Intro Flashcards
What is the UN-FAO definition of a forest?
Area>0.5 ha
Tree canopy cover >10%
Not agriculture
Capable of 5m height
What are 5 attributes of a forest ecosystem?
Structure Interaction Function Change over time Complexity
What is forestry?
The science, art and practice of sustainability managing the composition, structure and function of forest ecosystems for many different values.
What is synecology?
Study of ecological communities
What is autecology?
Study of individual organisms or species.
Define silvics
The study of the life history, characteristics and ecology of forest trees
What is silviculture?
Branch of forestry concerned with managing and tending a forest.
What are the main components of an ecosystem?
Biotic community -Plant -Animal -Microbial Abiotic environment -Atmosphere -Soil or geological substrate
What does climate determine?
The broad biotic potential. Whether the area will be a
-desert
-tundra
-boreal
-temperate
-tropical
What kind of organisms can live in this environment
-What does the physical environment include?
- landform
- origin of materials
- minerology
(suitability of substrate, availability of moisture and nutrients.)
What is the difference between population and community?
Population: All individuals of a species that constitute a specific group.
Community: An assemblage of different species that occur together in a particular habitat.
What is a species?
Related organisms, capable of interbreeding.
What makes up the vertical structure of a forest?
Tree Shrub Herb Bryophytes Epiphytes
What does horizontal structure refer to?
Gaps
Natural Openings
Regenerating Forest
What are some important ecosystem cycles?
Hydrologic Cycle Nitrogen Cycle Nutrient Cycle Photosynthesis Carbon Cycle
Why are primary producers so important?
Because they are the at the bottom of the food chain and provide the energy necessary to sustain all trophic levels.
What are the levels of the food chain?
Primary Producers: plants
Primary Consumers: Herbivores
Secondary Consumers: Predators
Tertiary Consumers: Predators
What are two types of ecosystem variation?
Spatial: Space
Temporal: Time
What are the 3 levels of BEC
Regional Scale: largely driven by climate
Local level: mostly based on soils
Chronological level: Temporal ( time based stages )
What is primary production? Why is it so important?
Primary production is the conversion of solar energy to biomass. This is a primary function of plants and creates a fundamental source of energy for other organisms at higher trophic levels to exist.
