Forest & Trees Flashcards
simple
one leaf on the petiole
compound
more than one blade on petiole
double compound
there is a main petiole with several other petioles with multiple leaves on the secondary petioles
needle
look like needles - usually on coniferous
what are the four types of leaves
simple, compound, double compound, needle
how many different shapes of leaves
ten: linear, oblong, oval, ovate, cordate, lobed, deltoid, orbicular, 4 sided needle, flattened needle
leaf margin
outside of the leaf: smooth, fine-toothed, coarse toothed or serrated, scalloped or wavy
leaf arrangements
how they are arranged on the petiole
What are the 4 types of leaf arrangements?
opposite, alternate, whorl, basal
What are the 5 types of needle arrangements?
bundles of 2, bundles of 5, singly on a twig, scale like, clusters of more than 5
what traits are coniferous
leaves fall continuously, can withstand temperature extremes, waxy coating to prevent water loss, needle leaves, cones
what traits are deciduous
shed leaves in fall, cannot withstand temp. extremes, leave are waxy on top, large surface area underneath, causes water loss, needles or broadleaf, flowers
what traits are both coniferous and deciduous
leaves, nutrient cycle, oxygen cycle, need water
what are ideal conditions for trees to grow and forests to thrive
plenty of water, appropriate amount of sun, lots of decomposers, nutrient rich soil, CO2, lots of space, not a large threat of natural disaster, no harsh winds
Which forest uses are harmful?
human: over harvesting, clear cutting, slash and burn,
Which forest uses are helpful?
animal habitats, research, learning centres
How can you tell how old a tree is?
counting its rings
How can you tell from a tree cookie if the tree grew on a slope?
the rings will be closer together on one side of the cookie that was slanted upwards
How can you tell from a tree cookie if the tree survived natural disasters?
there will be scars in the rings from infestation, dead branches, fires
How can you tell from a tree cookie if the tree had obstacles such as high wind, objects obstructing its growth?
rings will be wider on one side or the other
How can you tell from a tree cookie if the tree grew in ideal conditions?
thick rings, equal on all sides
What is a producer and its role in the nutrient cycle?
producers are able to produce their own food i.e. plants
nutrients travel up the trunk to leave - leaves use nutrients for photosynthesis to provide energy and food for the tree - leaves fall to the ground
What is a consumer and its role in the nutrient cycle?
consumers are not able to produce their own food, rely on producers or other sources for food i.e. deer, fox
leaves fall to ground, herbivore/omnivore will eat leaves and fruit from both the tree and/or ground
usually eaten by another consumer, or die and decompose
feces from a consumer can provide nutrients for soil as they decompose
What is a decomposer and its role in the nutrient cycle?
decomposers are small creatures that are neither consumer or producer and rely on the consumer or producer for their food
they break down dead plants and animals and return the nutrients to the soil for the cycle to begin again
What is the impact of development on a forests health?
pollution from factories, vehicles is harmful to the health of the forest, building reduces the amount of space for forests, more logging for goods, spread of insects and disease
What is the impact of economic factors on a forests health?
the better the economy - more building, more logging
Why are trees and forests important?
clean the ecosystem, provide important resources, historic landmarks, provide fertilizer and nutrients for soil, wood and /or raw materials, turn CO2 into O2, filter pollutants, habitat for living things, provide food i.e. fruit, veggies, nuts, syrup, seeds, absorb water to prevent erosion
Parts of a tree
outer: crown, trunk, roots, outer bark
bark: outer - suit of armour, inner bark phloem - food suply line, cambium - growing tissue, sapwood/xylum - water and nutrient line, heartwood - supports the tree
What is the provincial tree of Alberta?
Lodgepole pine
What is abiotic?
nonliving components of the environment i.e rock
fire, flood
What is biotic?
living components i.e. insects, squirrels
The oxygen cycle
photosynthesis - light putting together
produce their own food
CO2 from air, water/minerals from ground
energy from the sun is trapped by the chlorophyll
used to combine CO2, water to from sugar
sugar converted to starches
process provides food for plants, return O2 to atmosphere
What are the levels of the forest?
canopy - tree tops/birds
understory - tall bushes, small trees, squirrels
shrubbery - shrubs, deer
forest floor - saplings, insects
