Trees Flashcards
Forest ecosystem
- Interactive biological community dominated by trees
- We live in one
What is the dominant landscape of Canada? Break down of numbers.
- Forest ecosystem
- 9% of world’s forests
- 24% of world’s boreal forests
- Highest forest area per capita
- 80% of BC which has more forest classifications than all the rest of Canada
How many trees are there in the world? Where are the majority?
- 2015, 2017 estimates 3 trillion
- 7.5x more than previous estimate of 400 billion by satellite image
- Half are in tropical to sub-tropical zone
What is the current number of trees in relation to the estimate before humans?
- 46% of the number of trees on planet before humans
What is the current turnover each year of trees?
- 15 billion cut, 5 billion replanted
= 10 billion loss/year and habitat destruction
What is a tree?
- Single-stemmed woody plant
- Greater than 10m in height when mature
- Some are trees by name only, don’t have wood
Biogeoclimatic zones of BC
- Divided into 16 types
- The macro-climate condition of a zone supports an ecosystem with characteristic vegetation and soil
What are the 2 biogeoclimatic zones of southern Vancouver Island?
- Coastal Douglas Fir
- Coastal Western Hemlock
Coastal Douglas Fir Zone
- Mild, even in winter
- Dry summers
- Below 150m elev.
- SE Vancouver island, southern gulf islands, small patch on mainland (unique)
Coastal Western Hemlock Zone
- Cool summers
- Mild winters
- to 900m elevation on south side
- to 350m on north side
- On windward side of coast mountains
Trees of Coastal Douglas Fir Zone
- Coastal douglas fir
- Arbutus
- Garry Oak
- Big leaf maple
- red alder
Trees of Western Hemlock Zone
- Western hemlock
- Sitka spruce
Coastal Douglas Fir Tree
- Pseudotsuga menziesii, var. menziesii, Pinaceae, pine family
- Reach great heights of 100m plus
- Harvested for lumber, also planted world-wide for lumber
Arbutus Tree
- Arbutus menziesii, madrone
- Evergreen tree, Ericaceae, heather family
- Large green waxy leaves
- Orange-red bark that peels in sheets
- Berries can be eaten
- Respected in Saanich legend
Garry Oak Tree and ecosystem
- Quercus garryana, Fagaceae, oak family
- Drought tolerant
- Dramatic twisted shapes
- Part of special meadow ecosystem (like w/ camas flowers)
- Harbours high diversity of organisms
- Probably similar to pre-settlement habitat