Forestry FC 1 Flashcards
all aged stand
All, or almost all, age classes of trees represented.
alleghany hardwood forest type
a portion of Maryland’s northern hardwood forest in which black cherry, white ash, and red oak are dominant species.
aspect
the compass direction toward which a slope faces
association
a collection of plants with ecologically similar requirements, including one or more dominant species from which the group derives a definite character.
tree basal area
the cross-sectional area of the trunk 4 1/2 feet above the ground; (per acre) the sum of the basal areas of the trees on an acre; used as a measure of forest density
biltmore stick
a tool calibrated to measure the diameter of a tree at breast height. Biltmore sticks are calibrated with different scales depending on the users’ arm length.
biodiversity
the variety of life in all its forms and all its levels of organization. Biodiversity refers to diversity of genetics, species, ecosystems, and landscapes.
blaze
to mark a tree, usually by painting or cutting the bark. Forest properties often are delineated by blazing trees along the boundary lines.
board foot
a unit for measuring wood volume in a tree, log, or board. A board foot is commonly 1 foot by 1 foot by 1 inch, but any shape containing 144 cubic inches of wood equals one board foot
bole
the trunk of a tree
breast height
41/2 feet above ground level.
browse
parts of woody plants, including twigs, shoots, and leaves, eaten by forest animals
buck
to cut trees into shorter lengths, such as logs or cordwood
butt log
a log cut from the bole immediately above the stump
caliper
a tool to measure the diameter of a tree
canopy
the continuous cover formed by tree crowns in a forest.
carrying capacity
the maximum number of individuals of a wildlife species that an area can support during the most unfavorable time of the year.
clearcut
the harvest of all the trees in an area. Clearcutting is used to aid species whose seedlings require full sunlight to grow well.
clinometer
an instrument used to determine the height of a tree.
codominant tree
a tree that extends its crown into the canopy and receives direct sunlight from above but limited sunlight from the sides. One or more sides of a codominant tree are crowded by the crowns of dominant trees.
commercial clearcut
a harvest cut that removes all merchantable timber from the area.
commercial forest land
any area capable of producing 20 cubic feet of timber per acre per year that has not been protected from such use by law or statute.
commercial treatments
timber stand improvements, such as thinning, that generate income from the sale of the trees removed.
community
A collection of living organisms thriving in an organized system through which water, energy, and nutrients cycle.
conifer
any tree that produces seeds in cones (all softwoods)
consulting forester
an independent professional who manages forests and markets forest products for private woodland owners. Consulting foresters do not have direct connections with firms that buy wood products, but are retained by woodland owners as their agents.
CES
Cooperative Extension Service - the educational arm of the USDA that links university research to people who can benefit from it
cord
a unit of wood cut for fuel that is equal to a stack 4 x 4 by 8 feet or 128 cubic feet. A cord is the legal measure of fuelwood volume in Maryland
cordwood
small diameter or low quality wood suitable for firewood, pulp, or chips. Cordwood is not suitable for sawlogs.
critical area
land in Maryland that lies within 1,000 feet of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries and is subject to forestry and other land use regulations.
crook
a tree defect characterized by a sharp bend in the main stem.
crop tree
a young tree of a desirable species with certain characteristics desired for timber value, water quality enhancement, or wildlife or aesthetic uses.
crown
the uppermost branches and foliage of a tree
crown classes
see codominant, dominant, intermediate, overtopped, and suppressed.
crown cover or crown closure
the percentage of a given area covered by tree crowns
crown ratio or live crown ratio
the ratio of the leaved portion of a tree’s height to its total height
cruise
a forest survey used to obtain inventory information and develop a management plan.
cull
a sawtimber sized tree that has no timber value as a result of poor shape or damage from injury, insects or disease
cutting cycle
the period of time between major harvests in a stand
deciduous
shedding or losing leaves annually; the opposite of evergreen. Trees such as maple, ash, cherry, and larch are deciduous.
defects
characteristics of an individual tree that reduce its quality and utility
den tree
a tree with cavities suitable for birds or mammals to nest in
DBH
diameter breast height - standard measurement of a tree’s diameter, usually taken at 4 1/2 feet above the ground