Untitled Flashcards Set

Forestry

The science or skill of growing and taking care of trees in forests, especially to obtain wood.

Clear Cutting

A forestry method where all trees in a designated area are removed, which is the least expensive but has the biggest environmental impact.

Shelterwood

A forestry practice where trees are cut down every so often, making it more costly than clear cutting.

Selective Harvest

A forestry method that involves choosing specific trees to cut down, allowing for mixed age management.

Crown Fire

A destructive fire that reaches the tops of the trees, making it hard to stop and causing a long recovery time.

Ground Fire

A fire that sweeps across the base of the forest, easily stopped and making crown fires less likely.

Prescribed Fire/Controlled Burn

An intentional ground fire set with careful planning, aimed at removing fuel to prevent larger wildfires.

Abiotic Factors

Non-living chemical and physical parts of the environment that affect ecosystems, including depth, light, and temperature.

Photic Zone

The depth in the ocean where photosynthesis can take place, averaging about 200 meters.

Primary Producers

Organisms that produce their own food, primarily phytoplankton, macroalgae, and seagrass.

Turbidity

The cloudiness of water caused by suspended solids, which limits light penetration.

Estuary

The area where freshwater streams and rivers enter the ocean, known for its brackish salinity.

Salt Marsh

An ecosystem found in estuaries dominated by grasses, with roots that hold marsh mud together.

Mangroves

Trees found in warm areas that can handle brackish salinity, storing more carbon than tropical rainforests.

Nekton

Organisms that are capable of swimming against currents in aquatic ecosystems.

Plankton

Free-floating organisms in aquatic environments that cannot swim against currents.

Benthic Environment

The ecological region at the lowest level of a body of water, including the sediment surface.

Pelagic Environment

The open water column of the ocean where various aquatic species live.

Coral

An animal that produces a hard shell and lives symbiotically with phytoplankton.

Salinity

The concentration of salts in water, a key factor in aquatic ecosystems.

Seagrass

A flowering plant that grows in marine environments, crucial for underwater habitats.

Macroalgae

Large, photosynthetic organisms found in marine environments, contributing to primary productivity.

Fisheries

Areas over shelf waters where fish are caught, typically abundant in nutrients and light.

Upwellings

Oceanographic phenomena where nutrient-rich water rises to the surface, supporting marine life.

Fuel Load

The amount of combustible material in a given area that can contribute to wildfires.

Soil Erosion

The removal of the top layer of soil, caused by natural forces such as water and wind, often exacerbated by deforestation.

Biodiversity

The variety of life in a particular habitat or ecosystem, which can be negatively impacted by forestry practices.

Nitrogen & Phosphorus

Essential nutrients for primary productivity in aquatic ecosystems.

Aquatic Ecosystem

A water-based environment that includes both biotic and abiotic factors.