FNRS 212 Exam 1

ecology

relations of organisms to one another + physical surroundings

forest ecology

science concerned with interrelationships of organisms within large areas covered by trees

environment

living or non-living

provisioning services

good obtained from ecosystem, ex: food, water, fiber

regulating services

benefits obtained from regulation of ecosystem ex: water purification, pollination

cultural services

non-material benefits ex: spiritual, intellectual, recreation

supporting services

fundamental processes allow services to be present ex: soil formation, water cycle, nutrient cycling

forested watersheds provide…

water for cities, recreation, forest cover

carbon cycle terrestrial

photosynthesis, plant respiration, human emissions, microbial respiration + decomp, soil carbon

carbon cycle aquatic

photosynthesis, respiration + decomp, ocean sediments

role of leaves in eco services

temp (absorbs heat), take up CO2 → growth, put water into atmosphere (transpiration)

forest def

tree cover >10%, ½ ha, 5m (16ft) tree height

forests cover

30% of Earths land area, 70% earths leaf area

albedo

proportion of sunlight reflected by a surface

low albedo of dark surfaces

surface without snow/ice absorbs more heat

high albedo of light colored surfaces

surface with snow/ice reflects more heat

forest (leaves)

C uptake → goods + C storage

cellulose

stores carbon for plants

deforestation →

gets drier downwind since there is less precipitation

temperate zones

due to angles of incoming solar radiation

temperature + precipitation =

vegetation type (biomes)

far north or high elevation

treeless (tundra)

temperate forests

dominated by broad-leaves if good precip, conifers if snow

species richness

species in a given area

fast in tropics

nutrient cycling

productivity

high - moist tropical forests, low - boreal forests

migration barriers

people, cities, farming, roadways

topography

elevation, aspect, slope

elevation

increasing elevation → temp decreases, precip increases

aspect + slope

angle (sun rays), impacts surface temp + water balance

mid latitudes

elevation - temp + moisture, slope/aspect - water balance (soil water)

high latitudes

slope/aspect - heat balance (soil temp)

soil - physical

texture, rock content, organic matter, depth to impermeable layers

soil - chemical

pH, nutrient concentrations

constant change

disequilibrium

primary succession

sequence starts on a blank slate ex: volcanic eruption

secondary succession

sequence of change started by a disturbance that does not remove all bio influenceon on don