FRST 100 - Sustainble Forestry

Global Forests (facts)

- Trees = largest living organism

- Oldest single non-clonal tree is more than 5,000+ yrs

- Rainforests can be found outside tropics

- Forests = most biodiverse biome

Most forest loss is NOT caused by big logging companies

Clonal vs. Non-Clonal

Clonal tree = copies itself (many trees from one root)

Non-clonal tree = single, independent tree (living long time)

BIG challenge

Increasing wood & food production w/o cutting down / affecting forests

Taxonomy

Science of naming & grouping living things

- Classifying organisms

Taxa (taxon)

Groups used to classify living things

(kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species)

Species

Groups of individuals that look similar & interbreed freely (naturally), producing fertile offspring 

Look, mate, babies, repoduce

Breeding vs. Interbreeding

Breeding = 2 dogs of same breed have puppies

Interbreeding = lion & tiger mate to produce liger

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Rules:

- Always italics

- Genus capitalized, species not

- Avoid adding author

e.g., Canis lupus familiaris

Tropic Hierarchy

Organism position in food chain (heterotropis, autotrophs, etc)

Conservation

Protecting & taking care of nature/natural resources

Ecological Hierarchy

How living things are organized in nature 

5 Levels:

- Population = all individuals of a species in an area

- Community

- Ecosystem = all living + non-living parts in an area

- Biome = large area with similar climate & plants

- Biosphere = the whole planet interconnected

Autotroph

Makes own food (e.g., plants)

Producer

Organism that makes food (same as autotrophs)

Heterotroph

Eats other organisms for food

Primary Consumer

Eat producers

Secondary Consumer

Eats primary consumers

Tertiary Consumer

Eats secondary consumers

Decomposer

Breaks down dead matter (bacteria)

Population

All indivdiuals of a species in an area

Community

Groups of populations in an area

Ecosystem

All living & non-living parts in an area

Biome

Large area with similar climate & plants

Biosphere

Whole planet interconnected

Genus

Group of similar species

Species

Group of similar organisms that can reproduce

Subspecies

Variation of a species

Hybrid

Offspring from 2 different species

A Player

Top 10% high-preforming professional

Motivation

Energy & drive to learn & reach goals

Engagement

Interest & involvement in learning (how students appear to be)

Expectancy

How achieveable the goal feels

Support

Quality of learning environment

Value

How beneficial the goal seems

How many species exist today? Terrestrial plants & trees?

Species today: 1.7 million

Terrestrial plants: 330,000 species

Trees: 60,000 species

Defintion of Tree

Tree = woody plant, usually single stem ≥2 m tall; if multi-stemmed, at least 1 vertical stem ≥5 cm DBH

diameter at breast height

(planted forests = forests)

Botanist Definition of A Tree

Woody plant with secondary growth

Ecologist Definition of A Tree

Big woody plant providing habitat, microclimate, ecological functions

Forester Definition of A Tree

Plant producing timber ($$$)

Is Bamboo Considered a Tree? Why/Why not?

Not a tree (no secondary growth)

Is A Palm Tree A Tree?

Fits general/ecologist view, but no secondary growth or timber

Angiosperm

Seeds enclosed in a fruit

- Broadleaves = broad, flat leaves (deciduous or evergreen)

- Hardwood = wood w/ short fibers

e.g., Oak, Maple

Broadleaves

Broad, flat leaves (deciduous or evergreen); usually angiosperms

Hardwood

Wood with short fibers (angiosperms)

Gymnosperms

Naked seeds (usually in cones)

- Conifers = needle- or scale-like leaves, mostly evergreen

- Softwood = wood w/ llong fibers

e.g., Pine, Spruce

Conifers

Needle- or scale-like leaves, mostly evergreen

(gymnosperms)

Softwood

Wood with long fibers (gymnosperms)

Gingko (Maiden Tree), exception

- Gymnosperm (naked seeds)

- Only 1 living species

- Exists for 270 mil yrs

- Native to China

- Broad, deciduous leaves (unlike conifers)

- Seeds are fruit-like ovules (smelly!)

- Male or female 

Gymnosperm BUT has broad leaves (angiosperms)

European Larch (Larix Decidua)

- Gynosperm / Conifer with deciduous needles (unusual for conifers)

- Genus Larix = 10 species

- One of the dominant species in boreal forests

“Australian pine” tree (Casuarina equisetifolia), exception

- Angiosperm that looks like a Gyno (conifer)

- Evergreen

- Mostly used as an ornamental plant

How Many Common Tree Species Are In BC?

40 (90% conifers - gyno)

Primary Growth

Growth in length (happens both at same time in shoot and roots)

Gravitropism

Growth from gravity

Heliotropism

Growth from light

Secondary Growth

Growth in width (radical)

Growth from cambium (cell divison & expansion)

Cambium (secondary growth)

Undifferentiated tissue → makes xylem inside, phloem outside

Xylem

Moves water & nutrients

Phloem

More sap

Tree Rings (secondary)

Show tree growth

- Inter-annual variation = year-to-year

- Intra-annual = seasonal variations

- 1 ring = early wood + late wood

Early wood = fast growth, large vessels, light wood (summer)

Late wood = slow growth, small vessels, dark & dense wood (winter)

Mycorrhizae

Fungi that help plants absorb nutrients

What is the photosynthesis equation that trees need to live?

Water (H2O)+ Carbon Dioxide (CO2) + LIght (solar energy)

= Carbohydrate (CxH2yOy) + Oxygen (O2)

What is the respiration equation that trees need to live?

Carbohydrate (CxH2yOy) + Oxygen (O2) + Respiration 

= Water (H2O) + Carbon Dioxide (CO2) + Heat Energy 

-

Carbon Dioxide = plant food

Respiration

Uses carbohydrates for energy

Carbohydrate

Sugar made in photosynthesis

Photosynthesis

Makes carbohydrates from light, CO2, water

Gross Photosynthesis

Total carbohydrates made (producing)

Net Photosynthesis

Gross photosynthesis – respiration (carbohydrates left after energy use)

Respiration - consuming 

Net - total amount

Theory of Tolerance

Species can live & reproduce only within certain limits of an environmental factor

(water, light, wind, pH level)

Ecological Niche

Set of environmental conditions where a species can grow & reproduce (temp., percipitation)

E.g., - tree species that have ecological niche:

Black spruce, Western Hemlock, Douglas Fir, Lodgepole Pine

Forests

Large area covered mainly with trees and undergrowth

>0.5 ha, trees >5 m tall, >10% canopy cover; excludes mostly agricultural or urban land

Primary/natural Forest

naturally grown native trees, no clear human damage, ecological processes continue

Planted Forest/plantation

Trees mostly planted/seeded

Forest Estate

All land containing forests

Forest Stand

Continous area of similar (homogeneous) forest

Forest Plot

Small measured area for data collection (forest metrics)

Afforestation

Planting trees where there were none before  (planting/seeding) = forest

Reforestation

Re-growing a forest on land that was already forest (planting/seeding)

Deforestation

Clearing forests

Turning forest into another land use (usage) / permanently reducing canopy cover below 10% (degradation)

What are the variables affecting climate and microclimate?

- Air temperature: average and variation

- Precipitation: sum and variation

Climate Graphs

Chart showing temp. & perciptation (rainfall)

Precipitation = shown as bars; vertical columns

Height of bar = amount of rainfall/snowfall

Whittaker Diagram

Graph showing how biomes are distributed (based on temperature & precipitation)

World Biomes

Vegetation (plants) in an area depends on climate

(temperature & precipitation, averages & seasons)

Biome

Very large area w/ similar climate & vegetation

Formation

Community w/ specific vegetation structure

(e.g., cold desert, temperate deciduous forest - sheds leaves)

- Biome subdivision

Growth Form

Type of plant: trees, shrubs, herbs, epiphytes (grow on other plants), lianas (woody vines), bryophytes (mosses & lichens)

Factors that affect forests

Human = Degration & deforestation

Natural = Abiotic & Biotic 

Tropical Rainforest (natural) - tropical wet

Vegetation = All types (plants)

Adaptations = Compete for light, shade, layers, wet soil

Features = Biodiverse & biomass; 2nd after boreal forest

Human Impact = Logging, burning, cattle ranching, agriculture

rainy, warm, humid, sunny - hot, wet forest

Tropical Seasonal Forest - tropical monsoon

Vegetation = broadleaf deciduous trees (angio) & shrubs

Adaptations = Handles extreme humidity/wet, grow leaves ansually, survive fire

Features = Monsoon (rain/wind) climate, biodiverse

Human Impact = Mostly clear for farming (agriculture)

wet & dry seasons (sometimes sunny)

2nd most abundant forest by area

Temperate Deciduous Forest - humid subtropical/continental

Vegetation = Broadleaf deciduous trees (angio)

Adaptations = Grow leaves annually, survive cold & heat

Features = Pretty fall colours

Human Impact = Mostly farms & cities

moderate climate forest, loses leaves in winter

(Less adaptive to fire than tropical seasonal because it sheds leaves often)

Temperate Rainforest - marine west coast

Vegetation = Needleleaf & broadleaf trees, epiphytes, bryophytes (moss), shrubs, ferns

Adaptations = Layers, long-living, shade tolerant, regrow in gaps

Features = Valuable wood, high biodiversity & biomass, rare, important to protect/conservation

Human Impact = Logging, turning forest to city

e.g., BC!!!

Fastest timber growth of all forest types

wet, moderate climate forest

rainy, mild, humid

Boreal Forest - subarctic

Vegetation = Needleleaf evergreen (gymno)

Adaptations = Resist forest, grow in low light, recover after fire

Features = Most common forest, many summer insects, only in N. Hemisphere

Most abundant forest by area

Forest in cold N. regions, mainly conifers

cold, snowy/windy, less sunny

Montane Forest - cold mountain

Vegetation = Needleleaf (N. Hemisphere), broadleaf evergreen (S. Hemisphere) treesr

Adaptations = Resist cold, fire, and drought

Features = Diverse, found at all latitudes

Human Impact = Logging, fire suppression

cold, sometimes snowy/windy, less sunny

Biogeoclimatic Zone (BC)

Area with similar climate & dominant

- Each zone can be split into subzones depending on how wet/dry and warm/cool it is

- Vladimir Krajina

e.g., IDFdk = Interior Douglas-fir, dry & cool)

By Timber Products

(how wood is used after trees are cut)

Pulp

Fiber & particle boards

Solid lumber

Veneer

Speciality Plantaions

Bamboo, Agroforestry

Not Forestry

Fruits, palm oil, cork

Globally, does more wood comes from natural forests or plantations?

Wood comes more from natural forests

Forest Classification Examples (planation → natural)

A. Fast-growing industrial plantation of exotic species (human-controlled)

B. Unmanaged forest of exotic species (unmanaged, exotic)

C. Natural forest but intensively managed (somewhat human-influenced)

D. Planted forest for restoration (looks natural but still planted)

E. Undisturbed natural forest (fully natural)

Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) - metrics

Tree width/diameter measured ~1.3 m above ground

Mean DBH = Average width of all trees in area

Height

Height = Tree height from ground to tip

At stand level, height can be =

Mean height = average height of all trees

Dominant height = average height of the tallest trees 

Tree Density (stocked)

# of trees per area/ha