Forest Ecology

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Ecology

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study of ecological systems and their interacting abiotic and biotic parts

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ecosystem

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layered structure of interacting biotic and abiotic components
(1935, Arthur Tansley)

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forest eco

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study of ecosystems dominated by trees

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abiotic

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non-organic

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forest type

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the dominant tree species characterize the forest ecosystem

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Forest community

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aggregation of plants and animals living together and occupying a common area

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forest stand

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sub community consisting of trees which have enough uniformity to be noticed from adjacent stands

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forest site

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abiotic factors that support equivalent ecosystems

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phenotype

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outward appearance, observable properties of an organism produced by genotype together with its environment

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genotype

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genetic composition of an individual

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plasticity in the phenotype

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degree to which a character of the genotype can be modified

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heritability

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ability of a character to be passed on to successive generations

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mutations

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random changes to genetics

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layering

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a branch falls off and makes contact with the soil, sprouting roots

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gene flow

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genetic material from on population enters another populations gene pool

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polyploidy

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organisms with 3 or more sets of chromosomes than lowest # for genus

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vegetative reproduction

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asexual reproduction

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basal

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base of tree

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basal sprouting

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sprouts rising from the base of the tree arised from dormant of adventitious buds at the lower part of the stem

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root shoots

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sprouting from the roots

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rhizomes

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stems growing horizontally underground sprout shoots

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lignotubers

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new shoots arise from a buried mass of stem tissue

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stolons

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arching branches of shrubs that take root when they come into contact

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runners

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horizontal stems above ground that take root along their length and sprout stems

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fragmentation

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broken limbs take root

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tipping

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uprooted system whose lateral branches turn up and eventually grow roots

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dormant buds

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formed normally

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adventitious buds

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formed in response to a stress or opportunity

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active seedband

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viable seeds with no dormancy requirement (seed bank <1 year)

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dormant seed bank

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seeds stay viable in soil for more than 1 year, waiting for conditions for germination to be right

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seedlings

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more shade tolerant than trees (most that germinate, die)

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serotinous

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cones that require fire or heat to induce opening

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wind dispersed

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light weight, often shade intolerant species numerous, low viability

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locally dispersed seeds

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fewer and heavier animal dispersal

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persistent juveniles

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seeding capable of persisting over long periods in the juvenile state

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masting

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irregular abundant flowering seed production

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recruitment

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transitioning from the ground layer to the understory

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phototropism

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growth response towards light (branches growing towards patches of sun light)

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photoperiod

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response of plants to the timing of light and darkness cycles

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senescence

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entrance into dormancy

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supercooling

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trees can fill cells with nutrients freezing

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true dormancy

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buds and seeds that can't grow in order to deal with short warm days in winter (need long term changes)

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site

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physical factors of an ecosystem which affects plant process

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albedo

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reflective property of earth's surface

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microclimate

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local variation in climate

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sun flecks

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patches of sunlight that reach the forest floor and change position with the location of the sun

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torching

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1 tree catching on fire

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backing fire

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fire moving against the wind

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heading fire

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moves towards the wind

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fire regime

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nature of fires occurring over an extended period of time in a particular location

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Return Interval

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expected amount of time between disturbances

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intensity

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amount of energy generated

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severity

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effect of the fire on ecological systems