Lecture 1 - Intro to Forest Ecosystems

Question 1

In the past, what did forests traditionally provide for humans?

Answer 1

• shelter
• protection
• food
• medicine
• building materials
• primary fuel source (wood)
  Forests were/are vital in human survival!

Question 2

What did collecting wood look like in the past?

Answer 2

Settlements would extract most of the local forests, causing them to move farther out each year. It was very difficult to move timber due to terrain and distance (longer distances to travel with limited transportation) Still an issue in developing countries today

Question 3

What is the use of forests in today’s society?

Answer 3

Over 10, 000 products are made from wood

• furniture
• building materials
• paper
• non-timber products (jewellery, cooking utensils, etc.)

Question 4

What are the ecosystem services forests provide (benefits)?

Answer 4

• control erosion
• carbon sequestration
• windbreak
• flood prevention
• aesthetic value
• recreational activities
• conservation of flora and fauna
  Diff services overlap and forests can be managed to meet all needs (ex. timber industry with biodiversity)

Question 5

Why is carbon sequestration important?

Answer 5

B/c it provides some mitigation of climate change in comparison of the releasing of carbon by cutting down trees

Question 6

What is an example of country that moved to sustainable forestry?
*hint Kyoto protocol

Answer 6

Costa Rica cut down majority of forests and after Kyoto protocol, replanted trees and manages sustainably. They are paid by other countries for sequestering their C.

Question 7

Why is there much conflict over the managing of forests?

Answer 7

There are conflicting viewpoints on how forests should be managed appropriately, usually between conservationists and forestry groups. (ex. Sierra Club vs. MacMillan-Bloedel). Management is usually shifted towards the economy though (forestry companies favoured)

Question 8

What should a successful forest manager be able to do?

Answer 8

They should be able to understand all views to develop management plans that incorporate the values of all stakeholders.

Question 9

What is the definition of forestry?

Answer 9

The art, science and practice of managing natural resources that occur on or in association with forest land for human benefit.

Question 10

What is the definition of forestry problematic? (What doesn’t it consider?)

Answer 10

• the role/importance of trees
• the role of indigenous people
• the role of wildlife
• the role of the ecosystem services
• management of forests (fire, disease, overall protection)

Question 11

List some facts about forests

Answer 11

• they cover 30% of global surface

- they are complex interactions between biotic and abiotic components (you mess with one, it’ll affect the other)

Question 12

What is forest distribution/composition dependent on?

Answer 12

It is dependent on environmental conditions (boreal vs. tropical has diff temps and precip)

Question 13

Why are forests referred to as dynamic ecosystems?

Answer 13

B/c they are in a continual state of change and are influenced by external factors (ex. wind, fire, disease)

Question 14

What are the two major groups of tree species?

Answer 14

• gymnosperms (conifers/needles) - arose 365 m.y.a and only had a few 1000 species
• angiosperms (deciduous/leaves) - arose 145-65 m.y.a and has 400,000 species

Question 15

What is the most important phytogeographic process/event in the history of the earth?

Answer 15

It is when the expansion of the angiosperms caused a decline in the gymnosperms range.

They went from 1% of pop, to 40% of pop which caused restrictions for gymnos (why they are found in boreal) - climate change currently allowing angios to move further north, issue for gymnos survival

Question 16

What are some examples of angios and how they came to be where they are today?

Answer 16

Beech: arose in montane tropical regions and migrated to their current distribution ~60 m.y.a
Oaks: had rapid speciation and expanded to colder/drier climates & continues to respond to climate change today

Question 17

What are somethings angios are better at than gymnos?

Answer 17

• efficient at moving water and nutrients through tissue (xylem moves water and phloem moves nutrients)
• reproduction b/c efficient at sprouting new trees which gymno can’t do (ex. jack pine cone requires fire to reproduce)

Question 18

What is the gingko biloba?

Answer 18

It is a tree native to China & is known as living fossil b/c similar to many trees now extinct. It has fan-like leaves that it sheds annually but is classified as a gymnosperm b/c female doesn’t have fruit but instead has seeds surrounded by fleshy material (seed always determines classification)!

Question 19

How did natives view forests?

Answer 19

They had a very close bond and relied heavily on forests for survival. They used resources sustainably and preached stewardship of the land (treated mother earth with respect)

Question 20

How did early settlers view forests?

Answer 20

1st Euro settlement was in 1608 lead by Champlain and they relied on Canadian forests for beaver pelt trade. Forests were seen as jungles with poor tree quality and so forested land was changed to agricultural land.

Question 21

What was the “forest boom”?

Answer 21

It was when the economy was hot and wars, railways, etc. caused large timber demand, so Europe imported wood from CAN and USA. When Canada became own nation, it became a major raw materials supplier that produced high quality planks and timber. (ex. providing masts for British navy). This caused overexploitation.

Question 22

Why was the Canadian Forest Association (CFA) created?

Answer 22

It was created by Elihu Stewart who was the appointed chief inspector of timber & forestry in 1899 by PM Laurier and he was responsible for promoting forest conservation as well. He recognized that natural resources were being depleted at an alarming rate, so he created the CFA (now CFS - service).

Question 23

What is the CFS concerned with?

Answer 23

• promotion of sustainable development
• competitiveness of Canadian forest sector
• involved in research of fire, disease, climate change and silviculture