cgr4m field guide

7/30/2019 CGR4M Field Guide

1/56

Muir Woods,California

Field Guideby Steve M Hall

CGR4M-T


2/56

What is an Ecosystem?

An ecosystem is acommunity of organisms

that live, feed, reproduceand interact in the sameenvironment.


3/56

An ecosystemmay be a largearea, for example,birds may nest inone area, andfeed in a different

one. Ecosystems can

also be smallerareas, such as a

pond or ameadow. This is an example of alarger ecosystem. Youcan see a food chain,showing how differentorganisms interact andfeed.


4/56

Energy Flow

This is what shows where the energy inan ecosystem comes from and where itgoes.

Eg: Very simple flow chart

Th S

Radiant Energy


5/56

Welcome to

Muir Woods, Californiauir Woods, California


6/56

The Ecosystem

Muir Woods is described as an oldgrowth forest ecosystem.

Old growth forests, orvirgin forestsare forests that have not beendisturbed.


7/56

What's Up?

Muir Woods is famous forit's sky-high coastal

redwood trees. Oldgrowth forests due tend tohave larger trees, with

layered canopies. *These layered canopies are created

when larger trees die and fall whichallows other trees to flourishafterward as a result of the shadebeing removed.


8/56

The Biosphere

What is the biosphere?The biosphere is the part of the

world in which life can exist. Thefollowing pages detailing theinhabitants of the Muir Woods provesthat it is part of the biosphere, as it

has living habitants.

Map showing extent of chlorophyll concentrations in ocean and land


9/56

Inhabitants

BirdsMuir Woods is the home to over 50

species of birds. This is actually a lownumber of species for an old-growthforest, and it is due to the lack ofinsects. You won't find many beetlesand bugs in the Muir Woods,

because the special tannin acidfound in the redwood trees is anatural insect repellent. Also,because of the towering tall coastal

redwoods, there is so much shade, itis difficult for plants to grow. As weknow from our energy flow chart onpg 4, enough sun is a necessity forlife to function in an ecosystem.


10/56

1

If you're lucky on your visit, you mightbe able to catch a glimpse of anorthern spotted owl or a pileated

woodpecker!


11/56

1

MammalsCommon mammals found in the Muir

Woods include small mammals suchas the American Shrew mole,Sonoma chipmunks, western greysquirrels to larger deer and black

bears. There are 11 species of bats that call

the Muir Woods National Monumenttheir home, nesting in hollows in the

trunks of the redwoods. A new species spotted in the Muir

Woods as of November 2010 are seaotters, swimming in Muir Woods'

water body, the Redwood Creek.


12/56

1

Banana slug

Western Grey Squirrel

American Shrew mole


13/56

1

Deer

American black bear

Sea otter


14/56

1

The Lithosphere

What is the lithosphere?The lithosphere (Lithos, Greek for

rocky) is the outermost shell ofEarth. It is made up of the crust of theearth and a portion of the uppermantle. There are two types of

lithosphere oceanic lithosphere,which exists at the bottom of theocean, and continental lithosphere,which is associated with continentalcrust.


15/56

1

This next section will gointo detail about features

of the lithosphere in theMuir Woods, such as thesoil and topographical

profile.


16/56

1


17/56

1

The Topography

Watch your step! Thetopographical profile of

Muir Woods consists ofmany pits and mounds!

Mounds are created by the decaying

fallen trees. Pits are created when the roots are

ripped out ofthe ground

as the tree isfalling.


18/56

1

Soil

The breathtaking redwoodtrees are found growing

on a brown humus-richloam soil which is gravellyand somewhat sandy.

This soil is part of theCentissima series, alwaysfound on sloping ground.


19/56

1

Well-drained

Developed fromsandstone and shale

Slightly moderately

acidic. Filled with moisture and

humus.

Very fertile due tolooseness and moistness

Characteristics


20/56

2

Appears rich and darkbrown.

Moist to the touch

Is able to be rolled into a

ball Crumble when touched

Clay, silt and sand are

present.

Running water over loamwill show it's drainage ishigh, therefore plantshave a healthy base togrow in.


21/56

2


22/56

2

The Hydrosphere

What is the hydrosphere?

In physical geography, theterm Hydrospheredescribes all water foundon, under & over the surfaceof the planet.

Remember the water cycle?That's all about theHYDROSPHERE!


23/56

2


24/56

2

What's Happening

With the Water?


25/56

2

In The Muir Woods

Water found in the Muiwoods is located in the

Redwood Creek which is7.6 kilometres and reachesthe Pacific Ocean north o

the Golden Gate at MuiBeach.


26/56

2

The Golden Gate

The Golden gate is the NorthAmerican Straitthat connects

San Francisco Bay to thePacific Ocean. It is spanned bythe Golden Gate Bridge.

A straitis a narrow waterwaythat connects two larger bodiesof water.


27/56

2

Enjoy!

Muir Woods National Monument is abreath-taking park on the PacificCoast of southwestern Marin County,

California.

Now that you have a bit ofbackground information of theenvironment, you will be able torespect it's natural beauty!

Enjoy your stay in California, andMAKE SURE TO CHECK OUT THEMUIR WOODS!


28/56

2

Works Cited

Altman, Linda Jacobs. California. New York: Marshall Cavendish Benchmark, 2006. Print.

Hart, John.Muir Woods National Monument. San Francisco: Golden Gate National Park

Conservancy, 2011. Print.

Michaels, Eric, and Will Sweeney.All about Redwood Trees. Portsmouth: Heinemann, 2009. Print.

Minke, Gernot.Earth Construction Handbook: The Building Material Earth in Modern Architecture.

Southhampton [UK]: WIT, 2000. Print.

Spies, Thomas A., and Sally L. Duncan. Old Growth in a New World: A Pacific Northwest Icon

Reexamined. Washington: Island, 2009. Print.

Vogt, Gregory. The Lithosphere: Earths Crust. Minneapolis: Twenty-First Century, 2007. Print.

Wirth, Christian, Gerd Gleixner, and Martin Heimann. Old-growth Forests: Function, Fate, and

Value. Berlin: Springer, 2009. Print.


29/56

Muir Woods,

California

Field Guideby Steve M Hall

CGR4M-T


30/56

2

What is an Ecosystem?

An ecosystem is a

community of organismsthat live, feed, reproduceand interact in the sameenvironment.


31/56

3

An ecosystemmay be a largearea, for example,birds may nest inone area, andfeed in a differentone.

Ecosystems canalso be smallerareas, such as apond or ameadow. This is an example of a

larger ecosystem. Youcan see a food chain,showing how differentorganisms interact andfeed.


32/56

4

Energy Flow

This is what shows where the energy in

an ecosystem comes from and where itgoes.

Eg: Very simple flow chart

The Sun

Radiant Energy


33/56

5

Welcome to

Muir Woods, Californiauir Woods, California


34/56

6

The Ecosystem

Muir Woods is described as an old

growth forest ecosystem. Old growth forests, orvirgin forests

are forests that have not beendisturbed.


35/56

7

What's Up?

Muir Woods is famous for

it's sky-high coastalredwood trees. Oldgrowth forests due tend tohave larger trees, withlayered canopies.

*These layered canopies are createdwhen larger trees die and fall whichallows other trees to flourishafterward as a result of the shade

being removed.


36/56

8

The Biosphere

What is the biosphere?The biosphere is the part of the

world in which life can exist. Thefollowing pages detailing theinhabitants of the Muir Woods provesthat it is part of the biosphere, as ithas living habitants.

Map showing extent of chlorophyll concentrations in ocean and land


37/56

9

Inhabitants

BirdsMuir Woods is the home to over 50

species of birds. This is actually a lownumber of species for an old-growthforest, and it is due to the lack ofinsects. You won't find many beetlesand bugs in the Muir Woods,because the special tannin acidfound in the redwood trees is anatural insect repellent. Also,because of the towering tall coastalredwoods, there is so much shade, itis difficult for plants to grow. As we

know from our energy flow chart onpg 4, enough sun is a necessity forlife to function in an ecosystem.


38/56

10

If you're lucky on your visit, you mightbe able to catch a glimpse of anorthern spotted owl or a pileatedwoodpecker!


39/56

11

MammalsCommon mammals found in the MuirWoods include small mammals suchas the American Shrew mole,Sonoma chipmunks, western grey

squirrels to larger deer and blackbears.

There are 11 species of bats that callthe Muir Woods National Monumenttheir home, nesting in hollows in thetrunks of the redwoods.

A new species spotted in the MuirWoods as of November 2010 are seaotters, swimming in Muir Woods'water body, the Redwood Creek.


40/56

12

Banana slug

Western Grey Squirrel

American Shrew mole


41/56

13

Deer

American black bear

Sea otter


42/56

14

The Lithosphere

What is the lithosphere?The lithosphere (Lithos, Greek for

rocky) is the outermost shell ofEarth. It is made up of the crust of theearth and a portion of the uppermantle. There are two types oflithosphere oceanic lithosphere,which exists at the bottom of theocean, and continental lithosphere,which is associated with continentalcrust.


43/56

15

This next section will go

into detail about featuresof the lithosphere in theMuir Woods, such as thesoil and topographicalprofile.


44/56

16


45/56

17

The Topography

Watch your step! The

topographical profile ofMuir Woods consists ofmany pits and mounds!

Mounds are created by the decayingfallen trees.

Pits are created when the roots areripped out ofthe groundas the tree isfalling.


46/56

18

Soil

The breathtaking redwood

trees are found growingon a brown humus-richloam soil which is gravellyand somewhat sandy.

This soil is part of theCentissima series, alwaysfound on sloping ground.


47/56

19

Well-drained

Developed fromsandstone and shale

Slightly moderatelyacidic.

Filled with moisture andhumus.

Very fertile due to

looseness and moistness

Characteristics


48/56

20

Appears rich and darkbrown.

Moist to the touch

Is able to be rolled into aball

Crumble when touched

Clay, silt and sand arepresent.

Running water over loamwill show it's drainage ishigh, therefore plants

have a healthy base togrow in.


49/56

21


50/56

22

The Hydrosphere

What is the hydrosphere?

In physical geography, theterm Hydrospheredescribes all water foundon, under & over the surfaceof the planet.

Remember the water cycle?That's all about theHYDROSPHERE!


51/56

23


52/56

24

What's HappeningWith the Water?


53/56

25

In The Muir Woods

Water found in the Muir

woods is located in theRedwood Creek which is7.6 kilometres and reachesthe Pacific Ocean north ofthe Golden Gate at MuirBeach.


54/56

26

The Golden Gate

The Golden gate is the North

American Straitthat connectsSan Francisco Bay to thePacific Ocean. It is spanned bythe Golden Gate Bridge.

A straitis a narrow waterwaythat connects two larger bodiesof water.


55/56

27

Enjoy!

Muir Woods National Monument is a

breath-taking park on the PacificCoast of southwestern Marin County,California.

Now that you have a bit ofbackground information of theenvironment, you will be able torespect it's natural beauty!

Enjoy your stay in California, andMAKE SURE TO CHECK OUT THEMUIR WOODS!


56/56

28

Works Cited

Altman, Linda Jacobs. California. New York: Marshall Cavendish Benchmark, 2006. Print.

Hart, John.Muir Woods National Monument. San Francisco: Golden Gate National Park

Conservancy, 2011. Print.

Michaels, Eric, and Will Sweeney. All about Redwood Trees. Portsmouth: Heinemann, 2009. Print.

Minke, Gernot.Earth Construction Handbook: The Building Material Earth in Modern Architecture.

Southhampton [UK]: WIT, 2000. Print.

Spies, Thomas A., and Sally L. Duncan. Old Growth in a New World: A Pacific Northwest Icon

Reexamined. Washington: Island, 2009. Print.

Vogt, Gregory. The Lithosphere: Earths Crust. Minneapolis: Twenty-First Century, 2007. Print.

Wirth, Christian, Gerd Gleixner, and Martin Heimann. Old-growth Forests: Function, Fate, and

Value . Berlin: Springer, 2009. Print.

cgr4m field guide

Documents