Walking through a forest in Maine is similar to walking through a Florida forest, but there are many differences too. Both have trees, underbrush and ground cover.
The trees, underbrush and ground cover in Maine are mostly of a different species than those in Florida, even though some are in the same genus. In the north they have to handle the rocky soil (sometimes just rocks) as opposed to the commonly sandy soil (or just sand) in Florida.
In Maine they must endure the harsh winters with subzero temperatures, snow and ice. In Florida there are the mild winters, but very warm (or hot) summers. The 2023 summer has been a good example.
In both locations the trees lose limbs and eventually die. In Maine it may be from Nor’easters, in Florida it can be from lightning and tropical storms.
The debris ultimately comes to a final resting place. What eventually happens to the cellulose based residue is another difference between the two locations with about 14 degrees of latitude between them.
Ghost plants (Monotropa uniflora) are an herbaceous perennial native to the rain forests of Maine. It supports several pollinators, bumblebees included, which in turn spread its pollen. Containing no chlorophyll, it derives its energy from fungi in the Russulaceae family.
The temperate rainforest of northern Maine’s coastal region has a growing season bracketed by a cold spring and rapidly cooling temperatures in autumn. At approximately 44.8 degrees north latitude, most biological activity happens in five months, starting in May and winding down in September.
As such, the deadfall of tree limbs and trunks are the province of plants, insects and fungi residing on the forest floor. Each function to transition the remains of once noble trees into usable nutrients for generations of future plants and trees.
Wood boring bugs use the deceased trees for multiple purposes. Food, shelter and nesting sites are all provided by the dead wood.
As these native insects live their quick lives in the warm season, they are consuming and converting the woody remains.
Ground mosses and lichens cover vast areas of forest floor. Over time they cover and consume the fallen trees.
Yellow Patches mushrooms are found in the forests of the eastern U.S. They are commonly located near hemlock trees.
Their existence is aided by the general lack of fires. Wildfires or controlled burns would kill much of the natural carpet in the woodlands.
Mushrooms and other fungi use the wood to grow upon. Their spores, if lucky, land on decaying wood and germinate.
As the fungi matures, a fruiting body will emerge upward and ripen the thousands of spores for the next generation. The short-lived process is quickly repeated so as to spread as much as possible before the weather halts reproduction.
In panhandle Florida fire is a significant contributor to debris reduction. Located at about 30.4 degrees north latitude, control burns are common when conditions are right.
The fires quickly convert the dead wood into usable plant nutrients. As in Maine, plants, insects and fungi play a part, but not as significant as up north.
One more similarity is both forest systems yield valuable products. The techniques may be different, but both produce many positive outcomes economically and environmentally.
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