Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

ERS 234 Final > Lecture 6 - Forest Ecosystem Ecology > Flashcards

Lecture 6 - Forest Ecosystem Ecology Flashcards

1
Q

What are the 2 sub ecologies?

A
  1. autoecology: the relationship of species to the environment
  2. synecology: all organisms in an ecosystem and their interactions with each other and the environment
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Why must forest managers have a good understanding of ecologies as well as forest growth/reproduction?

A

B/c they will have to make decisions so this knowledge informs them (ex. on species dynamics, succession, nutrient cycling, etc.)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

The same factors than influence forest biomes influence:

A

the distribution of species in a forest stand (ex. climate, soil, disturbance)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

How are tree species distribution and competition ranked?

A

According to their light tolerance, and need for water and nutrients

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is a forest stand?

A

It is an easily defined area of forest that is relatively uniform in species composition or age and can be managed as a single unit

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What are the 5 major pools in the carbon cycle in forests?

A
  • atmosphere
  • forest biomass
  • animal biomass
  • microbial biomass
  • SOM
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is GPP?

A

The gross uptake of CO2 from the atmosphere

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is NPP?

A

The net uptake of CO2 from the atmosphere - GPP-respiration. It is closely related to forest growth as it will be greater as you move from the poles to the equator

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is detritus?

A

Dead OM

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

How does a decrease in photosynthesis affect NPP? What are some factors that may contribute to decreased photosynthesis?

A 
It will decrease NPP and is important to the C cycle.
Factors:
- extreme cold air
- low soil temp or moisture
- low nutrient availability
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Why is a growing forest a carbon sink?

A

B/c it assimilates more C through photosynthesis than it releases via respiration (sequestration)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

At forest maturity (equilibrium), photosynthesis is:

A

equal to or greater than respiration

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Where is the carbon stored in northern boreal forests in comparison with tropical forests?

A

Boreal: mainly in soil
Tropical: mainly in trees

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

How do disturbances influence the rate of photosynthesis?

A

Disturbed situations have a rate of photosynthesis lower than the rate of respiration (becomes a C source)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

In regards to biomass, when nutrients are plentiful:

A
  • there is allocation of biomass

- stimulates foliage biomass production

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

In regards to biomass, when nutrients are scarce (decreased availability):

A
  • nutrient allocation in roots
17
Q

In regards to biomass, when water is plentiful:

A
  • decreases root biomass
18
Q

What are sources of nutrient losses?

A
  • erosion
  • leaching
  • volatilization
  • respiration
  • herbivory
19
Q

How is erosion a source of nutrient loss?

A
  • special concern in disturbed/harvested forests where there is open soil that can easily be washed or blown away
20
Q

How is leaching a source of nutrient loss?

A
  • leaching below the root zone reduces availability to plants
  • is of concern in disturbed forests (slower succession)
21
Q

How is volatilization a source of nutrient loss?

A

It is the conversion of nutrients to gaseous form (ex. through wild fires

22
Q

How is respiration a source of nutrient loss?

A

Some energy in photosynthesis is used up during growth and maintenance. The losses vary among forest types as it is influenced by temp, size, rate of growth, and physiological condition of the plant (losses increase when moving from poles to equators)

23
Q

How is herbivory a source of nutrient loss?

A

The extent of plant consumption varies and forests generally have less herbivory than grasslands b/c the majority of the woody vegetation and foliage is less digestible. Defoliating insects are also influential.

24
Q

For sustainable forest management, the maintenance of ________ is important.

A

soil physical properties!

Harvesting leads to soil compaction (increases bulk density), inhibits fine root growth, and nutrient uptake

25
Q

Describe the history of the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest (HBEF)

A
  • est. 1955 in New Hampshire

- major centre for hydrologic research

26
Q

What was the Hubbard Brook Ecosystem study?

A
  • took an approach from the view of a small watershed
  • gained LTER (long term ecological research) status
  • main idea was to understand how northern hardwood forests would respond to large-scale disturbances
27
Q

What were the main goals of the Hubbard Brook LTER?

A

Look at:

  • vegetation structure, composition, and productivity
  • dynamics of dead OM
  • atmospheric-terrestrial-aquatic linkages
  • air pollution
  • climate change
  • silviculture/land-use distrubance
28
Q

What was the watershed 2 Hubbard Brook experiment?

A
  • all trees/shrubs were felled and left in place
  • for 2 years after, herbicide treatment was applied to prevent all regrowth
  • wanted to assess response to deforestation
  • found that undisturbed forests depict regularity and predictability in their input/output balances through assessing changes as vegetative cover changes
    (review graph in slides!)
29
Q

What was the watershed 5 Hubbard Brook experiment?

A
  • all trees were removed but slash was left behind
  • main idea was to assess the effect of tree harvest on ecosystem response
  • found that soil & stream temps increased, stream flow increased, increased nitrate in soil and leached out system (through streams), 80% of slash was decomposed in 14 yrs after harvest, and slash prevented increased erosion
30
Q

What is forest succession?

A

It is the continuous change in species composition, structure, and function of a forest through time following a disturbance. It is complex (a)biotic changes that occur to reestablish forests

31
Q

Succession occurs as a response to changes in:

A

the biophysical qualities of a site.

ex. microbes, soil temp, deposition of OM

32
Q

What is primary succession?

A

It begins with soil building on bare areas that did not previously have vegetation.

ex. water, rock, sand

33
Q

What is secondary succession?

A

It occurs in areas with well-developed soil that was previously vegetated but was altered by some form of disturbance

34
Q

What are the 4 stages of succession?

A
  1. Pioneer
  2. Consolidation
  3. Subclimax
  4. Climax
35
Q

What is the pioneer stage of succession?

A
  • the first establishment of plants on new land or newly disturbed land
  • composed of mosses and lichens
  • shade-intolerant, short lived, rapid growing species
  • lasts 1-2 yrs
36
Q

What is the consolidation stage of succession?

A
  • habitat building of the ecological void
  • component interaction begins
  • start of biota competition
  • composed of shrubs, grasses, seedlings, and herbs
  • shade-intolerant, fast growing, short lived species
  • lasts 2-50 years
37
Q

What is the subclimax stage of succession?

A
  • composed of aspen, black spruce, and jack pine
  • longer-lived, somewhat shade tolerant, fast growing species
  • lasts 50-150 yrs
38
Q

What is the climax stage of succession?

A
  • may continue indefinitely
  • composed of white spruce, balsam fir, and white pine
  • long-lived, slow growing, shade tolerant species
  • begins at >150yrs

ERS 234 Final (9 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions