Initial stage is replaced by invading sedges and grasses and in turn by
shrubs, including Labrador tea - Ledum groenlandicum, sweet gale - Myrica
gale, leather leaf - Chamaedaphne calyculata, alder - Alnus spp, and various
species of blueberry - Vaccinium spp. Tamarack, with a high tolerance for
cold, wet, highly acid and highly organic substrates, is the first tree
species to invade bogs. Surrounding the Great Lakes in both the U.S. and
Canada is the white pine-red pine association. Eastern white pine can be
considered an edaphic climax species or a sub-climax species of long duration
(300-500 years).
Jack pine, with its serotinous cone habit, is a prime example of a fire
species, commonly occurring in pure stands on recently burned areas. Jack
pine is replaced by white and red pine. Quaking aspen - Populus tremuloides,
and paper birch - Betula papyrifera, balsam poplar - Populus balsamifera,
are all short-lived, intolerant species which quickly invade the richer
or moister sites that have been denuded by fire or logging. Rains, snow
water and the runoff water collects in streams and small marshy areas. These
areas provide habitat for willows, aspens, beavers, birds and fishes.
The primary consumers include many kinds of grubs and beetles, ants and
other insects. Small rodents; mice, chipmunks, and squirrels. Omnivores
such as bears, racoons, and some of the birds eat plant products and also
insects, small animals, and fish. Small carnivores: owls, foxes, and weasels.
The wolves and the lynx are the large carnivores that prey on the deer and
on smaller animals. These form a level of Tertiary consumers.
The animals adapt to the climate by hibernating in the winter and living
off the land in the other three seasons.
The types of trees you can find in these three regions are broad leafed
deciduous trees and some of the evergreen species. The American Beech tree
grows in the southern and eastern parts of the United States. It grows in
deciduous forests all over Maine and northern Massachusetts. It grows best
in deep, rich, moist, well-drained soils.
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