta Erecta weed are probably
the most pressing non-native problems that the Point Reyes National Seashore is 
faced with. The fallow deer, being larger than most native deer, is very aggressive
and competitive. The fallow deer forcefully upturns soil on the banks of rivers 
and streams, thereby producing a great deal of run-off and even changing the course
of a stream. Lastly, the fallow deer's population is increasing exponentially,
and if the species reproduction is not monitored, the competition it produces could
become very harmful.
	The Ehrharta Erecta weed is also increasing exponentially in population growth.
Unlike the deer, however, it is much more difficult to control and eradicate. The
weed chokes out other plants, such as delicate native grasses and mosses. When the
weed invades an area, it grows so dendely that seeds from native species cannot 
find a way to reach the forest soil. Douglas Fir seeds, which need to embed themselves
deeply and securely into the soil, essentially could not survive were a weed like
the Ehrharta Erecta to coat the forest floor.











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Bibliography

1. Acorn, John. Bugs of Northern California, LonePine Publishing, 2002

2. Evens, Jules G. The Natural History of the Point Reyes Penninsula Point Reyes
National Seashore Association, 1993

3. Grady, Wayne. The World of the Coyote, Sierra Club Books, 1994

4. Jameson, E.W. Jr. and Peeters, Hans, California Mammals University of California
Press, 1988

5. Keator, Glenn. Introduction to Trees of the San Francisco Bay Region,University
of California Press, 2002

6. Keator, Glenn, Native Shrubs of California, University of California Press, 1994

7. Kricher, John c. and Morrison, Gordon.  A Field Guide to Ecology of Western Forests,
Houghton Mifflin Company, 1993

8. Lanner, Ronald M. Conifers of California, Cachuma Press , 2002

9. McMinn, Howard E., and Maino, Evelyn, Pacific Coast Trees, University of California,
1981

10. Metcalf, Woodbridge. Trees of the San Francisco Bay Region, University of California
Press, 1959

11. Whitney, Stephan. Western Forests, Alfred A. Knopf, 1985

12. Yocum, Charles PhD. and Dasmann, Raymond PhD. The Pacific Coast Wildlife Region,
Naturgraph Co., 1957

13. Conversation with Molly Boyes October 2005

14. Observations/  Work related instruction Point Reyes National Seashore Research
Staff
July-August 2004

15. www.nps.gov/pore/science

16. www.npca.org/across_the_nation/park_pulse/point_reyes/asessment/natural.asp

17. www.http://pointreyes.areaparks.com

18. www.marin.cc.ca.us

19. http://www.sfsu.edu/geog/bholzman/ptreyes/intro.htm.

20. Whitnah, Dorothy L. Point Reyes, Wilderness Press, 1981

21. The Audubon Society Society Nature Guides, Pacific Coast, Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.,
1986