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Flashcards in Trees Deck (20)
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1
Q

Forest ecosystem

A
  • Interactive biological community dominated by trees

- We live in one

2
Q

What is the dominant landscape of Canada? Break down of numbers.

A
  • Forest ecosystem
  • 9% of world’s forests
  • 24% of world’s boreal forests
  • Highest forest area per capita
  • 80% of BC which has more forest classifications than all the rest of Canada
3
Q

How many trees are there in the world? Where are the majority?

A
  • 2015, 2017 estimates 3 trillion
  • 7.5x more than previous estimate of 400 billion by satellite image
  • Half are in tropical to sub-tropical zone
4
Q

What is the current number of trees in relation to the estimate before humans?

A
  • 46% of the number of trees on planet before humans
5
Q

What is the current turnover each year of trees?

A
  • 15 billion cut, 5 billion replanted

= 10 billion loss/year and habitat destruction

6
Q

What is a tree?

A
  • Single-stemmed woody plant
  • Greater than 10m in height when mature
  • Some are trees by name only, don’t have wood
7
Q

Biogeoclimatic zones of BC

A
  • Divided into 16 types

- The macro-climate condition of a zone supports an ecosystem with characteristic vegetation and soil

8
Q

What are the 2 biogeoclimatic zones of southern Vancouver Island?

A
  • Coastal Douglas Fir

- Coastal Western Hemlock

9
Q

Coastal Douglas Fir Zone

A
  • Mild, even in winter
  • Dry summers
  • Below 150m elev.
  • SE Vancouver island, southern gulf islands, small patch on mainland (unique)
10
Q

Coastal Western Hemlock Zone

A
  • Cool summers
  • Mild winters
  • to 900m elevation on south side
  • to 350m on north side
  • On windward side of coast mountains
11
Q

Trees of Coastal Douglas Fir Zone

A
  • Coastal douglas fir
  • Arbutus
  • Garry Oak
  • Big leaf maple
  • red alder
12
Q

Trees of Western Hemlock Zone

A
  • Western hemlock

- Sitka spruce

13
Q

Coastal Douglas Fir Tree

A
  • Pseudotsuga menziesii, var. menziesii, Pinaceae, pine family
  • Reach great heights of 100m plus
  • Harvested for lumber, also planted world-wide for lumber
14
Q

Arbutus Tree

A
  • Arbutus menziesii, madrone
  • Evergreen tree, Ericaceae, heather family
  • Large green waxy leaves
  • Orange-red bark that peels in sheets
  • Berries can be eaten
  • Respected in Saanich legend
15
Q

Garry Oak Tree and ecosystem

A
  • Quercus garryana, Fagaceae, oak family
  • Drought tolerant
  • Dramatic twisted shapes
  • Part of special meadow ecosystem (like w/ camas flowers)
  • Harbours high diversity of organisms
  • Probably similar to pre-settlement habitat
16
Q

Big Leaf Maple Tree

A
  • Acer macrophyllum, Sapindaceae, horse-chestnut family

- Largest leaves of any maples

17
Q

Red Alder Tree

A
  • Alnus rubra, Betulaceae
  • Fix nitrogen
  • Early colonizer after clear-cut
  • Sometimes used for red dye
18
Q

Western Hemlock Tree

A
  • Tsuga heterophylla, pine

- Bark high in tannins

19
Q

Sitka Spruce Tree

A
  • Picea sitchensis, pine
  • Only grows close to the coast
  • Used to make musical instruments (violin, piano, light and strong, few knots)
  • Roots make water-tight hats
20
Q

Tree of Life

A
  • Western Cedar, Thuja plicata, Cupressaceae, cypress family
  • Used for almost everything by coastal indigenous people
  • Houses, totem poles, canoes, baskets, boxes, rope, fish traps, cradles, bowls, ladles, blankets, capes, skirts, hats, medicine
  • Believed to have important spiritual power
  • Salish legend that cedar grew in honour of a man who always helped people in every way