Glossary

Intact litter layers are the undisturbed accumulation of fallen leaves, needles, bark, twigs, and small woody debris that rest on the soil surface. In the Santa Cruz Mountains, these layers form the living skin of the forest floor.

When left intact, litter layers:

• Retain soil moisture through the long dry season
• Protect fungal networks and soil life
• Moderate soil temperature during both heat and cold
• Reduce erosion during winter rains by cushioning and slowing runoff

These layers are not debris. They are active habitat — supporting overwintering insects, decomposers, amphibians, and the microbial communities that cycle nutrients and stabilize soil. Removing them too early or too completely interrupts ecological processes that build upward through the trophic structure.

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