Forest Ecology

Instructor: Steven Clark            Clark Community College    Email: sclark@clark.edu

Expect at least 60% of the questions on the final to come from this list and/or other questions you have seen (reading quizzes or summary papers). 

Forest Ecology Study Guide

Expect at least 60% of the questions on the final to come from this list and/or other questions you have seen (reading quizzes or summary papers).

1. Be sharp on any of the reading quizzes and the summary papers (with their identifications). 
2. What is a tolerance curve?
3. Be able to use the term “tolerance curve” while explaining why one plant will dominate another.  For example, on a hillside an oak grows far better than a cottonwood but near a stream the reverse is true.  How can this be explained?
4. What is alternate versus opposite?
5. How does pollen travel among conifers?
6. What is the bole of a tree?
7. Describe what I meant at Lacamas when I said the forest had a mosaic pattern.
8. Draw a compound leaf and a simple leaf (see the references in the back of your book).
9. Explain two impacts that Jerry Franklin has had on forestry (there are many).
10. Draw and label a simple diagram that explains photosynthesis.  This may be similar to the picture you collected in your photosynthesis homework.
11. What are the reactants and products of photosynthesis?
12. Ecology studies relationships between living things and:
    1. Other  _________
    2. _______ things
    3. Never _______ things.
    4. Give an example for each of the three scenarios.
13. Give an example of a +/+ (both species benefit) ecological relationship.
14. Give an example of a +/- relationship.  What is that relationship called?
15. Why did I bring up tree snakes in lecture?
16. Why are some non-natives able to completely overwhelm natives?
17. Be able to identify the tree samples that were brought in (cottonwood, Douglas fir and cone, cedar, hemlock and cone).
18. What forest species thrives on disturbance?
19. In lecture I said, “If it is natural, it is probably ________.  If it is unnatural it is probably _____________.
20. What is the fundamental precept of ecology?
21. Disturbance isn’t always a negative occurrence. Why?
22. Why did I mention snowbrush (Ceanothus velutinus) in lecture?
23. What role does algae play in lichen?
24. Why aren’t mushrooms in our Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast book?
25. Name the six kingdoms.
26. Be able to describe OWLS for old growth. 
27. Some people say OWLS plus E.  Discuss the E.
28. Explain carbon sequestration.
29. How is old growth resistant to fire?
30. We gave short presentations on six animals that are old growth facultative or obligate.  Know those six (though be aware that there are others).
31. Draw a fungus.  Label key parts.
32. Describe/draw mycorrhizae.  In what way is it symbiotic?
33. A haploid fungus hyphae must ________ in order to complete its life cycle.
34. Why did I call dikaryotic cells odd?  You may want to contrast these cells with human cells.
35. How tall can a redwood grow?
36. Why is moss considered primitive in the plant world?
37. According to our lecture discussion, how do slugs feed themselves?
38. What is the point of the Yukon to Yellowstone effort?
39. What is the logic behind calling a mountaintop an “island” as in Island Biogeography?
40. How do some logging practices negatively impact the 4 H’s of salmon?
41. Distinguish the two kinds of fires.
42. Are fires good?  Bad?  How could you answer questions of good or bad fires?
43. What are some of the natural functions of a forest?
44. So why do we cut forests if they have so many benefits? 
45. How can demands on forests be reduced?
46. What is a “short rotation”?
47. What is the ecological test of a good harvesting practice?
48. Be able to identify strip cutting and selected harvest.
49. Clear cutting might be acceptable if _______________.
50. What is the benefit of a tree plantation?
51. How would you promote kanaf?

2008 Be able to identify the following either by picture or by sample.

When writing their scientific names for a quiz or test:

·         Underline the terms if you’re handwriting e.g.  Pinus contorta.

·         Capitalize the first name but not the last.

·         Use Italics if you’re typing e.g. Pinus contorta.