Envirothon Forestry Study Questions

Written Exam

What percentage of Kentucky is forested?

Almost 50%

How many acres of forestland does Kentucky have?

12.4 million

What percentage of Kentucky’s forests are privately owned?

80%

How many different tree species are found in Kentucky?

120+

Which process converts CO2, water, and sunlight into sugar and oxygen?

Photosynthesis

Name two ecosystem services provided by forests.

Clean air, clean water, habitat for wildlife, carbon storage

In which country did the field of forestry originate?

United States

What location in the U.S. is known as the “Cradle of Forestry?”

Biltmore Estate

Who was the first forester in the United States?

Gifford Pinchot

Who served as the first head of the U.S. Forest Service?

Gifford Pinchot

List the three main parts of a tree.

Roots, trunk, and crown

What is the function of the cambium layer?

The cambium layer is responsible for tree growth in diameter

Which part transports sugars through the tree?

Phloem

Apical meristems are found where?

In the roots and branch tips

Which two meristematic zones control tree growth?

Apical and lateral

Name two types of natural reproduction used by trees.

Seed and vegetative reproduction

What type of regeneration occurs when new trees grow from a stump?

Coppice sprouting

Layering occurs when…

A branch touches the ground and roots

What percentage of Kentucky’s trees are conifers?

10%

What percentage of Kentucky’s trees are broadleaved species?

90%

What leaf characteristics are used to identify conifers?

Number of needles per fascicle and arrangement on the twig

Which two conifers in Kentucky have scale-like leaves?

Eastern redcedar and northern white cedar

Name the groups of Kentucky trees with opposite leaf arrangement.

MADBuck = Maple, Ash, Dogwood, Buckeye

A simple leaf has…

One blade per leaf stem

Define ecology.

Ecology is the study of interactions between organisms and their environment

An ecosystem is…

An environment where organisms interact with biotic and abiotic factors

What is the difference between biotic and abiotic factors?

Biotic factors are the living or once-living components while abiotic factors are the non-living factors

Give an example of a biotic factor and an abiotic factor.

Biotic: a plant. Abiotic: wind

A desert receives how much rainfall per year?

Less than 16 inches

How much rainfall does a temperate forest typically receive?

30-60 inches

Topography refers to…

Lay of the land

What three major categories influence forest growth?

Climate, soil, and topography

What is forest succession?

Long-term changes from pioneer species to mature forests

What type of forest represents the final stage of succession?

Climax forest

Which crown class receives full sunlight from above and partial sunlight from the sides?

Dominant

Which crown class receives no direct sunlight?

Suppressed

Which crown class receives little sunlight?

Intermediate

Name two invasive insect pests affecting Kentucky trees.

Emerald Ash Borer, Spotted Lanternfly

Which disease affects sassafras?

Laurel wilt

What disease affects walnut trees?

Blight

List two characteristics that make invasive plants successful.

They produce large quantities of seed and are spread by birds, wind, or humans

What is silviculture?

The art and science of controlling forest growth and composition.

Which harvest method removes all trees at the same time?

Clearcutting

Forest management is…

Planned actions to meet goals for a forest

Which regeneration method leaves only enough trees to reseed the area?

Seed-tree regeneration

Shelterwood regeneration leaves…

More trees for seed and shelter

What is the purpose of thinning?

To reduce competition

A forest cruise involves…

Measuring trees and site conditions

Clearcutting creates…

Even-aged stands

How much did Kentucky’s forest and wood industry contribute to the state economy in 2019?

$13+ billion

How many people were directly employed by this industry?

28,000