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Understanding Forest Ecology
TREES are the first things that come
to mind when someone mentions
a forest. However, if you have taken a
walk in a forest, you know that a forest
holds many forms of life besides trees.
You will also find squirrels, deer,
herbaceous plants, vines, insects, and
other organisms there.
Objective:
� Describe forest ecology and forest ecosystems.
Key Terms:
�
Forest Ecology
Ecology is the science of the interrelationships between living things and their environ-
ment. Forest ecology is the study of the forest ecosystem. Forest ecology deals with the
interrelationships between various trees, plants, and other living organisms that make up the
community. It also deals with the interrelationships between those organisms and the physical
environment in which they exist.
An ecosystem is a system formed by the interaction of a biological community with its
nonliving environment. Forest ecosystems can vary in size from a few hundred acres to thou-
sands of acres. Forest ecosystems are generally classified into types based on their dominant
tree species. Some ecosystems are simple, whereas others can be very complex. An apple
orchard or a pine plantation is a simple ecosystem because it has only one species of plant. A
FIGURE 6. The plant life on this forest floor is a
biological factor.
FIGURE 7. These wood poles were made from timber trees.
major factor commonly associated with the tolerance of a tree, and tree species are often
grouped or classified based on their tolerance to shade.
Root growth is related to the inherited characteristics of a tree. Root development varies
considerably from species to species. Root systems are adaptive and tend to modify themselves
to suit the environmental conditions in which they grow. The presence of certain soil fungi is
essential for the successful growth of many tree species. Mycorrhizae are soil fungi that
enable trees to more fully utilize water, minerals, and nitrogen in the soil.
The hardiness of a tree is its ability to withstand cold. Trees also have adaptations to toler-
ate heat, droughts, insect infestations, disease attacks, and other elements limiting survival and
growth. The level of adaptation differs between species and between individual trees within a
species.
Summary:
� Forest ecology is the study of the forest ecosystem. An ecosystem is a systemformed by the interaction of a biological community with its nonliving environ-ment.
Characteristics and processes typical of the forest environment include stratifica-tion, zonation, diversity, and stability. Stratification refers to the various layers thatcan be observed in a forest. Zonation refers to various kinds of trees in a portion ofa forest that have similar needs. Natural forest ecosystems have many kinds of treesand plants.
Processes and relationships of natural ecosystems include energy flow, materialcycling, competition, and ecological succession. The material cycle is a circular pro-cess in which materials are used over and over. Many forest ecosystems are con-stantly changing through ecological succession.
The total tree environment involves a complex interaction between a variety ofphysical and biological factors. The physical environmental factors include climate,soil, and fire activity. The biological factors include genetic considerations and theinteraction between trees and other plants, between trees and small animals that usethe forest for food and cover, and between trees and fungi and microorganisms inthe soil.
Checking Your Knowledge:
� 1. What is forest ecology?
2. What are some characteristics and processes typical of the forest environment?
3. What role do energy flow, material cycling, competition, and succession havein a natural forest ecosystem?