The bishop pine community shares its upper canopy with other tree species, however they are considered "secondary members" and include California bay (Umbellularia californica), Pacific madrone (Arbutus menziesii), California buckeye (Aesculus californica), California wax myrtle (Myrica californica), tanbark oak (Lithocarpus densiflorus) and to a lesser degree coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia) (Bakker 1977; Evens 1993; Johnston 1994; Kricher 1993). Along the forest edge, bishop pine also mixes with the Douglas fir forest (Evens 1993; Shuford & Timossi), and gradually stages into coast live oak-California bay-madrone forest, northern coastal scrub, and coastal prairie and rangeland (Shuford and Timossi 1989).

Fauna

The upper canopy is home to an abundance of wildlife including dark-eyed juncos (Junco hyemalis), purple finches (Carpodacus purpureus), olive-sided flycatchers (Contopus borealis) and the notorious osprey (Pandion haliaetus) or "fish hawk" that nests in the crown of bishop pine trees. In summer, you can also hear the call of pygmy nuthatches (Sitta pygmaea), brown creepers (Certhia americana), bushtits (Psaltriparus minimus) and Swainson's thrush (Catharus ustulatus) (Johnston 1994; National Geographic 1983).