A small amount of nitrogen can be naturally fixed when lightning form above strikes and provides the energy needed for N2 compound to react with oxygen, producing nitrogen oxide. This nitrogen formula then enter soils through rain or snow. Most nitrogen fixation occurs naturally, in the soil, by bacteria. Some bacteria attach to plant roots and have a symbiotic relationship with the plant. The bacteria get energy through photosynthesis and, in return, they fix nitrogen into a form the plant needs to build healthy tissue. Alder tolerates a wide variety of soil textures and pH but is most commonly grows in moist soils but is well-adapted to cold, "heavy" soils, thinleaf alder is an indicator of productive sites and common in many riparian shrub-lands. 

Leaves alternate; simple; ovate-oblong; 2" to 4" long; deciduous; sometimes slightly lobed; doubly serrate; thin; glabrous; dark green above, pale yellow-green beneath; petiole short. Alder wood in general is light and soft, white to pinkish color, and unnoticeable heartwood; often used in furniture, veneer, and carvings. Because it is evenly textured wood that has a strong reputation for being an excellent wood for machining, Alder wood can be nailed without splitting and long lasting hardness. Its grain is better than cherry and makes for a nice finish. 

The next time you are outside see if you can identify an alder, take time and thank it for it's good nitrogen fixing job! 

Whether they’re upright or toppled, dead trees continue to play a role in the cycle of life in the ecosystems in which they’re situated. It’s estimated that up to two thirds of all wildlife species rely on downed trees for some aspect of their life cycle. The decaying surface of a snag acts as a growth substrate for many species of fungus, moss, and lichen. Moths, worms, beetles, and snails use spaces under the bark as shelter or a place for foraging. Birds enjoy these hotspots of small invertebrates as a reliable source for food. Primary cavity nesters, such as woodpeckers, prefer the softwood of snags for nesting and secondary cavity nesters use these abandoned holes for their own nests in the next season. These cavities also serve as dens and food storage for small mammals, like squirrels or even bats. 

In addition to their benefit as a primary resource for living creatures, dead trees contribute to the cycle of life by cycling nutrients back into the soil. Decomposers, like fungi and snails, help break down the snags as they decay. As the organic matter breaks down into its component parts, it releases nutrients such as nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus into the soil that go on to nourish plants and other organisms in the ecosystem, including saplings. In effect, these dead trees act as mulch for a growing forest.

Dead trees also continue to play an essential part in helping us fight climate change. Even after a tree dies, the carbon dioxide absorbed while it was living remains trapped in its wood. Dead wood accounts for up to 50% of the carbon currently stored in forests. Their slow, natural decay means this carbon will remain sequestered for years, cycling through the ecosystem at a manageable pace and ensuring the ecosystem remains stable.

While we’re certainly not going to be going out to the forest to create more snags (planting new trees is more fun and makes way more sense), we feel it’s important to take a moment to appreciate the beauty of trees in all stages of their life. As little saplings, as towering giants, and as eroding snags, trees play an incredible role in our ecosystem.

Want to help us create a strong ecosystem? Join us at our tree planting events this Fall! 

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