In our neck of the woods... the forest's recycling system

About two years ago, a strong wind toppled this massive oak tree near our garden. The tree fell in the forest (no, I wasn't there to hear it, so I don't know if it actually made a noise). The tree did not fall across a trail or on the garden, so we left it alone for the forest to reclaim. Until recently, there was little obvious evidence of decomposition. In October, I walked by it and saw that the tree was covered by the fruiting bodies of this fungus, which I'm pretty sure is called false turkey tail (Stereum ostrea).

Of course, this fungus was growing inside the dead tree, digesting the wood, long before these fruiting bodies appeared. Typically, the main body of a fungus consists of a network of long, hair-like filaments called the mycelium. These thin cells secrete chemicals that break down the tree, and then the mycelium absorbs the nutrients. Obviously, this fungus has had time to grow throughout the entire tree. This process is what rots (or decomposes) the wood.

When it is time for the fungus to reproduce, some of the threads grow toward the outside of the wood, and they form these "fruiting bodies" on the surface.

Spores form on the lower sides of these fruiting bodies and are dispersed by the wind. Spores are usually one cell, capable of growing into a new fungus (new mycelia) if it lands in a spot that is hospitable for growth.

Fungi are not the only things that decompose dead trees. Bacteria also do their part, as well as insects, worms, and other small invertebrates. In fact, a dead tree becomes an entire mini ecosystem, not only providing food for these things, but also providing shelter for countless insects, snakes, lizards, rodents, and even birds and bats. A healthy, diverse forest must have numerous rotting trees to provide habitat for all this wildlife. Removing dead trees from a forest breaks this cycle of life.

The third photo is a rotting log we found in the Quinault Rainforest in Washington state.

Photos - Stan C. Smith