Episode 4: Megaflora

We Like Big Trees, and We Cannot Lie!

Part 2 of our Mini-Series: “The Deep, Dark, & Dirty Depths” (non-consecutive episodes)

Following Part 1 of this Mini-Series, Episode 2: Roots!, Josh guides us on a hike through the Redwoods and Pando to teach us about megaflora. From tree hollows to heartwoods, Josh and Kara discuss how Redwoods get so old and so tall, how many plants clone themselves to create new life, and why Pando is argued to be the largest living organism on the planet. Learn what endangers the Redwoods and Pando and what initiatives are underway to protect them.

Discussion Includes:

• Overview of Redwoods

• Plant Cloning and Fairy Circles

• Overview of Pando

• Tree Hollows & Goose Pens

• Germination vs. Cloning—Fruit vs. Sprouts

• Visiting Pando

©️Wolf & Stag Productions 2024

Images:

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Look Up

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Redwood Tree Diagram

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Family Circle

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Pando at Fish Lake

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Pando from Google Earth

References:

• U.S. Department of the Interior. (2015, February 28). About the trees. National Parks Service. https://www.nps.gov/redw/learn/nature/about-the-trees.htm 

• U.S. Department of the Interior. (2021, December 31). Virtual ancient clones. National Parks Service. https://www.nps.gov/flfo/learn/nature/virtual-ancient-clones.htm 

• REPRODUCTION OF THE REDWOODS. (n.d.). In National Parks Service. essay. Retrieved from https://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_books/shirley/sec7.htm#:~:text=While%20seeds%20are%20produced%20in,are%20not%20viable.%20.%20.%20. 

• Fishlake National Forest - Home. Forest Service National Website. (n.d.). https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/fishlake/home/?cid=STELPRDB5393641 

• Grant, M. C. (1993, October 1). The trembling giant. Discover. 

• Kemperman, J. A., & Barnes, B. V. (1976). Clone size in American aspens. Canadian Journal of Botany, 54(22), 2603–2607. https://doi.org/10.1139/b76-280 

• A geologic history of Fishlake, Pando’s home. Friends of Pando. (2024, August 4). https://www.friendsofpando.org/the-pando-tree-2/geologic-history-fishlake/ 

• MOCK, K. E., ROWE, C. A., HOOTEN, M. B., DEWOODY, J., & HIPKINS, V. D. (2008). Clonal Dynamics in western North American aspen (populus tremuloides). Molecular Ecology, 17(22), 4827–4844. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-294x.2008.03963.x 

• Rogers, P. C., & McAvoy, D. J. (2018). Mule Deer Impede Pando’s recovery: Implications for aspen resilience from a single-genotype forest. PLOS ONE, 13(10). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0203619 

• Methods review. Friends of Pando. (2023, April 5). https://www.friendsofpando.org/explorepando/methods-review/ 

• Deciduous conifers. Lake Wilderness Arboretum. (n.d.). https://www.lakewildernessarboretum.org/gardens/legacy-garden/deciduous-conifers/ 

• Rydin, Håkan, Snoeijs, P., & Diekmann, M. (1999). Swedish plant geography. Växtekologi och evolution Uppsala : Swedish Phytogeographical Society. 

• Lifemap. (n.d.). https://lifemap.univ-lyon1.fr/explore.html 

• How strawberries come to fruition. (2017). Nature, 549(7672), 311–311. https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-017-03413-5