Forest Management Study Guide for Exam III

Vocabulary flashcards based on key concepts in forest management and ecological studies.

Silviculture

The art and science of controlling the establishment, growth, composition, health, and quality of forests and woodlands.

Forest Restoration

Activities, including reforestation, that help return a forest to a healthy state.

Forest Conservation

The practice of planning and maintaining forested areas for the benefit and sustainability of future generations.

Silvicultural System

A planned program of silvicultural treatments designed to achieve specific stand structure characteristics.

Recovery Period

One of the legs of the ecological forestry stool, related to forest recovery after disturbances.

Intermediate Treatments

Management practices that occur between the establishment and maturity phases of forest stands.

Legacy Retention

A principle in ecological forestry focused on maintaining key structural features of forests.

Forest Dynamics

Describes the underlying physical and biological forces that shape and change a forest.

Stand Development Phases

Stages that forests go through after a major disturbance: Stand initiation, Stem exclusion, Understory reinitiation, Old-growth.

Canopy Layers

The layers of a mature forest stand classified as Super dominant, Dominant, Co-dominant, Intermediate, and Over topped (Suppressed).

Even-aged Stands

Forest stands that consist of one age class and have a uniform canopy height.

Uneven-aged Stands

Forest stands that contain three or more distinct age classes.

Regeneration

The act of renewing tree cover by establishing young trees either naturally or artificially.

Reproduction

The existence of seedlings or saplings in a stand or the means by which trees produce future generations.

Natural Regeneration

Stand establishment from natural sources such as seeding, sprouting, or suckering.

Artificial Regeneration

Stand establishment through human intervention, such as planting seedlings.

Reforestation

Reestablishment of forest cover on areas where it once occurred.

Afforestation

Introduction of trees to sites that have not supported forests for an extended period.

Watershed

All points on the land surface contributing surface water runoff to a specific river outlet.

Evapotranspiration (ET)

The process by which water changes phase to vapor and returns to the atmosphere.

Discharge

The volume of water flowing through a river or stream per unit of time.

Velocity

The speed of water flow in a river or stream.

Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK)

Cumulative body of knowledge evolving through adaptive processes, reflecting relationships between living beings and their environment.

What is precipitation?

any form of water, liquid or solid, that falls from clouds and reaches the ground.

What is condensation?

the process by which water vapor in the air is changed into liquid water.

What is collection in the water cycle?

the accumulation of water in bodies of water such as rivers, lakes, and oceans after precipitation.

What triggers evaporation?

triggered by heat from the sun, causing water from surfaces like lakes and rivers to change into vapor.

What role do clouds play in the water cycle?

formed during condensation and act as reservoirs for water vapor, leading to precipitation.

What is transpiration?

the process where water is absorbed by plants and later released back into the atmosphere as vapor.

What is infiltration?

the process by which water on the ground surface enters the soil.

What is the significance of groundwater?

an essential source of water for drinking, irrigation, and maintaining ecological balance.

What factors influence evaporation rates?

influenced by temperature, humidity, wind speed, and surface area of water.

What is the role of heat in the water cycle?

it drives processes like evaporation and condensation, facilitating the water cycle.

What is the difference between weather and climate?

short-term atmospheric conditions; is the average weather over a long period.

What are surface runoff and its importance?

the flow of water over the ground surface to bodies of water, crucial for replenishing lakes and rivers.

What is the water table?

the upper surface of groundwater, where the soil or rocks are saturated with water.

What is watershed?

an area of land where all the water drains to a common body of water.

What is the process of sublimation?

the process by which ice or snow changes directly into water vapor without becoming liquid first.

What impacts do humans have on the water cycle?

through urbanization, deforestation, and water consumption, affecting natural processes.

What is aquifer?

a geological formation that can store and transmit water, often tapped for groundwater supply.

What is cloud seeding?

a weather modification technique that involves dispersing substances into the atmosphere to encourage precipitation.

What is runoff?

the flow of water from precipitation that moves across the land surface to rivers, lakes, and oceans.

What is the role of the sun in the water cycle?

provides the energy necessary for evaporation and drives the water cycle.

What is fog?

a type of low-lying cloud formed when air is cooled to its dew point near the ground, resulting in condensation.

What is a river basin?

the land area that drains into a particular river and its tributaries.

How do plants affect the water cycle?

the water cycle through transpiration, releasing water vapor into the atmosphere.

What is dew?

water that condenses on surfaces at night when temperatures drop, resulting in droplets of liquid water.