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Forest Ecology 550 > Exam 1 > Flashcards

Exam 1 Flashcards

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1
Q

Ecology

A

The study of the reciprocal relationship between organisms and the environment.

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2
Q

Ecosystem

A

The sum of interactions of plants, animals, and the environment.

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3
Q

Carl Ludwig Willdenouw

A

Pioneer plant geographer who noted that similar climates produce similar vegetation (physiognomy).

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4
Q

Physiognomy

A

The physical characteristics of vegetation, such as life form and canopy characteristics

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5
Q

F.H.A. von Humboldt

A

Student of Willdenouw. Last of the renaissance men.

Correlated vegetation to climate.

“In the great chain of causes and effects, no one factor should be viewed in isolation.”

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6
Q

Clinton H. Merriam

A

Developed concept of Life Zones (vegetation is correlated to sum degrees of warmth, especially growing season warmth)

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6
Q

Silviculture

A

The science and art of controlling forest establishment and growth.

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6
Q

What are all of the biomes on Earth?

A
  1. Desert
  2. Arctic and Alpine Tundra
  3. Grasslands
  4. Woodlands
  5. Boreal
  6. Temperate broad-leaved deciduous
  7. Temperate broad-leaved evergreen
  8. Temperate needle-leaved deciduous
  9. Temperate needle-leaved evergreen
  10. Tropical broad-leaved deciduous
  11. Tropical broad-leaved evergreen
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6
Q

What factors influence the classification of biomes?

A

Environmental factors (ex: temperature and moisture) and physiognomy (physical characteristics of the vegetation)

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7
Q

Desert

A

High temperatures

Extremely low precipitation

Dominated by C4 and CAM plants

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8
Q

Tundra (Arctic and Alpine)

A

AKA Cold deserts.

Shortest growing season (

Permafrost in arctic tundra soil

Strong soil freeze-thaw process

ALPINE in high elevation

ARCTIC in high latitude

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9
Q

Grasslands

A

Very fertile ► agriculture/heavy human impact

black soil = RICH + FERTILE due to lots of root turnover

height/stature of grassland dictated by precipitation

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10
Q

Woodlands

A

Inconsistent definitions, mostly a transition from GRASSLANDS to FOREST

Can be deciduous or evergreen

Very fire prone

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11
Q

Boreal Forests

A

Latitude > 50

30-120 days > 10 C

SECOND LARGEST forest biome in the world

ground cover dominated by bryophytes

low canopy diversity

open canopy with individual conical crown

wildfire dominated

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12
Q

Temeperate Broadleaf Deciduous Forests

A

Mostly in N hemisphere

Nitrogen limited

very diverse

Ex: Riparian forests in S USA (pneumatophores in anaerobic soils)

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13
Q

Temperate Broadleaf Evergreen Forests

A

Two major subgroups: Schlerophylls (Mediterranean, Asia)

Rainforests (NZ, Chile, Australia)

Heavily logged

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14
Q

Temperate Needle-Leaf Evergreen Forests

A

Ex: CA Redwood

Very conical trees

Management issues: Logging, Fire, and Drainage

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15
Q

Tropical Broad-Leaf Deciduous Forests

A

Drier, has undergone greatest deforestation

Lower biodiversity than Tropical Broadleaf Evergreen

Deciduous to avoid drought (Ann. Prec. < 1500 mm)

Has complex symbioses

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16
Q

Tropical Broadleaf Evergreen Forests

A

LARGEST forest biome of the world

HIGH Biodiversity

Multi-storied

Undergoing greatest land use change

INFERTILE soils

Ann Prec. > 1500 mm

Deforestation from: Grazing, shifting agriculture, and charcoal

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17
Q

Primary Tree Growth

A

Vertical

Roots and Shoots

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18
Q

Secondary Tree Growth

A

Lateral Growth

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19
Q

Excurrent Tree Form

A

Terminal shoot exerts apical dominance over lateral shoots.

Leads to conical shaped trees

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20
Q

Decurrent Tree Form

A

Terminal shoot does NOT exert apical dominance

Leads to top-heavy/bushy trees

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21
Q

How does tree form indicate adaptations to an environment?

A

Excurrent is best at shedding snow/ice and absorbing low-angle/diffuse light

Decurrent absorbs more direct sunlight and hence is more adapted to relevant environments

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22
Explain the structure of a tree stem: Cambium, Xylem (Sapwood and heartwood), Phloem, and Bark
23
What is the difference between sapwood and heartwood?
Sapwood: Alive, outer, conducts food and water Heartwood: Dead, structural support
24
Explain the Pipe Theory Model
Higher leaf area is correlated with higher amts of sapwood.
25
Tracheids vs. Vessels
Tracheids slower at conduction, but vessels more susceptible to cavitation and damage
26
When do plants usually begin secondary growth?
After fine root production
27
What types of trees can we use ring-aging for?
Temperate trees. Can NOT use it for tropical trees, esp when false rings are made due to wet and dry seasons
28
What are the differences between SUN leaves and SHADE leaves?
Sun leaves are smaller for less dessication at top of tree where they get more light. Shade leaves are larger to get more sunlight, less deeply lobed, and thinner with less stomata
29
Coarse Roots
Function: TREE ANCHORING and some nutrient storage
30
Fine roots
2-5 mm and smaller Function: WATER AND NUTRIENT ABSORPTION most occur in the upper 30 cm of soil
31
Pneumatophores
Root projections above ground thought to aid in O2 exchange
32
Buttress Roots
Aboveground exposed roots that allow trees to adapt to high water levels.
33
What are the two types of mycorrhizae and how do they differ?
ENDOmycorrhizae (most common): hyphae penetrate cortical cells (Ex: Maple, Poplar) ECTOmycorrhizae: less common, but many important timber species. Form a mantle around the roots. (Ex: Pine, Oak) BOTH help plants uptake water/nutrients
34
What factors control Myborrhizae development?
Negatively related to nutrient and water availability Positively related to photosynthate production
35
How much of the sun's incident radiation is UV?
~10% Affected by Ozone abundance
36
What wavelengths do plants use for photosynthesis?
PAR = 400-700 nm Visible only
37
What is one way pilots can measure deforestation?
Measuring the RED : INFRARED ratio. More red = less plants, since plants absorb red, but not far-red.
38
What is LAI?
Leaf Area Index AKA the proportion of leaf area per unit area of land
39
What are the components of the energy budget?
S=R+C+G+LE+Ps ## Footnote S= Solar radiation R= Reflected solar radiation C= Convection G= conduction LE= latent heat of vaporization Ps=photosynthesis
40
Albedo
Reflectivity of a material summed over all its wavelengths
41
Bowen Ratio
Convection (C): (LE) Latent heat of vap. Ecologists use it to characterize enviro conditions
42
Beer-Lambert Law
Iz/Io = e^(-k \* LAI) or ln(Iz/Io)=-(k)(LAI)
43
How does the sunlight efficiency of plants compare to that of solar panels?
Plants only convert about 1% of incident sunlight into biomass, whereas solar panals convert about 20% or as much as 40% in some cases.
44
Light Compensation Point
Amount of PAR where photosynthesis exactly counters respiration. Net carbon balance = 0
45
Light Saturation Point
Amount of PAR above which Ps will not increase any more
46
How do plants sense day length?
Phytochrome far-red (Pfar-red) is activated from Pred upon incident red light. Pfar-red is the bio-active form.
47
Homeotherms vs. Poikilotherms
HOMEO: maintains constant body temperature independent of the environment POIKILO: doesn't regulate body temp, depends on environment
48
What factors influence variations in temperature?
Changes in Earth's tilt and orbit Latitude Elevation - 4° for every 1000 m in elevation Aspect Proximity to water Albedo
49
Raunkiaer Life History Classification Scheme
Classifies life history of plants based on location of bud(s) to protect them from extreme temperatures.
50
Phanerophytes
Buds higher than 25 cm
54
Chaemophytes
Buds lower than 25 cm
55
Hemi-Cryptophytes
Buds at soil surface
56
Geophytes
Buds below the soil surface
57
Therophytes
Complete their entire life cycle within the year
58
How do cold temperatures affect plant growth and how have plants adapted?
COLD: decreased root membrane permeability Frost cracks and heaving Dessication ADAPTATIONS: dormancy thick bark germ bud below ground remove free water from bud
59
How do hot temperatures affect plant growth and how have plants responded?
HOT: protein degradation dehydration excessive respiration ADAPTATIONS: Deciduous leaf habit Thick bark small foliage reflective leaf structures leaf orientation
60
Components of the Hydrologic Cycle
W = P-(R+S+E+T) ## Footnote W=Δ water storage P= Precipitation R= Runoff S= Subsurface drainage E= evaporation T= transpiration
61
Orographic Precipitation
Pattern of Precipitation - Rain shadow effect on mountains Windward side gets more precip than leeward
62
Frontal Precipitation
Warm fronts - low intensity Cold fronts - high intensity
63
Convective Storms
THIRD pattern of precipitation heating of air mass at earth's surface. Intense but brief Can be part of a frontal system
64
Hydrophytes
Plants that are tolerant of large amounts of water
65
Mesophytes
Plants that tolerate moderate water
66
Xerophytes
Plants that tolerate extremely low soil moisture
67
What are the soil horizons and what do they consist of?
O = organic matter A horizon = mineral soil, zone of ELuviation E or AB = transition zone B Horizon = zone of ILLuviation
68
Where does Mor Soil occur?
Coniferous forests
69
Where does Mull soil occur?
Hardwood forests
70
Gelisols
Tundra soils with PERMAFROST Slow decomposition
71
Histisols
Organic soils -\> Mucky and peat soils
72
Spodosols
Acids from vegetation mix with metal oxides CONIFEROUS FORESTS
73
Andisols
High water-holding capacity Fixes P -\> not avail to plants
74
Entisols
RECENT origin -\> sandy with little color
75
Inceptisols
Older than entisols, but still lacks features. Occurs in Mountains
76
Alfisols
MOST FERTILE lower base saturation than MOLLISOLS
77
Ultisols
Non-glaciated, hotter, wetter areas ACIDIC and LEACHED
78
Oxisols
MOST WEATHERED tropical areas ONLY LEAST fertile
79
Vertisols
Clay-rich, swells a lot
80
Aridisols
Dry most of the year
81
Mollisols
Prairies and Grasslands
82
What are the three components of water availability?
1. Field Capacity: gravitational water in MACROpores 2. Available water: capillary water in MICROpores 3. Permanent WIlting Point: Hygroscopic water that is unavailable and stuck to soil particles
83
What are natrual sources of soil acidity?
Organic Acids Bicarbonate from root respiration and decomp Nitrate from nitrification by chemoautotrophs
84
How does pH affect plant growth?
Alters nutrient availability Affects root membrane permeability Decreases microbial diversity
85
CEC
Cation Exchange Capacity: capacity of a soil to hold cations to the negative particle surface CEC = equivalents per gram
86
Factors that influence CEC
% organic matter soil texture clay type pH
87
Isomorphic substitution
the substitution of Al3+ for Si4+ in soil interlayers. Governed by SIZE, not charge
88
Base saturation
percentage of CEC that is occupied by exchangeable bases (Ca2+, Mg2+, K+, Na+) relative to ALL bases (add H+ and Al3+) correlated with higher pH and soil fertility

Forest Ecology 550 (2 decks)

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