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FAO Forest Definition

Land with a tree canopy cover greater than 10% of an area of more than 0.5 hectares, with trees having a minimum height of 5 meters.

Forest Ecosystems

An ecosystem that includes both the biological assemblage and the physical environment, along with its inputs and outputs.

Biological Hierarchies

A system that shows how emergent properties at one level can help us understand biological processes at another level.

Emergent Property

A trait that is visible only at the next level of biological organization, arising from the combination of smaller component traits.

Forest Biology

The study of the attributes and themes of living organisms found in forests, including soil organisms, fungi, fish, and wildlife.

Reasons to Study Forests

1) They occupy a large portion of the Earth's surface. 2) They are highly productive ecosystems. 3) They have a significant impact on life on Earth.

Gymnosperm

Seed plants that do not produce flowers and reproduce using cones; commonly referred to as softwood.

Angiosperm

Seed plants that produce flowers; commonly referred to as hardwood.

Fundamental Niche

The complete range of environmental conditions necessary for an organism to survive, grow, and reproduce.

Realized Niche

The specific resources and environmental conditions present in an area that enable a species to survive.