FORS2309 Final Exam Study Guide PDF

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Stephen F. Austin State University
FORS2309 Forest Ecology
Professor Dr. Kidd
Term: Fall 2021
Format: in-person...

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FORS2309 Forest Ecology Final Exam Study Guide *CUMULATIVE* Date: Wednesday, 12/8/21 at 10:30am Note: Bring a calculator! Required Readings: Chapter 8 (p. 182-205) Slides (on D2L): 11-3-21_Light2_IntroCommunity Ecol. 1) What is the general relationship between overstory crown density and ground floor/understory light availability? – Overstory crown density receives more sunlight in general than the understory, therefore, the understory receives less light than the overstory. 2) Define light compensation point (LPC) – photosynthesis rates continue to increase with increasing light intensity until other factors become limiting. 3) Which has a lower light compensation point: a shade-tolerant or shade intolerant tree? A sun leaf or shade leaf? – A shade-intolerant sun leaf has a higher light compensation point than a shade-tolerant shade leaf. 4) Define light saturation point. At what point does this occur? Which has a lower light saturation point: a shade-tolerant or shade-intolerant tree? A sun leaf or shade leaf? – where no increase in CO2 absorption occurs. Photosynthesis is not limited light at this point, but affected by supply by CO2, etc. needed for the enzyme process. 5) Provide 3 morphological and 3 physiological differences of sun leaves when compared to shade leaves. Morphological characteristics of sun leaves include: a. Thick cuticle b. More deeply lobed c. Fewer and smaller chloroplasts Physiological characteristics of sun leaves include: d. Lower chlorophyll content e. Higher photosynthetic rate in high light f. Lower photosynthetic rate in low light g. High respiration rate (higher compensation point) h. High transpiration rate (cooling effect) 6) What is a sun fleck? What silvical characteristics are associated with species that are able to efficiently utilize sun flecks? – “spots” of sunlight that move throughout the forest floor where shade is most of the time. Duration is brief and some species can open stomata quickly and survive under such conditions. Shade tolerant (Florida Maple). Shade tolerant species adapted to utilize this light for photosynthesis. Chapter 15 and 16 1) Define synecology – the study of relations between groups of organisms or co-existing biological or plant communities (aka “community ecology”) 2) Define autecology – study of an individual organism in relation to the environment. 3) What is the difference between a biome and a plant community? – a biome is a large region of the world that has similar plants, animals, and other organisms that are adapted to the terrain

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and weather of that region. A plant community refers to groups of species in the same place, at the same time. Define community – a group of organisms living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common. Explain Clements’ Organismal Theory and how it relates to succession, particularly climax communities (from chapter 15) – early concepts are “organism-like” properties. Arises, grows, matures, reproduces, and dies as a unit. Uniform, rigid (monoclimax) based on climatic region (major unit = formations; minor units = associations). Later acknowledged in plant succession (units along successional pathways). Describe Henry Gleason’s contributions to today’s understanding of community ecology (ch.15) - objected organismal view; species were individuals in a community, emphasized variation and mixtures of species (interacting) within communities. Not uniform but vary in space and time. Which scientist first used a gradient analysis to describe community types based on differences in environmental variables? Define niche – ecological role of an organism. Where, when, and how a species is genetically and physiologically adapted to persist with other species in a site. List the 3 types of niche components and describe 1 example of each. a. Spatial – location b. Temporal – over time c. Functional – physiological adaptations Define physiological amplitude. How does this range differ from a species’ physiological optimum range? – conditions for optimal growth and where competition excluded. Describe the n-dimensional hypervolume concept and how it relates to a species’ niche. – set of resources and environments that a species requires to persist. Define tolerance – the capacity of an organism to subsist under a given set of environmental conditions. Define realized niche – the niche that a species actually inhabits, considering interspecific competition. List and describe 5 types of interactions that can occur among organisms. – a. Mutualism b. Commensalism c. Predation d. Competition e. Neutralism Describe the 4 ways that mutualisms are important to the life cycle of woody plants. a. Nutritional (breakdown/cycling) b. Transport (dispersal – pollen, seeds) c. Protection (from enemies during extreme cases) d. Supply of energy (transfers) What is the difference between a symbiotic and non-symbiotic mutualism? – Symbiotic mutualism is when two species benefit from each other. Non-symbiotic is when no species benefit from each other.

17) Define allelopathy. Provide 2 examples of species that utilize allelopathy. – Direct/indirect chemical effect of one plant on germination, growth, development of neighboring plants. 18) What is the -3/2 law? – Rate at which density development mortality occurs. 19) Define ecological disturbance – any relatively discrete event in time that disrupts ecosystem, community or population structure and changes resources, substrate availability or the physical environment. A disturbance initiates change! Forests are dynamic through space and time; constantly changing (recall forests do not persist in a vacuum). 20) List 6 examples of disturbances – fire, insects/pests/diseases, wind, flooding, earthquakes, drought, biological invasions, agriculture, avalanches, silvicultural activities (harvesting, herbicide, thinning). 21) What is a disturbance regime? – if a disturbance occurs repeatedly in a system, we get an idea of an outcome given a certain condition (predictability). Very important from a management perspective. 22) List 6 components/variables used to describe a fire regime. What information does each component provide? – Frequency, timing/seasonality, severity, intensity, extent, type/microlocation. a. Frequency – how often does it occur? b. Timing/Seasonality – when does disturbance occur? c. Intensity – how fierce was the disturbance? d. Extent – spatial area affected or temporal duration of disturbance? e. Type/Micro-Location – location within system where disturbance occurs? 23) What is the general relationship between disturbance frequency and severity? And between severity and recovery time? Use common sense and think about…implied from lecture material/readings. – Usually if the disturbance does not happen often (is infrequent), then the event is more severe and recovery time is longer than a disturbance that occurs often and has little severity and little recovery time. 24) Do severity and intensity depict the same information? Why or why not? – Severity and intensity do not mean the same because severity refers to the effects on the areas disturbed and intensity refers to how fierce the disturbance was. Severity is evaluated based vegetation mortality, what is left of the soil, how much organic material remains? Floods – how much erosion or sediment deposition overall? 25) Define mean fire interval (or Fire Return Interval). How can this information be obtained for past decades? – Average time between fire events; carbon dating can be used for past decade information. 26) What is the intent of forestry best management practices? – to properly manage a forest with methods like timber harvesting, streamside management zones, fire management 27) What is the difference between point source and nonpoint sources pollution? Which type of pollution are BMPs designed to address? a. Point Source – any single identifiable source of pollution from which pollutants are discharged. b. Nonpoint Source – results from land runoff and precipitation 28) Describe potential impacts of downstream sedimentation. – Loss of important and sensitive aquatic habitats and organisms; erosion increased

29) Why are stream crossings a concern? – Impacts water quality, movement of aquatic species; introduces sediment to streams, degrades habitat. 30) Define ephemeral stream – a stream that flows only briefly during and following a period of rainfall in the immediate locality. 31) Describe succession – the replacement of one community by another until a stable stage is reached. 32) Who introduced the term “succession”? In what year? – John Callum in 1806 used to describe change of southern pine timber to other species on the same soil. 33) Who coined the term, “forest succession”? – Henry David Thoreau 34) List the 6 general stages in the Clementsian succession order a. Nundation b. Migration c. Ecesis d. Competition e. Reaction f. Stabilization 35) Describe how a chrono-sequence can be used to study succession. – a chrono-sequence is a “space-for-time” substitution, where ecologists can predict temporal patterns of vegetation based on a snapshot of an area gradient representing different ages of succession. 36) How does primary succession differ from secondary succession – primary succession occurs in an environment without previous life, or a barren habitat. Secondary succession occurs in an area that had previously been inhabited but experience a disturbance, such as a wildfire. The newly created volcanic island has no previous life, and is made of rock, devoid of soil. 37) List 3 types of biological legacies. Which type of succession do biological legacies play an important role? – Snags, fallen logs, and organic matter left by fire. 38) What is the term for a tree deformed by wind, typically located along a tree line? – Krummholz 39) What is a pioneer species? Provide 4 characteristics that prove advantageous to the function of a pioneer species. – light weight seeds, rapid germination, roots can penetrate deep, rapid growth 40) Define climax community. Provide 1 example of a climax community type. – Culminating stage in forest succession that develops itself in the absence of disturbances (mature oaks and hickories). 41) What is a seral stage? – Intermediate stage in succession advancing towards a climax community 42) List 5 ways an early-successional species from a late successional species. – Early successional species – smaller sized seeds, low root to shoot ratio, rapid growth, low shade tolerance. Late successional species – larger sized seeds, high root to shoot ratio, slow growth, high shade tolerance. 43) List 1 example of both an early and late successional species – Early is red cedar and late is Florida Maple 44) Describe the 4 stages of forest stand development. What occurs in each stage? a. Stand initiation – sprouts begin b. Stem exclusion – competition c. Understory re-initiation – regeneration is recruited d. Old Growth

45) What are the 2 main components of diversity? List 2 indices discussed in lab and your Chapter 20 readings – Biological and Ecosystem based upon species area curves and site index. 46) List and describe 4 different spatial scales on which species diversity is evaluated (Ch.20) a. Point Diversity b. Alpha Diversity c. Gamma Diversity d. Epsilon Diversity 47) Define beta diversity – ratio between regional and local species diversity 48) List 6 management objectives that can be accomplished using prescribed fire. a. Increased nitrogen in soil b. Improve growth of vegetation c. Reforestation of woodlands d. Invasive species management e. Disease/harmful insect management 49) List 4 general survival strategies: a. Bark – avoid damage b. Recover following damage c. Colonize d. Promote or facilitate disturbance 50) What is meant by serotinous cones? Provide 2 examples of species that have serotinous cones. – A cone that opens and disperses seeds only when heat/fire is applied to them. Examples – Lodgepole Pine and Pond Pine 51) Define a forest. Are forests considered 2-dimensional? Why or why not? – Forests are threedimensional complex ecological systems made up of strata (layers). 52) Which scientist introduced the term “ecosystem”? – Arthur Tansley in 1935 53) List 3 biotic and abiotic components of an ecosystem. – Biotic – plants and wildlife communities; abiotic – environmental physical factors like climate, soils 54) What is the difference between a plant community and a biotic community? – Plant community is a collection of plant species within a geographical unit. A biotic community is a group of species living in the same area at the same time. 55) What is meant by forest composition, structure, and function? – Spatial arrangement, strata within the ecosystem, atmosphere, soil, and biota. 56) Which approach (vertical or horizontal) is taken to study the function of forested ecosystems? – Vertical 57) Define oikos. What is the origin for this term? – Greek for “home” or “knowledge of home” 58) Define ecology – the study of ecological systems and interactions of biotic and abiotic components. 59) Define forest ecology – Scientific study of the patterns and ecosystems in a forest. 60) List 3 reasons why studying forest ecology is important. – Regeneration and reforestation, growth and composition, and management composition 61) What factors should be considered when delineating a forest stand? Why is this concept important to forest management? – A forest stand is a contiguous community of trees uniform in composition, structure, age, size, class, distribution

62) Why is ecosystem scale important? – light, heat, chemical factors, water, disturbances are important when managing a forest because they all work together to maintain a healthy forest ecosystem 63) On a larger scale, do associations exist among climate, soil, and vegetation? – Yes 64) List the 4 scale classes in Delcourt’s scale paradigm – Macro, meso, macro, mega 65) Based on Delcourt’s Scale Paradigm, which temporal and spatial scale is most relevant to geologists, paleontologists, and evolutionists. – Macro and Mega scales 66) Layering – successional layers/forest strata 67) Stolons/Runners – reproduction of a stem or branch that grows along the ground surface and takes root at a node. 68) Ramet – genetically identical individuals (clones) produced asexually 69) Genet – genetically unique offspring of 2 parents produced sexually 70) Basal Sprout – sprouts that are able to grow out of a tree trunk and form a new tree. 71) Root suckers – Various types of shoots which grow from adventitious buds. 72) Low forest – stand made of asexually reproduced trees. 73) Polycot – more than 2 cotyledons 74) Dicot – 2 cotyledons 75) Monocot – 1 cotyledon 76) Cotyledon – embryonic leaf/seed leaf, first leaves to flush out. 77) Provenance – seeds are collected from an area or population of interest. 78) Gene Flow – sharing of characteristics between communities 79) Plasticity of Phenotype – the degree to which a character trait of a given genotype can be modified by environmental changes. 80) Heterozygote – organism that inherits 2 different alleles of same genestrength of genetic influence/ability for trait to be passed. 81) Heritability – strength of genetic influence/ability for trait to be passed on 82) Two major sources of genetic variation – genetic mutation and recombination 83) Formula for phenotype – P = P + G + GE 84) Phenotype – observable traits 85) Genotype – genetic makeup 86) Forest strata – layers 87) Ten ecoregions of Texas? a. East Texas Piney Woods b. Edwards Plateau c. Trans-Pecos d. Rolling Plains e. High Plains f. South Texas Plains g. Post Oak Savannah h. Blackland Savanah i. Coastal Prairies and Marshes j. Cross Timber and Prairies 88) 3 factors that drive distribution of forest cover types. a. Climate

b. Competition c. Soil Types 89) 5 Soil Formation Factors a. Parent material b. Climate c. Topography d. Biota e. Time 90) Phytometer – is a plant that can be used to measure site quality 91) Transpiration – is the water movement from the plant’s leaves to the atmosphere through stomata...