This document provides an overview of the geology, plants, and animals found in South Lake Tahoe, California. It describes the dominant rock types as granite and quartz, and notes how the Sierra Nevada mountains were formed by tectonic collisions and volcanic activity. Key plant species mentioned are the snow plant and ponderosa pine. Animals that inhabit the area include raccoons and black bears. The document also briefly discusses how human activity has impacted the local environment.

1. SOUTH LAKE TAHOE
FIELD ASSIGNMENT
Summer 2012 GEL 103
Erin Escotto
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2. TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction of South Lake Tahoe
Rocks: Granite & Quartz
Plants: Snow Plant & Ponderosa Pine
Animals: Raccoon & Black Bear
Mans footprint left behind
Closing
Resources
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3. THE ROCKS, MINERALS, FOSSIL RECORDS NATURAL
HISTORY AND WILDLIFE HABITATS ARE BUT AN
OVERVIEW TO MILLIONS OF YEARS OF GEOLOGIC
DATA THAT RELATES TO THE TAHOE BASIN AND THE
FORMATION OF THE SIERRA NEVADA MOUNTAINS.
LOCATED ON THE CALIFORNIA-NEVADA BORDER,
LAKE TAHOE IS THE SECOND LARGEST ALPINE LAKE
IN THE WORLD. AT AN ELEVATION OF 6,229 FEET THE
WATER IS CLEAR AND BLUE AND HOST TO A HUGE
VARIETY OF PLANT AND ANIMAL LIFE. AS MASSIVE
TECTONIC COLLISIONS OCCURRED THE LANDMASS
KNOWN TODAY AS CALIFORNIA WAS FORMED.
ABOUT 170 MILLION YEARS AGO THE SEA FLOOR ROSE
TO CREATE MOUNTAINS AND MOUNTAINS FELL INTO
THE SEA. VOLCANIC ACTIVITY ALSO HELPED IN THE
CREATION OF THE SIERRA NEVADA MOUNTAINS AND
THE LAKE TAHOE BASIN.
Photo of South Lake Tahoe shot from Keller loop road
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4. ROCKS:
GRANITE
Granite is an intrusive
igneous rock. The speckled
appearance is due to large
crystals. This is the most
common type of rock found
in the Lake Tahoe Basin.
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5. ROCKS:
QUARTZ
Quartz is also abundant in
this area and is
characterized by six-sided
crystals that form in a
variety of colors.
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6. PLANT COMMUNITIES ARE THE DEFINING FACTOR WHEN
DISCUSSING VARIOUS NATURAL HABITATS. ANIMAL LIFE IS
DEPENDENT ON PLANTS FOR SURVIVAL. WATER AND SOIL WILL
DETERMINE THE TYPE AND AMOUNT OF PLANT LIFE.
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7. PLANTS:
SNOW PLANT
The snow plant is a common sight in this area, and interesting because of its lack of
chlorophyll. This plant relies on soil fungi to survive. It is mycotroshic in nature and its
reddish color stems from this fact.
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8. PLANTS:
PONDEROSA PINE
The Ponderosa pine have long needles and sharp points on
the end of their large cones. This safety feature is built in
to allow for the survival of their seeds and future trees.
This type of pine, along with the Jeffrey pine are common
in the dry mountain forrest of the Sierras.
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9. Animals:
Raccoon
The raccoon is also very common in these lower mountain areas. It has adapped to the ever increasing population of man and its omnivorous
feeding habits are well suited to frequent rubbish bin raids. The forests and scrub area found close to water are its natural habitat, but they are
quite comfortable in an urban siting as well.
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10. Animals:
Black Bear
The Black Bear is the only surviving
bear species left in California. This long
haired bear ranges in color from black
to blond and often times has a white
patch on their head or chest. This large
animal is primarily a vegetarian but also
enjoys fish and some small mammals.
They are strong climbers and swimmers
and live mostly in forests and close to
rivers and streams. The black bear does
not hibernate and can be seen foraging
in trash bins throughout the day and
night all through the year. Tahoe Basin
Locals.
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11. Our footprint
Burn it all
White mans contribution
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12. CHANGING WEATHER PATTERNS HAVE A DRAMATIC EFFECT ON PLANT LIFE. RAIN FALL AND THE
RICHNESS OF THE SOIL DETERMINE THE AMOUNT AND TYPE OF PLANT LIFE. THIS IN TURN WILL
DETERMINE THE NUMBER AND TYPE OF ANIMAL SPECIES. AS WEATHER AND CLIMATIC PATTERNS CHANGE
SO DO THE ANIMAL HABITATS. LIFE ON EARTH WILL CONTINUE TO EVOLVE AS THE PLANET AGES.
Changing
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13. RESOURCES
Escotto, Erin M. 2012. Photos. South Lake Tahoe.
Lyon, James, Tony Wheeler, Marisa Gierlich, Nancy Keller,
and John Gottberg. California & Nevada. Hawthorn: Lonely
Planet Publications, 1996. N. pag. Print.
Richard, Bryan. A field guide to the wildlife of north
america. N.p.: Atlantic Publishing, 2009. N. pag. Print.
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