B.F. Bachelor of Forestry Bachelor of Forestry Forest Ecosystem 4

Question 1

Which index is most commonly used to quantify species diversity by combining richness and evenness?

Accepted Answer

Shannon-Wiener index (H')

Answer

The Shannon-Wiener index accounts for both the number of species and the evenness of their relative abundances.

Question 2

Forest fragmentation most directly threatens wildlife populations through which mechanism?

Accepted Answer

Edge effects and reduced interior habitat

Answer

Fragmentation creates disproportionate edge habitat and reduces interior forest, harming interior-obligate species.

Question 3

Which nutrient is most commonly the primary limiting factor for tree growth in boreal forest ecosystems?

Accepted Answer

Nitrogen

Answer

Cold temperatures slow decomposition and nitrogen mineralization, making N the key growth-limiting nutrient in boreal forests.

Question 4

What is the ecological function of coarse woody debris (CWD) on a forest floor?

Accepted Answer

It serves as habitat, moisture reservoir, and nutrient pool

Answer

CWD supports salamanders, invertebrates, fungi, and slow-release nutrients while retaining soil moisture.

Question 5

In a temperate deciduous forest, leaf litter decomposition is fastest under which conditions?

Accepted Answer

Warm, moist conditions with diverse invertebrate communities

Answer

Warm, moist environments maximize microbial and invertebrate decomposer activity, accelerating litter breakdown.

B.F. Bachelor of Forestry Practice Test