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
diameter limit scale
a timber sale in which all trees over a specified dbh may be cut. Diameter-limit sales often result in high grading.
dimension lumber
hardwood dimension lumber is processed to be used whole in the manufacture of furniture or other products. Softwood dimension lumber consists of boards more than 2 inches thick but less than 5 inches thick. This wood is used in construction and is sold as 2 by 4s, 4 by 8s, or 2 by 10s.
dominant trees
trees that extend above surrounding individuals and capture sunlight from above and around the crown.
drip torch
Firefighters use these torches, that drip a flaming liquid mixture of diesel fuel and gasoline, to ignite fires in burnout operations.
ecosystem
organisms and the physical factors that make up their environment.
ecology
the study of interactions between organisms and their environment
ecotone
a transition area between two distinct, but adjoining, communities
edge
the boundary between two ecological communities, for example, field and woodland. Edges provide wildlife habitat. Consideration of an edge can reduce the impact of a timber harvest.
endangered species
any species or subspecies in immediate danger of becoming extinct throughout all or a significant portion of its range.
epicormic branching
branches that grow out of the main stem of a tree from buds produced under the bark. Severe epicormic branching increases knottiness and reduces lumber quality.
even aged stand
a stand in which the age difference between the oldest and youngest trees is minimal, usually no greater than 10 to 20 years. Even-aged stands are perpetuated by cutting all the trees within a relatively short period of time.
evergreens
plants that retain foliage year round.
extension forester
a Cooperative Extension Service professional who educates woodland owners on how they can effectively manage their forests.
FSA
Farm Services Agency - The branch of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that administers cost-sharing programs for such forestry practices as tree planting and timber stand improvement
felling
the cutting of standing trees
forest
a biological community dominated by trees and other woody plants.
FCA
forest conservation act - designed to minimize the loss of Maryland’s forest resources during land development by making the identification and protection of forests and other sensitive areas an integral part of the site planning process. Identification of priority areas prior to development makes their retention possible.
forest fragmentation
the subdivision of large natural landscapes into smaller, more isolated fragments. Fragmentation affects the viability of wildlife populations and ecosystems.
forest types
associations of tree species that have similar ecological requirements. Maryland forest types include Allegany hardwood, loblolly-shortleaf, northern hardwood, oak-gum-cypress, oak hickory, and oak-pine
forested wetland
an area characterized by woody vegetation taller than 20 feet where soil is at least periodically saturated or covered by water.
forester
a degreed professional trained in forestry and forest management. In Maryland, all foresters must be registered with the state.
FIP
Forestry Incentives Program - a Federal cost-sharing program that reimburse part of the costs landowners incur in completing certain forestry practices. The F.I.P. is administered by the NRCS
fork
a tree defect characterized by the division of a bole or main stem into two or more stems
frilling
the method of killing trees by inflicting a series of cuts around the bole and applying an herbicide to the wounds. Frilling or girdling can be used to reduce the density of a stand or to kill individual undesirable trees.
girdling
a method of killing trees by cutting through the stem, thus interrupting the flow of water and nutrients.
group selection
a process of harvesting patches of trees to open the forest canopy and encourage the reproduction of unevenaged stands.
growth rings
the layers of wood a tree adds each season; also called annual rings. These rings frequently are visible when a tree is cut and can be used to estimate its age and growth rate.
habitat
the ecosystem in which a plant or animal lives and obtains food and water.
hardwoods
a general term encompassing broadleaf, deciduous trees
harvest
the cutting, felling, and gathering of forest timber.
herbaceous vegetation
low-growing, non-woody plants, including wildflowers and ferns, in a forest understory.
high grading
to remove all mature, good quality trees from a stand and leave inferior species and individuals. High grading should be distinguished from even-aged management in which mature and immature trees are removed to aid regeneration.
hypsometer
any of several tools or instruments designed to measure the height of trees. The clinometer is such a tool.
improvement cut
a weeding done in stands of pole-size or larger trees
industrial forester
a professional employed by a wood-using industry, usually a sawmill, who purchases timber from private woodland owners. Many industrial foresters offer free forest management or marketing services to the landowners who sell timber to the forester’s employer.
increment borer
an augerlike tool with a hollow bit designed to extract cores from tree stems for the determination of age and growth rate.
intermediate crown class
trees with crowns that extend into the canopy with dominant and codominate trees. These trees receive little direct sunlight from above and none from the sides. Crowns generally are small and crowded on all sides.
intermediate tolerance
a characteristic of certain tree species that allows them to survive, though not necessarily thrive, in relatively low light conditions
intolerance
a characteristic of certain tree species that does not permit them to survive in the shade of other trees
introduced species
a nonnative species that was intentionally or unintentionally brought into an area by humans.
landing
a cleared area within a timber harvest where harvested logs are processed, piled, and loaded for transport to a sawmill or other facility
loblolly shortleaf forest type
an association of tree species common to the southeastern United States that includes loblolly and shortleaf pines and oaks.
logger
an individual who harvests timber for a living.
log rule
a method for calculating wood volume in a tree or log by using its diameter and length. The international 1/4-inch rule is the legal rule in Maryland
lopping
cutting tree tops to a maximum specified height above the ground after a tree is felled
lump sum sale
a timber sale in which an agreed-on price for marked standing trees is set before the wood is removed (as opposed to a unit sale).
marking timber
a timber sale in which an agreed-on price for marked standing trees is set before the wood is removed (as opposed to a unit sale).
mast
nuts and seeds, such as acorns, beechnuts, and chestnuts, of trees that serve as food for wildlife.
mcleod
Firefighters also use this combination hoe, rake and scraping tool and rake to remove plants and shrubs when building a fireline.
merchantable height
the point on a tree stem to which the stem is salable. Limits are: the point at which a sawlog tree is less than 8 inches in diameter, measured inside the bark (dib); the point at which a pulpwood tree is less than 4 inches dib; or the point on any tree where a defect is found that cannot be processed out.
NRCS
Natural Resources Conservation Service - the branch of the USDA that coordinates and implements soil conservation practices on private lands. The NRCS can provide woodland owners with detailed information on his or her soil.
niche
the physical and functional “address” of an organism within an ecosystem; or, where a living thing is found and what it does there.
non game wildlife
wildlife species that are protected by state wildlife laws and can not be hunted. Examples include songbirds, eagles, etc.
NIPF
nonindustrial private forestland - forestland owned by a private individual, group, or corporation not involved in wood processing. Eighty-five percent of Maryland’s forests are in this category.
non tidal wetlands
wetlands not affected by ocean tides. Nontidal wetlands are subject to special regulations.
northern hardwood forest type
an association of tree species common to the Northeastern United States that includes sugar maple, red maple, yellow birch, hemlock, and American beech.
oak-gum-cypress forest type
an association of tree species common to the bottom lands of the Southeastern United States
oak-hickory forest type
an association of tree species common to the Northeastern United States that includes oak, hickory, yellow poplar, and red maple.
oak-pine forest type
an association of tree species common to the Southeastern United States that includes loblolly pine, Virginia pine, northern red oak, and white ash
old-growth forest
a wooded area, usually greater than 200 years of age, that has never been altered or harvested by humans. An old-growth forest often has large individual trees, a multi-layered crown canopy, and a significant accumulation of coarse woody debris including snags and fallen logs
overmature
a quality exhibited by trees that have declined in growth rate because of old age and loss of vigor
overstocked
the situation in which trees are so closely spaced that they compete for resources and do not reach full growth potential.
overstory
the level of forest canopy that includes the crowns of dominant, codominant, and intermediate trees.
overtopped
the situation in which a tree cannot sufficiently extend its crown into the overstory and receive direct sunlight. Overtopped trees that lack shade tolerance lose vigor and die.
patch cut
a clearcut on a small area
pole stand
a stand of trees whose average dbh is between 4 and 10 inches
