CF Forest Ecology and Silviculture 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following tree species is classified as highly shade tolerant?
- Ponderosa pine
- Quaking aspen
- Eastern hemlock (Correct answer)
- Lodgepole pine
Correct answer: Eastern hemlock
Eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) is one of the most shade-tolerant tree species in North America.
Question 2: What is the primary ecological role of coarse woody debris (CWD) in forest ecosystems?
- Increasing fire risk only
- Providing habitat structure, nutrient cycling, and carbon storage (Correct answer)
- Reducing soil moisture availability
- Competing with live trees for nutrients
Correct answer: Providing habitat structure, nutrient cycling, and carbon storage
CWD provides critical wildlife habitat, contributes to nutrient cycling and carbon storage, and serves as seedbed for many plants.
Question 3: The 'intermediate' silvicultural treatments such as thinning, pruning, and release are collectively known as what?
- Regeneration cuts
- Improvement cuts
- Stand tending operations (Correct answer)
- Salvage operations
Correct answer: Stand tending operations
Stand tending operations (also called intermediate treatments) are silvicultural practices applied between stand establishment and final harvest.
Question 4: Which nutrient is most commonly limiting to forest productivity in humid temperate forests?
- Phosphorus
- Potassium
- Nitrogen (Correct answer)
- Calcium
Correct answer: Nitrogen
Nitrogen is the most commonly limiting nutrient in humid temperate forests, often restricting tree growth and productivity.
Question 5: What silvicultural concept describes removing trees of poor form, low vigor, or undesirable species to improve stand quality?
- Precommercial thinning
- Crop tree release
- Improvement cutting (Correct answer)
- Sanitation cutting
Correct answer: Improvement cutting
Improvement cutting removes trees of poor quality or undesirable species to improve overall stand composition and quality.
Question 6: In forest ecology, what does the term 'photosynthetic compensation point' refer to?
- The light level at which a tree's maximum growth occurs
- The light level at which photosynthesis equals respiration (Correct answer)
- The point where trees stop growing in shade
- The maximum photosynthesis rate of a leaf
Correct answer: The light level at which photosynthesis equals respiration
The compensation point is the light intensity at which carbon gained through photosynthesis exactly equals carbon lost through respiration.
Question 7: Which silvicultural method involves cutting narrow strips through a stand to promote advance regeneration while maintaining protective cover?
- Seed tree method
- Strip shelterwood (Correct answer)
- Group selection
- Patch clearcut
Correct answer: Strip shelterwood
Strip shelterwood involves removing timber in successive narrow strips, allowing regeneration to establish under partial shelter before adjacent strips are cut.
CF Forest Ecology and Silviculture 3
Which of the following tree species is classified as highly shade tolerant?