Bachelor of Forestry Forest Ecosystem Flashcards
7 cards from real B.F. Bachelor of Forestry practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Bachelor of Forestry Forest Ecosystem flashcards as text
Which ecological concept describes the maximum population size that a forest ecosystem can sustainably support?
Answer: Carrying capacity
Carrying capacity (K) represents the upper limit of population size that available resources can sustain over time.
A forest manager notices that soil respiration rates spike sharply after a summer rainstorm following drought. This phenomenon is called:
Answer: The Birch effect
The Birch effect is the pulse of CO2 released when dry soils are rewetted, due to sudden microbial activity.
In which forest zone does photosynthesis typically exceed respiration on an annual basis, making it a net carbon sink?
Answer: Young aggrading second-growth forest
Young aggrading forests rapidly accumulate biomass, so net ecosystem production (NEP) is strongly positive.
What role do woodpeckers play in forest ecosystem function beyond foraging for insects?
Answer: They create cavity habitat used by secondary nesters
Woodpecker-excavated cavities are used by owls, ducks, bats, and other secondary cavity nesters, increasing biodiversity.
Which term describes the functional role of a species within its ecosystem, including its resource use and interactions?
Answer: Niche
An ecological niche encompasses all biotic and abiotic conditions a species requires and its functional role.
Allelopathy in forest ecosystems refers to:
Answer: Chemical inhibition of neighboring plants by a species
Allelopathy occurs when plants release phytotoxic chemicals that suppress germination or growth of competitors.
In forest ecology, the term 'snag' refers to:
Answer: A standing dead or dying tree
Snags are standing dead trees that provide critical habitat for cavity-nesting birds, bats, and invertebrates.