SFR 107 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Edaphic, Ecotone, Softwood
11 Dec 2016
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Document Summary
Broad ecotone (transition zone) between boreal and eastern temperate biomes. Broad-scale composition: coniferous (softwood, deciduous (hardwood, mixedwood. Edaphic (soil) conditions: poorly drained, hydric, wetland, mesic, well drained (xeric, outcrop, ledge, etc. Capture resources: light and carbon dioxide, soil resources. Abiotic environment: substrate, water, light, local climate. Biotic environment: seed sources, competitors, facilitators, pathogens, herbivores. Disturbance regime: safe sites for regeneration, successional stage. Shade intolerant species require high light levels: early successional, establish in open or large gaps. Shade tolerant species: later successional, can establish under existing canopies. One plant community replaces another through time. Primary succession: old field" succession, abandoned pasture, major disturbance, clearcut" forest. Polycarpic: perennials, various organs can be perenniating. Trees: long-term perenniating organs usually stems, usually single aerial stem at base, usually > 10 m high. Shrubs: perenniating organs are often rhizomes or roots, multiple aerial stems, usually < 5 m high. Gymnosperms: conifers, softwoods, seeds naked" in cones, trees and shrubs, ancient (380+ ma)
