Other Life Forms

Plants and animals make up only part of Whiskeytown's biodiversity. Other life forms such as fungi, lichens, algae, bacteria, and slime molds can also play large roles in the park's ecosystems. However, these organisms are not well documented or fully understood in most areas. Through partnerships with universities and non-profit groups, Whiskeytown's staff is working to increase our knowledge of these diverse and important groups.

 

Turkey tail fungus growing on a tree.

Fungi

Mushrooms
Whiskeytown is home to a wide variety of mushroom species, but a complete inventory has not yet been conducted. With the help of Dr. Susan Libonati-Barnes and her students from Shasta College, park staff and visitors are learning much more about these essential members of the park's forest communities.

Tree Diseases and Decay Fungi
Native tree diseases and decay fungi are common in Whiskeytown. In 2005, Dr. Robert Mathiasen of Northern Arizona University conducted an extensive inventory of root, rust, and foliage diseases; blights; stem decays; mistletoes; and bacterial tree diseases as part of the Sabbatical in the Parks program. This inventory documented 21 native and 2 non-native disease species in the park.

 

Lichen

Lichens are not a single organism like most life forms we generally see. They are actually alliances between two very different organisms: fungi and algae. Lichens can be found throughout Whiskeytown growing on boulders, trees, and decomposed granite soils. While a complete inventory of lichens in the park has never been conducted, a preliminary survey was undertaken in 2003 by the California Lichen Society. This two day survey documented 22 lichen species in the park and was a great first step to gaining a more complete understanding of these little-known organisms.

 

Moss growing on tree.

Bryophytes

Mosses, liverworts, and hornworts (collectively called bryophytes) are non-vascular plants and do not produce seeds or flowers. Mosses can be seen in many wet areas of the park growing on trees, rocks, and the ground. In 2003 the Bryolab at University of California Berkeley came to Whiskeytown to inventory bryophytes and educate graduate students in conducting field inventory research. During this weekend trip, more than 150 readily identified species were found in the park.