Old Mine Tour: Nurse Logs

Fallen trees, called nurse logs, support the next generation of a forest.

NPS Photo

Quick Facts

Location:

Old Mine Trail

Amenities

1 listed

Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits

A short distance along the Old Mine Trail are several fallen logs covered in moss, lichen, and other plants. A tree is an essential contributor to the life cycle of a forest – not only when it is alive, but also after it has fallen to the ground. Resting upon the forest floor, a tree absorbs rain and holds it like a sponge, whereupon mosses and other plants can colonize. The dead tree, called a nurse log, provides water and nutrients for new growth. Young trees sprout on the log, competing for sun and enough space to grow roots that will eventually anchor in the ground. While supporting the growing trees, the log slowly deteriorates. Many types of fungi, often seen as mushrooms growing out of the wood, help break down the decomposing log. Ants, beetles, and other invertebrates tunnel through the moist wood and feed upon it. The decaying matter enriches the soil by recycling nutrients. A tree constantly contributes to the forest until nothing remains of the tree.

What can you see growing on the nurse logs along the Old Mine Trail? Can you count how many different species or types of plants there are?