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Environmental science > Forest resources > Flashcards

Forest resources Flashcards

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1
Q

name the 3 types of forests and their biodiversity

A
  • deciduous (High biodiversity)
  • coniferous (low biodiversity)
  • tropical rainforests (highest biodiversity)
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2
Q

what does LEDCs and MEDCs stand for?

A 
LEDCs = least economically developed countries 
MEDCs= most economically developed countries
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3
Q

name the 6 resources gained from forests

A
  1. timber
  2. fuel
  3. food
  4. fibres
  5. medicines
  6. genetic resources
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4
Q

why is timber and fuel important resources? and why are they being overexploited?

A
  • as pop. increases, increased demand for timber

fuel = burning wood biggest provider of energy for cooking, mainly in LEDCs

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5
Q

why is food important resources? give examples and why are they being overexploited?

A

i.e. trees fodder for livestock, Nuts/fruits for humans. Bushmeat in LEDCs.
- Many plant species from forests i.e. cacao/bananas
+ forests could provide new, future food resources

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6
Q

why is medicines (examples) important resources? give an example and why are they are being overexploited?

A
  • some still extracted from trees.
  • forests not been researched for medicinal properties.
    i. e. Aspirin came from willow bark
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7
Q

name the 5 ecosystem services forests provide

A
  1. atmospheric regulation
  2. regulation of hydrological cycle
  3. habitat/wildlife refuge
  4. soil conservation
  5. climate regulation
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8
Q

explain the 3 ways how forests help to regulate atmosphere

A
  1. reservoirs of C: carbon sequestration (store in cellulose) and photo. takes in C
  2. Photo: produces O2 = respiration + maintenance of O3 layer
  3. These processes increase C in biomass reservoir = less C in atmo.
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9
Q

explain the 3 ways how forests help to regulate hydrological cycle

A
  1. transpiration greater in forests: increase evap. more H2O in atmo.= increase rain
  2. interception: increase evap. decrease infiltration
  3. leaf litter/deeper soils: increase infiltration (delayed runoff = river levels fluctuate less + aquifer recharge)
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10
Q

explain how forests provide habitat and wildlife refuge

A
  1. biodiverse terrestrial ecosystems: different varieties of trees/stratification = different ecological niches
  2. high primary productivity: lots of energy (support higher trophic levels)
  3. trees create variations in abiotic factors i.e. temp/light levels + humidity/wind velocity
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11
Q

explain the 3 ways how forests aid soil conservation

A
  1. DOM: humus + nutrients/food for biota. (Humus = binds soil)
  2. trees/vegetation: increase interception = reduce splash erosion + windbreaks = less wind erosion
  3. soil biota: aerate soil = increase O2 for aerobic processes + increased infiltration = less runoff/erosion
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12
Q

explain how forests regulate global climate

A
  • Decrease temp: photo+ carbon sequestration

- Less IR being absorbed

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13
Q

name at least 4 out of the 6 factors that influence choice of species for forest plantations

A
  1. growth rates
  2. resistance to pests/disease
  3. demand for particular products
  4. ability to grow in certain soils
  5. ability survive in climate conditions
  6. properties of wood
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14
Q

differences between the abiotic and biotic factors in a plantation and a natural forest

A

abiotic: plantation lower light levels (denser canopy), less wind velocity
biotic: plantation less varieties of trees and more uniform = less ecological niches. pest outbreaks have higher impact

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15
Q

name the 4 forestry practices that increase productivity

A
  1. growth of non-indigenous species
  2. close planting
  3. monoculture
  4. simple age structure
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16
Q

explain how the growth of non-indigenous species increases productivity (2) Include examples

A

+ species better adapted to environmental conditions
+ less likely suffer damage from local pests/diseases
= eucalyptus to East Africa (originally from Australia)

17
Q

explain why monoculture increases productivity + impact on biodiversity

A

+ management of plantation easier
+ activities i.e. planting/felling carried out at same time
- decreases microhabitats/ecological niches = less biodiverse

18
Q

explain why close planting increases productivity (2)

A

+ trees compete for light so grow tall/straight (more marketable)
+ suppresses growth of weeds

19
Q

explain why a simple age structure increases productivity + impact on biodiversity

A

+ trees of similar sizes = similar tree management at same time so easier management
- reduction in abiotic factors
+ trees felled when income at greatest and growth rates slow
- less dead wood = less DOM, less nutrients for plants, they die

20
Q

how does mixed species plantations increase sustainable management? (3)

A
  • increase variety of resources for other species i.e. food/habitats etc.
  • increase range of interspecies relationships + niches
  • increase biodiversity
21
Q

what are the drawbacks of mixed species plantations? (2)

A
  • less useful if there is a specific product that is in demand
  • less commercially viable
22
Q

how does the use of indigenous species increase sustainable management? (2)

A
  • trees suited to local climate

- resources for indigenous species/interspecies relationships

23
Q

what are the drawbacks for use of indigenous species? (3)

A
  • less suited to local fungi/disease
  • may not grow as fast
  • produce less desirable wood
24
Q

how does mixed age structure increase sustainable management?(3)

A
  • range of microhabitats/niches = increase biodiversity
  • no need to harvest at same time (not all be mature) = minimises wildlife disturbance + soil erosion
  • range of abiotic factors present i.e. light, temp etc.
25
Q

how does selective logging increase sustainable management? (5 points)

A
  • certain species can be chosen i.e. if important to wildlife/sensitive areas left alone
  • useful for mixed species (mature at different times)
  • use narrow access pathways (horse drawn carts/heli -logging) = no need for heavy machinery
  • overall yield increased = each tree meets maturity instead of using clear felling method
  • less soil erosion = ground always has vegetation
26
Q

what are the drawbacks of selective logging? (2)

A
  • more labour intensive

- more overall time/effort

27
Q

name the 3 activities that are considered for clearance for alternative land uses

A
  • agriculture/cattle farming: as pop. increases so does demand for food = more land needed for crop/livestock
  • urbanisation: as pop. increases needs more housing
  • mineral extraction: mining/associated structure. Increased demand for metals/minerals
28
Q

how do the loss of forests have an impact on soil conservation? (4)

A
  • less DOM: less nutrients
  • less roots: less soil stability, increase erosion. Increase turbidity in waterways (anaerobic conditions)
  • less foliage: decrease interception = increase impact of raindrops. Also increase wind erosion
  • less soil biota: less aeration = less infiltration = more runoff. Less aerobic processes
29
Q

how do the loss of forests have an impact on hydrology? (3)

A
  • less evapotranspiration: less H2O in atmo. = less rain
  • less interception
  • increase runoff: increase risks of flooding = money needed for defences. Increase river level fluctuations
30
Q

the impact on climate regulation with loss of forests:

  1. less _________.
  2. Less carbon _________: increases CO2 in ________ = decreases carbon in _______ reservoir. increase _______ greenhouse effect
  3. less ______ being produced: ______ needed for ________ respiration. decrease in _____ layer = UVB and UVC may not be ______.
A
  1. photosynthesis
  2. sequestration, atmosphere, biomass, enhanced
  3. oxygen, oxygen, aerobic, ozone, absorbed
31
Q

how does the loss of forests impact biodiversity? (4)

A
  • decrease in biodiversity, decrease in niches/variety
  • loss of habitats/inter relationships: less seed dispersal, loss of food
  • less variations in abiotic factors
  • increased fragmentation: isolating groups of species and increased chance of inbreeding
32
Q

how does loss of forests change abiotic factors?

A
  1. increased wind velocity
  2. less humidity
  3. higher light intensity
  4. increased temp
33
Q

why are fibres important resources? give 2 examples of fibres and why are they being overexploited?

A

i.e. paper (flattened sheets of interwoven cellulose), cotton (fibres that surround seeds on cotton bush)
+ growing fashion/textile industries

34
Q

why genetic resources important resources? give examples and why are they are being overexploited?

A

CWR new genes = new characteristics for selective breeding.
+ increase demand/importance as biotech associated with agriculture improve crops due changes in climate
i.e. Cacao + CWR in amazon: drought resistant

35
Q

explain 3 ways how forests regulate a microclimate

A
  • Trees windbreaks: lower wind velocity = plants below canopy rely on animals for pollination/seed dispersal
  • high humidity from evapotranspiration = amphibians can survive
  • light levels: canopy absorbs solar insolation = plants living below less light adaptations i.e. additional pigments/denser chlorophyll
36
Q

explain how the growth of non-indigenous species impacts on biodiversity (2)

A
  • less likely to support indigenous species

- less interspecies relationships needed for: food/ pollination/dispersal not present

37
Q

explain how close planting impacts biodiversity

A
  • decrease light levels (inhibits growth of other plants)

- decrease in those plants and species that rely on them = reduce biodiversity

Environmental science (19 decks)

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