{"id":649,"date":"2025-06-10T17:28:40","date_gmt":"2025-06-10T17:28:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uwb.edu\/cosee\/?page_id=649"},"modified":"2025-06-26T19:20:13","modified_gmt":"2025-06-26T19:20:13","slug":"the-forest-community","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.uwb.edu\/cosee\/the-forest-community\/","title":{"rendered":"The Forest Community"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The forests at Denny Creek connect to Big Finn Hill Park and Saint Edward State Park, providing a place for a surprising variety of plants and animals to live here alongside us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Satisfy your curiosity here! Follow your interests by exploring videos, photos, and writing all about the topics on each sign. Looking for a different page? Click here to explore all topics!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

What’s on this page:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Plants, Fungi & Beyond<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Birds: The Soundtrack of the Forest<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Life in Streams<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
In the Shadows: Camera Traps and Hidden Animals<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

Plants, Fungi & Beyond<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Plants can do something most other life can\u2019t: photosynthesize! When plants photosynthesize, they gather energy from the sun, water, and CO2 to grow. For a quick overview, check out \u201cWhat is Photosynthesis?<\/a>\u201d Some plants, like our Red Alders, can even fertilize the soil while they grow by working with bacteria. When plants die, the energy and nutrients are released by fungi to fuel new young plants. Our mild, wet climate is perfect for plants and fungi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"
Alder Leaves photo from Ash Putzke.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"
Alder Bark photo (left) from Ash Putzke, Alder root nodule photo (right) from Steven Perakis, USGS<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

Q:<\/strong> Can you find moss, ferns, fungi and trees all nearby?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

See some common species you might find in the image below and watch the 4-minute video from Washington\u2019s Working Forests to learn how to identify our most common trees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"
Clockwise from the upper left: Turkey Tail fungus, Western Redcedar, Sword Fern and Oregon Beaked Moss. Photo credit: Ash Putzke.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n\n
\n