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Lecture 8- Intro to Boreal Forests Flashcards

1
Q

Describe what boreal forests are like

A

-Vast circumpolar forest
-Short growing seasons
-Long cold winters
-Contains 60% of world surface freshwater
-Stores 1/3 of global carbon stocks

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2
Q

The boreal forest is also known as _______

A

A taiga

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3
Q

Where is the carbon stored in boreal forests?

A

Stored in soil organic matter and stored in tree biomass

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4
Q

Boreal is shifting from ______ to ______ because ______

A

-Sink
-Source
-Melting permafrost. destruction of peatlands, frequent fires

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5
Q

What are the two ecozones of boreal forests?

A

1.Boreal Shield
2.Boreal Plains

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6
Q

Describe some characteristic of Boreal Shields

A

-Predominantly exposed bedrock (thin layer of soil on bedrock)
-Glaciers carved many lakes
-More variable topography

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7
Q

Contrast East and North Boreal Shields

A

East- more humid = fir, ferns
North- drier = pins, lichens

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8
Q

Describe some characteristics of Boreal Plains

A

-Highly heterogenous landscape between lowland peatlands and upland forest
-Very little topography
-Flater topography
-Deep peatlands

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9
Q

What are the different types of Boreal Forests?

A
  1. Treed peatland
  2. Upland
    a. Deciduous dominated
    b. Mixed wood
    c. Moist and conifer dominated
    d. Dry and conifer dominanted
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10
Q

What are some characteristics of Deciduous upland forests?

A

-Can be dry or wet
-Generally dense and diverse understory

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11
Q

What tree dominates dry Deciduous upland forests?

A

Aspen (shrub dominated)

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12
Q

What tree dominates wet Deciduous upland forests?

A

Birch or popular

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13
Q

Is Trembling Aspen shade tolerant or intolerant?

A

Shade intolerant

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14
Q

What is the species name for trembling aspen?

A

Populus tremuloides

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15
Q

What are some characteristics of trembling aspen?

A

-Grows to 20m tall
-Tolerates a wide range of conditions (generally in lower soil moisture
-Shade intolerant
-Will form root suckers (clones) and from seeds

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16
Q

Where do you find trembling aspen?

A

Dry deciduous upland forests

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17
Q

Is Balsam Popular shade tolerant or intolerant?

A

Shade intolerant

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18
Q

What is the species name for balsam popular?

A

Populus balsamifera

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19
Q

What are some characteristics of balsam popular?

A

-Grows 25m tall
-Up to 120cm diameter
-Tolerates a wide range of conditions, generally higher soil moisture
-Max age 165 years
-Shade intolerant
-Will form root suckers (clones) and from seeds

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20
Q

Where do you find balsam popular?

A

Wet deciduous upland forests

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21
Q

Is paper/white birch shade tolerant or intolerant?

A

Shade intolerant

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22
Q

What is the species name for paper/white birch?

A

Betula papyrifera

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23
Q

What are some characteristics of paper/white birch?

A

-Grows to 16m tall
-Short lived (<140 years)
-Generalists for conditions (typically prefers higher soil moisture)
-Shade intolerant
-Characterized by peeling, papery bark

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24
Q

Where do you find paper/white birch?

A

Wet deciduous upland forests

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25
Describe coniferous upland forests
-Wet and dry sites -Generally low diversity in understory
26
What dominates moist coniferous upland forests?
Spruce or fir (understory dominated by mosses or ericaceous shrubs)
27
What dominants dry coniferous upland forests?
Pine (understory dominated by lichens and ericaceous shrubs_
28
Is white spruce shade tolerant or intolerant?
Shade tolerant
29
Is white spruce tolerant or intolerant of stagnant water?
Intolerant of stagnant water
30
What is the species name of white spruce?
Picea glauca
31
What are some characteristics of white spruce?
-Grows to 18m tall (max 30m) -Requires good supply of well aerated water -Intolerant of stagnant water -Shade tolerant -Will grow on dry sites if fertile -Long lived is no fire
32
Where do you find white spruce?
Moist coniferous upland forests
32
Is Balsam Fir shade tolerant or intolerant?
Shade tolerant
32
What is the species name for balsam fir?
Abies balsamea
33
What are some characteristics of balsam fir?
-Grows to 18m tall -Found in moister sites -Shade tolerant -Generally associated with old growth boreal forest (when dominant) -Seedlings common in the understory
34
Where would you find balsam fir?
Moist coniferous upland forests
35
Is Black Spruce shade tolerant or intolerant?
Shade tolerant
36
Is black spruce tolerant to moist soils?
Yes
37
What is the species name for black spruce?
Picea mariana
38
What are some characteristics of black spruce?
-Grows 15m tall -Slow growing -Shallow roots (upper 20cm of organic soil) -Tolerates moist soils -Vulnerable to wind throw -Shade tolerant -Lifespan to 200-300 years, could be up to 3000 years
39
Where do you find black spruce?
-Moist coniferous upland forests -Treed peatlands
40
Is tamarack shade tolerant or intolerant?
Shade intolerant
41
What is the species name of tamarack?
Larix laracina
42
What are some characteristics of tamaracks?
-Grows to 23m tall -Mostly on wet to moist organic soils (indicator of a fen) -Often with black spruce -Lifespan to 180 years, few to 335 years -Shallow rooting to 60cm -Shade intolerant -Deciduous conifer
43
Where do you find tamaracks?
-Treed peatlands (fens) -Moist coniferous upland forests
44
Is jack pine shade tolerant or intolerant?
Shade intolerant
45
What is the species name for jack pine?
Pinus banksiana
46
What are some characteristics of jack pines?
-Grows to 20m tall -Grows on sandy, thin soil over rock in Canadian shield -Roots to 3m but most in top 50cm -Lifespan 100years but can exceed 250 years -Shade intolerant -Depends on fires for seed dispersal
47
Where would you find jack pines?
Dry coniferous upland forests
48
Is lodgepole pine shade tolerant or intolerant?
Shade tolerant
49
What is the species name for lodgepole pine?
Pinus contorta
50
What are some characteristics of lodgepole pine?
-Grows to 30m tall -Grows in well drained, sandy loam soil -Roots to 3m but most in top 50cm -Lifespan 100 years, but could exceed 200 years -Shade tolerant -Depends on fire for seed dispersal
51
What tree species are shade intolerant?
-Trembling aspen -Balsam popular -Paper/white birch -Tamarack -Jack pine
52
What tree species are shade tolerant?
-White spruce -Balsam fir -Black spruce -Lodgepole pine
53
Why are there so many conifers?
-Evergreen leaves are an adaptation to cold -Needle = reduced surface area for water loss -Waxy coating prevents freezing -Can photosynthesize immediately in spring -Shape of evergreen branches allows snow to slide off
54
Describe the type of bird species in the boreal forest
-Some species with wide boreal distribution -Small amount of species overwinter (owls, grouse, ravens, Canada jay) -Overwinter species adapted for cold (trap warm air under wings, feathered feet) -Boreal is massive breeding ground for migratory songbirds
55
Why do so many birds breed in the boreal forest?
-Boreal forest relatively intact -High resource availability -High habitat heterogeneity
56
What are some effects of climate change on bird species in the boreal forest
-Shifts in distribution as forest type changes -Species affected differently (climate sensitive specialists declining) -Anthropogenic disturbances results in fragmentation of community composition and habitat loss reduces breeding habitats
57
What ungulates are present in the boreal forest?
Moose (dominant), caribou
58
What is the species name of caribou?
Rangifer tarandus caribou
59
Caribou have a _____ ecological niche which limits the type of ________
-Narrow -Habitat
60
What is the winter food source for caribou?
Lichens
61
Are caribou sensitive to disturbances?
Yes
62
Why do caribou have increased predation pressure?
-Competition with other ungulates -Wolves use seismic lines to easily find caribou -If deer appears, it can increase predation pressure -Lichen grows in open areas, so not hidden
63
What are some conservation efforts for caribou?
-Calving pens -Wolf culls

BIOL 366 (33 decks)

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