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Forest Ecology 550 > Exam 1 > Flashcards

Exam 1 Flashcards

1
Q

Ecology

A

The study of the reciprocal relationship between organisms and the environment.

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2
Q

Ecosystem

A

The sum of interactions of plants, animals, and the environment.

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3
Q

Carl Ludwig Willdenouw

A

Pioneer plant geographer who noted that similar climates produce similar vegetation (physiognomy).

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4
Q

Physiognomy

A

The physical characteristics of vegetation, such as life form and canopy characteristics

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5
Q

F.H.A. von Humboldt

A

Student of Willdenouw. Last of the renaissance men.

Correlated vegetation to climate.

“In the great chain of causes and effects, no one factor should be viewed in isolation.”

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6
Q

Clinton H. Merriam

A

Developed concept of Life Zones (vegetation is correlated to sum degrees of warmth, especially growing season warmth)

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6
Q

Silviculture

A

The science and art of controlling forest establishment and growth.

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6
Q

What are all of the biomes on Earth?

A
  1. Desert
  2. Arctic and Alpine Tundra
  3. Grasslands
  4. Woodlands
  5. Boreal
  6. Temperate broad-leaved deciduous
  7. Temperate broad-leaved evergreen
  8. Temperate needle-leaved deciduous
  9. Temperate needle-leaved evergreen
  10. Tropical broad-leaved deciduous
  11. Tropical broad-leaved evergreen
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6
Q

What factors influence the classification of biomes?

A

Environmental factors (ex: temperature and moisture) and physiognomy (physical characteristics of the vegetation)

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7
Q

Desert

A

High temperatures

Extremely low precipitation

Dominated by C4 and CAM plants

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8
Q

Tundra (Arctic and Alpine)

A

AKA Cold deserts.

Shortest growing season (

Permafrost in arctic tundra soil

Strong soil freeze-thaw process

ALPINE in high elevation

ARCTIC in high latitude

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9
Q

Grasslands

A

Very fertile ► agriculture/heavy human impact

black soil = RICH + FERTILE due to lots of root turnover

height/stature of grassland dictated by precipitation

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10
Q

Woodlands

A

Inconsistent definitions, mostly a transition from GRASSLANDS to FOREST

Can be deciduous or evergreen

Very fire prone

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11
Q

Boreal Forests

A

Latitude > 50

30-120 days > 10 C

SECOND LARGEST forest biome in the world

ground cover dominated by bryophytes

low canopy diversity

open canopy with individual conical crown

wildfire dominated

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12
Q

Temeperate Broadleaf Deciduous Forests

A

Mostly in N hemisphere

Nitrogen limited

very diverse

Ex: Riparian forests in S USA (pneumatophores in anaerobic soils)

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13
Q

Temperate Broadleaf Evergreen Forests

A

Two major subgroups: Schlerophylls (Mediterranean, Asia)

Rainforests (NZ, Chile, Australia)

Heavily logged

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14
Q

Temperate Needle-Leaf Evergreen Forests

A

Ex: CA Redwood

Very conical trees

Management issues: Logging, Fire, and Drainage

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15
Q

Tropical Broad-Leaf Deciduous Forests

A

Drier, has undergone greatest deforestation

Lower biodiversity than Tropical Broadleaf Evergreen

Deciduous to avoid drought (Ann. Prec. < 1500 mm)

Has complex symbioses

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16
Q

Tropical Broadleaf Evergreen Forests

A

LARGEST forest biome of the world

HIGH Biodiversity

Multi-storied

Undergoing greatest land use change

INFERTILE soils

Ann Prec. > 1500 mm

Deforestation from: Grazing, shifting agriculture, and charcoal

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17
Q

Primary Tree Growth

A

Vertical

Roots and Shoots

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18
Q

Secondary Tree Growth

A

Lateral Growth

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19
Q

Excurrent Tree Form

A

Terminal shoot exerts apical dominance over lateral shoots.

Leads to conical shaped trees

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20
Q

Decurrent Tree Form

A

Terminal shoot does NOT exert apical dominance

Leads to top-heavy/bushy trees

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21
Q

How does tree form indicate adaptations to an environment?

A

Excurrent is best at shedding snow/ice and absorbing low-angle/diffuse light

Decurrent absorbs more direct sunlight and hence is more adapted to relevant environments

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22
Q

Explain the structure of a tree stem: Cambium, Xylem (Sapwood and heartwood), Phloem, and Bark

A
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23
Q

What is the difference between sapwood and heartwood?

A

Sapwood: Alive, outer, conducts food and water

Heartwood: Dead, structural support

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24
Q

Explain the Pipe Theory Model

A

Higher leaf area is correlated with higher amts of sapwood.

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25
Q

Tracheids vs. Vessels

A

Tracheids slower at conduction, but vessels more susceptible to cavitation and damage

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26
Q

When do plants usually begin secondary growth?

A

After fine root production

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27
Q

What types of trees can we use ring-aging for?

A

Temperate trees.

Can NOT use it for tropical trees, esp when false rings are made due to wet and dry seasons

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28
Q

What are the differences between SUN leaves and SHADE leaves?

A

Sun leaves are smaller for less dessication at top of tree where they get more light.

Shade leaves are larger to get more sunlight, less deeply lobed, and thinner with less stomata

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29
Q

Coarse Roots

A

Function: TREE ANCHORING and some nutrient storage

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30
Q

Fine roots

A

2-5 mm and smaller

Function: WATER AND NUTRIENT ABSORPTION

most occur in the upper 30 cm of soil

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31
Q

Pneumatophores

A

Root projections above ground thought to aid in O2 exchange

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32
Q

Buttress Roots

A

Aboveground exposed roots that allow trees to adapt to high water levels.

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33
Q

What are the two types of mycorrhizae and how do they differ?

A

ENDOmycorrhizae (most common): hyphae penetrate cortical cells (Ex: Maple, Poplar)

ECTOmycorrhizae: less common, but many important timber species. Form a mantle around the roots. (Ex: Pine, Oak)

BOTH help plants uptake water/nutrients

34
Q

What factors control Myborrhizae development?

A

Negatively related to nutrient and water availability

Positively related to photosynthate production

35
Q

How much of the sun’s incident radiation is UV?

A

~10%

Affected by Ozone abundance

36
Q

What wavelengths do plants use for photosynthesis?

A

PAR = 400-700 nm

Visible only

37
Q

What is one way pilots can measure deforestation?

A

Measuring the RED : INFRARED ratio. More red = less plants, since plants absorb red, but not far-red.

38
Q

What is LAI?

A

Leaf Area Index

AKA the proportion of leaf area per unit area of land

39
Q

What are the components of the energy budget?

A

S=R+C+G+LE+Ps

S= Solar radiation

R= Reflected solar radiation

C= Convection

G= conduction

LE= latent heat of vaporization

Ps=photosynthesis

40
Q

Albedo

A

Reflectivity of a material summed over all its wavelengths

41
Q

Bowen Ratio

A

Convection (C): (LE) Latent heat of vap.

Ecologists use it to characterize enviro conditions

42
Q

Beer-Lambert Law

A

Iz/Io = e^(-k * LAI)

or

ln(Iz/Io)=-(k)(LAI)

43
Q

How does the sunlight efficiency of plants compare to that of solar panels?

A

Plants only convert about 1% of incident sunlight into biomass, whereas solar panals convert about 20% or as much as 40% in some cases.

44
Q

Light Compensation Point

A

Amount of PAR where photosynthesis exactly counters respiration.

Net carbon balance = 0

45
Q

Light Saturation Point

A

Amount of PAR above which Ps will not increase any more

46
Q

How do plants sense day length?

A

Phytochrome far-red (Pfar-red) is activated from Pred upon incident red light. Pfar-red is the bio-active form.

47
Q

Homeotherms vs. Poikilotherms

A

HOMEO: maintains constant body temperature independent of the environment

POIKILO: doesn’t regulate body temp, depends on environment

48
Q

What factors influence variations in temperature?

A

Changes in Earth’s tilt and orbit

Latitude

Elevation - 4° for every 1000 m in elevation

Aspect

Proximity to water

Albedo

49
Q

Raunkiaer Life History Classification Scheme

A

Classifies life history of plants based on location of bud(s) to protect them from extreme temperatures.

50
Q

Phanerophytes

A

Buds higher than 25 cm

54
Q

Chaemophytes

A

Buds lower than 25 cm

55
Q

Hemi-Cryptophytes

A

Buds at soil surface

56
Q

Geophytes

A

Buds below the soil surface

57
Q

Therophytes

A

Complete their entire life cycle within the year

58
Q

How do cold temperatures affect plant growth and how have plants adapted?

A

COLD: decreased root membrane permeability

Frost cracks and heaving

Dessication

ADAPTATIONS: dormancy

thick bark

germ bud below ground

remove free water from bud

59
Q

How do hot temperatures affect plant growth and how have plants responded?

A

HOT: protein degradation

dehydration

excessive respiration

ADAPTATIONS: Deciduous leaf habit

Thick bark

small foliage

reflective leaf structures

leaf orientation

60
Q

Components of the Hydrologic Cycle

A

W = P-(R+S+E+T)

W=Δ water storage

P= Precipitation

R= Runoff

S= Subsurface drainage

E= evaporation

T= transpiration

61
Q

Orographic Precipitation

A

Pattern of Precipitation - Rain shadow effect on mountains

Windward side gets more precip than leeward

62
Q

Frontal Precipitation

A

Warm fronts - low intensity

Cold fronts - high intensity

63
Q

Convective Storms

A

THIRD pattern of precipitation

heating of air mass at earth’s surface.

Intense but brief

Can be part of a frontal system

64
Q

Hydrophytes

A

Plants that are tolerant of large amounts of water

65
Q

Mesophytes

A

Plants that tolerate moderate water

66
Q

Xerophytes

A

Plants that tolerate extremely low soil moisture

67
Q

What are the soil horizons and what do they consist of?

A

O = organic matter

A horizon = mineral soil, zone of ELuviation

E or AB = transition zone

B Horizon = zone of ILLuviation

68
Q

Where does Mor Soil occur?

A

Coniferous forests

69
Q

Where does Mull soil occur?

A

Hardwood forests

70
Q

Gelisols

A

Tundra soils with PERMAFROST

Slow decomposition

71
Q

Histisols

A

Organic soils -> Mucky and peat soils

72
Q

Spodosols

A

Acids from vegetation mix with metal oxides

CONIFEROUS FORESTS

73
Q

Andisols

A

High water-holding capacity

Fixes P -> not avail to plants

74
Q

Entisols

A

RECENT origin -> sandy with little color

75
Q

Inceptisols

A

Older than entisols, but still lacks features.

Occurs in Mountains

76
Q

Alfisols

A

MOST FERTILE

lower base saturation than MOLLISOLS

77
Q

Ultisols

A

Non-glaciated, hotter, wetter areas

ACIDIC and LEACHED

78
Q

Oxisols

A

MOST WEATHERED

tropical areas ONLY

LEAST fertile

79
Q

Vertisols

A

Clay-rich, swells a lot

80
Q

Aridisols

A

Dry most of the year

81
Q

Mollisols

A

Prairies and Grasslands

82
Q

What are the three components of water availability?

A
  1. Field Capacity: gravitational water in MACROpores
  2. Available water: capillary water in MICROpores
  3. Permanent WIlting Point: Hygroscopic water that is unavailable and stuck to soil particles
83
Q

What are natrual sources of soil acidity?

A

Organic Acids

Bicarbonate from root respiration and decomp

Nitrate from nitrification by chemoautotrophs

84
Q

How does pH affect plant growth?

A

Alters nutrient availability

Affects root membrane permeability

Decreases microbial diversity

85
Q

CEC

A

Cation Exchange Capacity: capacity of a soil to hold cations to the negative particle surface

CEC = equivalents per gram

86
Q

Factors that influence CEC

A

% organic matter

soil texture

clay type

pH

87
Q

Isomorphic substitution

A

the substitution of Al3+ for Si4+ in soil interlayers.

Governed by SIZE, not charge

88
Q

Base saturation

A

percentage of CEC that is occupied by exchangeable bases (Ca2+, Mg2+, K+, Na+) relative to ALL bases (add H+ and Al3+)

correlated with higher pH and soil fertility

Forest Ecology 550 (2 decks)

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