Forest Ecology Forest Ecology
Jan 04, 2016
Forest EcologyForest Ecology
What is forest ecology?What is forest ecology?
Study of – Relationships between organisms and their
environments– Interactions of organisms with one another– Patterns and causes of abundance and
distribution of organisms in forests
What forest ecology is What forest ecology is notnotFrom Gurevitch et al. 2006
Organisms and Their EnvironmentOrganisms and Their Environment
Climate – temperature, precipitation, etc.Climate – temperature, precipitation, etc.– Note the importance of how these variables are Note the importance of how these variables are
measured and expressedmeasured and expressed
SoilsSoilsLightLightInteractions and combinationsInteractions and combinationsNiche – the range of conditions in which a species Niche – the range of conditions in which a species
can survive; i.e., where a species’ traits allow it to can survive; i.e., where a species’ traits allow it to successfully interact with its environment successfully interact with its environment
Examples of NicheExamples of Niche
Sugar mapleSugar maple
Jack pineJack pine
LarchLarch
Sugar Maple
Jack Pine
Larch
If there aren’t enough resources to meet the If there aren’t enough resources to meet the optimum amount for each individual, optimum amount for each individual, competition will occur, resulting incompetition will occur, resulting in– Reduced growth rate for one or both orReduced growth rate for one or both or– Mortality to one of the competitorsMortality to one of the competitors
In many situations, the species will have In many situations, the species will have developed ways to minimize competition, such developed ways to minimize competition, such as as – Get their nutrients and water from different depths Get their nutrients and water from different depths
in the soilsin the soils– Flower at different times relative to leaf Flower at different times relative to leaf
developmentdevelopment
What happens when niches overlap?What happens when niches overlap?
TrilliumTrillium
Trilliums flower early, before the hardwood trees above them leaf out – thus giving them time to flower before it is too shaded
Forest Communities/EcosystemsForest Communities/Ecosystems
All the species of plants and animals interacting with– One another and
– Their environments
Examples
Spruce-FirSpruce-Fir
Northern HardwoodsNorthern Hardwoods
Forest ChangesForest Changes
Disturbance and Succession– Forests are always changing due to
DisturbancesPlant growth and mortality
– Examples of disturbances
– “Recovery” after disturbances
Examples of Disturbance - FireExamples of Disturbance - Fire
Examples of Disturbance - WindExamples of Disturbance - WindExamples of Disturbance - WindExamples of Disturbance - Wind
Disturbance Example - HarvestingDisturbance Example - Harvesting
SuccessionSuccession
Changes in species composition, structure, and processes following a disturbance
Those changes will be driven by the environment and biota
Harvard Forest dioramas illustrate a typical sequence of land changes from clearing during settlement to land abandonment when agriculture in New England went down hill (for multiple reasons)
Harvard Forest DioramasHarvard Forest Dioramas
Harvard Forest dioramas illustrate a typical sequence of land changes from clearing during settlement to land abandonment when agriculture in New England went
down hill (for multiple reasons)
Presettlement ForestsPresettlement Forests
1740 - Early Land Clearing1740 - Early Land Clearing
1830 - Height of Cultivation1830 - Height of Cultivation
1850 - Land Abandonment1850 - Land Abandonment
1910 - Harvest of Old-Field 1910 - Harvest of Old-Field White PineWhite Pine
1915 - Hardwoods Follow Pine 1915 - Hardwoods Follow Pine HarvestHarvest
1930 - Hardwoods Reach Cordwood 1930 - Hardwoods Reach Cordwood SizeSize
Old-Field SuccessionOld-Field Succession