forest resources Flashcards
what is a climax community?
final stage of succession , remaining relatively unchanged until destroyed by an event such as fire or human interference.
what is the climate of :
deciduous forests
rainforests
deciduous - temperate maritime, mild and wet
rainforest - humid, no winter or summer, hot and wet all year
mind map 5 different resources a forest provides with examples.
TIMBER - wood is strong and long lasting good for building and furniture. rainforests provide mahogany, rosewood. deciduous provides oak and beach
FUEL - firewood is used to heat homes, cooking
MEDICINE - trees contain compounds, chemicals, components that can be extracted for medicine. willow trees provide aspirin which is used for pain relief
FOOD - food can be directly provided by the forest, also can be secondary producers as they may provide food for animals that we then eat
FIBRES - paper is made form flattened sheets of cellulose fibres from pulped woods. cotton made from fibres on cotton bush.
what is an ecosystem service?
forests provide a range of ecosystem services that influence the environment on local and global scales
ecosystem services
how do forests act as atmospheric regulators ?
- trees can drop their leaves, and the carbon within the leaf becomes part of the soil so more carbon in soil so trees contribute to soil stores
-trees release oxygen which is vital for formation of ozone layer and all aerobic beings to exist.
ecosystem services
how do forests regulate the hydro cycle?
- trees transpire (release water vapour from leaves) this is why rainforests are so wet because so many trees are transpiring. they create their own convectional rainfall. without this regions will be drier and risk drought.
- leaves will fall and eventually form hummus making soil better at retaining water improving water stores.
-leaves are vital for interception
ecosystem services
how do forests help with microclimates?
HUMIDITY - high humidity means animals such as amphibians can survive more easily as their skin doesn’t dry out
WIND VELOCITY - less wind due to shelter of tree canopy means plants use animals for pollination and seed dispersal rather than wind.
LIGHT - canopy absorbs most solar radiation.
absorbs most light (75-98%)
red and blue wavelengths are absorbed by plants chlorophyll . anything living on the forest floor must be tolerant to low light levels.
ecosystem services
how does the forest help with habitat and wildlife refuge?
-forests create very diverse habitats with a large variety of ecological niches
-trees also create a variation in light levels, light wavelengths, humidity, temp, wind velocity
ecosystem services
how does the forest help with soil conservation?
-plant litter prevents rain splash and wind blow so erosion rate is very low
-canopy reduces wind and rainfall reducing erosion
-tree roots help hold soil together
-hummus from decomposed vegetation binds soil
ecosystem services
how does the forest provide recreational uses
- camping
-fishing
-hunting
-walking,hiking,cycling
what is coppicing?
cutting trees to ground level on a cycle of 1 to 20 years depending on the use of the wood.
what is pollarding?
trees are cut above ground level so that the regrowing branches don’t get eaten by livestock.
Management methods
cultivation of non-indigenous species
-what is the problem with this?
-non indigenous species may not be able to support the native insects and mammals .
-they may not be adapted to that kind of climate and not be able to flower at all or at the right time to benefit insects.
Management methods
cultivation of non indigenous species
provide examples of non indigenous plantation
UK- Douglas fir (originally from south America)
central America- teak (originally from Asia)
east Africa- eucalyptus (originally from Australia)
Management methods
single species plantation
positives and negatives of single species plantation
-productivity is higher in singe species plantations as trees are densely grown and lack competition.
-biodiversity is very low
-monocultures are very vulnerable to ecological collapse