Discovering Alabama

Teacher’s Guide

Longleaf Pine & Longleaf Ecosystem Suggested Curriculum Areas Synopsis Science Geography he longleaf pine forest was once dominant across much of the Social Studies T South, including most of the southern half of Alabama. Today, there Ecology exists only a small remnant of this native forest ecosystem. The two video programs Longleaf Pine Forest and Longleaf Ecosystem present the story of this remarkable part of Alabama’s natural heritage and Suggested Grade Levels explore prospects for the recovery of this beautiful and valuable forest. 4 –12 Longleaf Pine Forest describes the unique aspects of the tree, particularly its tolerance for fire, which has helped establish this species as dominant in the lower south. The program also looks at the history Key Concepts of the longleaf forest, its popularity, decline, and recent conservation Symbiosis efforts to restore the forest to the southern landscape. Longleaf Ecosystem highlights the interdependent relationships Commensalism among various plants and animals associated with this ecosystem. Longleaf Pine Ecosystem Featured, for example, is the gopher tortoise whose burrows provide Forestry & Fire shelter for several other longleaf forest inhabitants. This video also Keystone Species follows a special field trip with teachers who join scientists to locate rare species that still survive in the longleaf pine ecosystem. Both Longleaf Pine Forest and Longleaf Ecosystem include footage Key Skills from Alabama’s Escambia Experimental Longleaf Forest, a nationally Research & Reference significant research project. Likewise, both videos underscore the role Classification of conservation efforts such as the Longleaf Alliance, an organization of landowners, foresters, and environmentalists working for the Communication restoration of the longleaf forest.

Discovering Alabama is a production of the Alabama Museum of Natural History in cooperation with Alabama Public Television. For a complete list of titles in the Discovering Alabama series, as well as for information about ordering videos and accompanying Teacher’s Guides, contact us at either: Discovering Alabama, Box 870340, Tuscaloosa AL 35487–0340; phone: 205–348–2036; fax: 205–348–4219; or email: [email protected]. Also visit our website: www.discoveringalabama.org. This program was produced with support from the following organizations:

Printed on recycled paper #29, #30 Longleaf Pine & Longleaf Ecosystem © Doug Phillips, 1999 Before Viewing After Viewing 3. Are gopher tortoises the 1. Obviously, Alabama has lots 1. Compare the students’ same as box turtles? Using of pine trees, and for many thoughts and concerns a dictionary or encyclopedia, look people, the different species of about fire before watching the up “polyphemus,” the last word pine look similar. However, of the video with their feelings after in the gopher tortoise’s scientific four or five common species of seeing the video. Discuss the name, Gopherus polyphemus. pine in Alabama, the longleaf is similarities and the differences. Who was he? What was another distinctive in a number of ways, 2. The videos explain that fire name for him, and most including having longer needles is beneficial to the longleaf. importantly, where did he live? (up to 18 inches) and much larger Does this mean that all wildfires cones (several times larger than are good? Under what circum- Philosophical Reflections other cones). Bring to class a stances can fire be bad even for sampling of needles and cones longleaf pines? Throughout much of our nation’s from longleaf and other pines. 3. Are there gopher frogs in history, there has been recurring Without identifying the types of your area? Ask the students debate between advocates of pines, have the students compare what would it take to have gopher conservation versus advocates of and discuss the differing needles frogs in your area? preservation. In this debate, and cones. Ask if anyone can recall “conservation” is often seen as the where they might have seen any practice of managing natural of these types of pines and how Extensions resources to include active use, the landscape appeared in the 1. Read Joel Chandler Harris’s harvest, and commercial profit in general vicinity. story about Brer Fox and the meeting the material needs of 2. Conduct a brief brainstorm- tar-baby in Uncle Remus and His society. On the other hand, “pre- ing session to generate a list Friends (1892). The tar-baby is servation” is often seen as of students’ thoughts and made out of pine tar, a thick, black, restricting human and material concerns about the effects of fire sticky product made from longleaf uses of special natural features so in the forest. Again, this should be pine sap. The story tells as to protect nature for the sake of done without any advance something mighty important nature. What are some things that discussion. Our aim here is to about pine tar. Where is pine tar you feel need strict preservation? obtain the students’ spontaneous used today? (Hint: It has to do Are there things that would still views. Explain that the video(s) is with baseball, see below.) flourish if simply conserved about one of the pines examined 2. Why is the longleaf pine instead? in class and how fire affects this such a valuable species? Its With regard to Alabama’s particular pine. use for lumber is obvious, but forests, can we have our cake and what are “naval stores?” What is eat it, too? Can we have plentiful While Viewing turpentine? Pitch and tar? Resin timber products and also save Encourage the students to see if and rosin? The uses for these endangered species? What is the their earlier observations and materials have almost vanished proper balance between our thoughts are in agreement with from our daily lives, but we still increasing demand for material the facts presented in the video(s). use large amounts of similar goods and our responsibility to Video Mystery Question: When materials. Who might still use nature? Is this balance realistic? If walking in a longleaf forest, you turpentine, and for what? What the scale tilts either in one must look down rather than up to longleaf pine product does a direction or the other, what might fully appreciate the longleaf pitcher put on his hands to throw the consequences be? ecosystem. Why? (Answer: The a baseball (and we don’t mean diversity of the longleaf forest can spit!)? The black surface on roads be best observed by noting the and roofs is still called tar, but it is variety of plants and animals that really asphalt. Where does asphalt thrive on or under the ground come from? beneath the longleaf canopy.)

Discovering Alabama Nature in Art trees. Make a collection of needles and In the telephone book: Alabama Forestry So useful was the longleaf pine cones for classroom display. Commission: look under “Alabama, State and so pervasive in the South 2. Contact several of your local of, Forestry Commission, County were its products that it forestry and conservation Forester’s Office; United States Forest continually appears in southern agencies. Invite them to come and Service: look under “US Government,” song and story, as well as in arts speak to your class and to recommend then USDA or USFS, or call Montgomery an interesting pine forest to visit. and crafts. at 334-241-8125; for your County Agent: 3. What kinds of pine trees are look under the county listings and see Pine Needle Baskets: An naturally predominant in your Alabama Cooperative Extension System. unusual use of longleaf pine is in area? Work with local forestry agencies the making of baskets. The long, to get seedlings and learn how to help cinnamon-colored needles are them grow. Plant a selection of coiled and woven into extremely Alabama pine species on school or Parting Thoughts attractive, small baskets. Excellent community property. Today’s Alabamians will never encounter examples can be seen at Alabama vast stretches of longleaf pine forest such craft shows and festivals. Complementary Aids as existed at the time of Alabama’s settlement. However, many worthy Heart Pine & Lighter Wood: and Activities Considering how resistant the efforts—the Longleaf Alliance among longleaf pine is to fire, it is To acquire an “Adopt-a-Forest them—are seeking the restoration of longleaf forests in our state. amazing how flammable the Curriculum Guide” or information about the program, contact the Ranger Meanwhile, perhaps the overarching rosin-saturated inner wood is. issue for Alabama forestlands is a Slivers of the inner wood, called Station, Conecuh National Forest, Route 5, Box 157, Andalusia AL 36420; different question altogether. Modern heart pine, burn like a match, 334-222-2555. society continues to rapidly expand and sometimes sputtering flaming urbanize, and the momentum of such droplets of burning pitch. Explore forest change using the US growth will change our region and our Heart pine “lighter wood” has Geological Survey topographic maps state. What problems does this pose for long been used in the south for along with “Map Adventures” or the long-term future of Alabama starting fires, even in wet weather. “What Do Maps Show?” Write the forestlands? Will our forestlands remain The builders of log cabins in the Geological Survey of Alabama, abundant, or will they become like those in other states—fragmented, isolated, deep South often used longleaf Publication Sales Office, P.O. Box O, Tuscaloosa AL 35486; 205-349-2852. and diminished in size by “growth,” heart pine logs for the lower tiers. “corridors,” and “infrastructure?” If we Not only is heart pine resistant to To receive information on the Plan•It3 lose our abundant forestlands, we will decay, it is also termite proof. interactive CD-ROM, the curriculum have lost more than the opportunity to Pine Knots: When longleaf for forestry education (grades 6-9), or restore the longleaf. We will have lost the pines (and to a lesser extent other the video “Southern Forest . . . Southern heart of our natural heritage and a key pine species) die, the knots where Heritage,” write P.O. Box 70424, aspect that helps set us apart from other the limbs join the tree are so Montgomery AL 36107; 800-566-4645. states. saturated with rosin that they Oh yeah, I almost forgot. Conversion won’t rot. As the rest of the tree of forestlands to longleaf can also present Additional References issues of public concern, not the least of decays, numerous pine knots are which is the fact that such conversions scattered over the forest floor. and Resources often begin with extensive clear-cutting These are often very attractive in Longleaf Pine—A History of Man and of existing forest stands. If you wish to shape and are collected by people a Forest, US Forest Service, Forestry be involved in decisions about National to decorate their homes and Forest management, contact the US Report R8-FR7 (1987). patios. Many pine knots are so Forest Service office in your area or the dense, they do not float. state headquarters in Montgomery (see Treasures of the Longleaf Pines — Naval Additional References & Resources). Community Connections Stores by Carroll Butler. Tarkel Publishing, P.O. Box 45, Shalimar FL Happy outings, 1. Conduct a field trip around the 32579. A detailed reference on school grounds or local turpentining. community to observe, measure, identify, and photograph local pine

Discovering Alabama fires for millions of years. These low- symbiotic species that live together temperature brush fires are sufficient with others but neither prey on nor to kill all the young trees and brush parasitize them are called commensal except the longleaf pines. After species. The most dramatic gopher several years as a very green, tortoise commensal is the eastern surprisingly fireproof seedling, the diamondback rattlesnake, the largest longleaf pine grows rapidly into a tall pit viper in North America and a slender tree that is above the reach of regular inhabitant of the tortoise’s most brush fires. However, if an area burrow. Discovering isn’t regularly burned, and large One species, the gopher frog, lives amounts of trees and brush are only in the burrows of gopher allowed to grow between fires, this tortoises, coming out to breed in the Alabama additional growth fuels very hot fires temporary spring pools of the pine and everything, including the forest. Activity/Information Sheet longleaf pine, is killed. Regular burning with relatively low- The Gopher Tortoise Longleaf Pine & temperature fires is the key to Gopher tortoises (Gopherus Longleaf Ecosystem preserving the longleaf pine eco- polyphemus) were once abundant in system. the Alabama coastal plain. Its heavy, Keystone Species: A keystone shovel-like feet are especially species is one that allows the survival adapted for burrowing. These large— The longleaf pine ecosystem is not of many other species. In this case, the up to 18-inches long—tortoises, complicated, but there are several as- longleaf pine is the main keystone should not to be confused with box pects about it which must be under- species. Its shade allows the growth turtles. The gopher tortoises are veg- stood. For example, in the sandy soils of many plants that cannot grow in etarians and forage for food in the of the Southeast, regular forest fires full sun, and its needles mulch and open areas under the longleaf pine will kill all trees except the longleaf fertilize the soil after fires. Animals, canopy. Natural wildfires, mostly pine. Any plants or animals that live like the endangered red-cockaded caused by lightning, keep the there must be specially adapted to woodpecker, live in longleaf pines. longleaf ecosystem open and healthy quickly recover from these fires. Over An even more dramatic keystone by periodically killing the heavy un- time, a special community of plants species is the gopher tortoise. The derbrush. Gopher tortoises love the and animals adapted to these condi- gopher tortoise is a soccer-ball sized open shade of the longleaf pine for- tions so well that, at one time, around tortoise that digs large burrows into ests and share their cool, protective 90 million acres of the Southeast were the sandy soil. These burrows—yards hiding places with a whole commu- covered with the longleaf pine eco- deep and as much as 30 feet long— nity of specially adapted species, in- system. After many years of cutting are cool and damp, and they provide cluding dusky gopher frogs, indigo and abuse, this beautiful and useful daily shelter for the tortoise and snakes, diamondback rattlesnakes, landscape is now less than 3 million literally dozens of other species. and bobwhite quail. More than thirty acres and many of the unique plants When wildfires occur, the burrows species of vertebrate animals are and animals are endangered. But become crowded as animals take known to occasionally share gopher thoughtful conservationists realize shelter. The fire quickly passes, and tortoise burrows. that if preserved, longleaf pine eco- within weeks, rain has aided in the Yet many of these species are in systems will produce economically recovery of plant life. Life slowly trouble today. Farming and timbering valuable sources of timber, will pro- returns to normal. have greatly reduced the number of tect rare species, and will add greatly Symbiotic and Commensal acres of longleaf forest. Also, to the quality of life in the South. Species: Symbiotic species are those traditional timber practices have Fire: The key to understanding that live closely together. Those concentrated on preventing the very the longleaf pine ecosystem involves fires that keep longleaf stands understanding the effects of fire on healthy. Gopher tortoises have the landscape. The southeastern greatly reduced in numbers, and United States receives more than 60 hence the animals that rely on their inches of rain a year. A great deal of burrows have also declined. this rain is produced by lightning- producing thunderstorms. In some areas, notably those with sandy soils, the combination of dry soils and lightning have produced frequent