Lectures 3 + 4: forestry + current forest resource situation

trees

longest-lived plants

tree layers

forest floor, shrub, understory, canopy

overstory

forests are named for the principal species that dominate the _______

climatic features and species composition

forest composition determined by

flora, fauna

tree species have particular ___ and ____ associated w/ it

succession

forests changing over long periods of time on the same acre (takes hundreds of yrs)

manage

we often ____ for dif stages of succession

hardwoods

eastern forests dominated by

softwoods

western forests dominated by

east

which coast has more wildfires?

benefits of forests

biodiversity

habitat and wildlife

protection of soil, water, air

variety of products

recreation

aesthetics

mitigates climate change

provides income/jobs

forests

are the most species rich habitats

70%

rain forest contains ___ of all identified cancer fighting plants

younger forests

sequester more CO2 and faster

softwood forests

slower litter decomposition

foliage is less palatable for wildlife (more oils and resins)

more acidic foliage

tend to be less diverse

provide better coverage in winter

more moist soil (also more dry in dryer periods)

less sunlight

more flammable fuels (!)

excurrent

softwood growth shape

smaller, lateral

decurrent

hardwood growth shape

fork/branch out

potential stand density

tree architecture determines

potential stand density meaning

Max number of trees per acre for a forest w/ avg diameter of 10”

shade in-tolerant species

are shorter-lived (50-80 yrs)

shade tolerant species

have denser crowns + canopies

tree crown

forest growth rates

= interest rates earner

34%

current percent forest area in US

rain forest

PNW considered a…

timberland

forests capable of producing excess 20 cubic ft per acre every yr

37

ohio percent forest cover rank (1 is highest)

publicly

most of west coast forests are ____ owned

south

“fiber basket of the US”

90 yrs

western forests avg age

50 yrs

eastern forests avg age

65

northern forests avg age

40

southern forests avg age

loblolly

favored species for commerical production

young

ohio needs more ____ forests

conifers

higher survival rates

12 million tons

Invasive insects and diseases cause about …. of additional tree mortality per yr in us forests

cheatgrass

highly flammable invasive species

humans, lightning

in the west, ____ cause 70% of all wildfires, whereas ____ causes the other 30%