FOREST ECOLOGY

Forestry for IFoS 2020

Paper – 2 | Section - B
FOREST ECOLOGY
Environement, Pollution and Carbon capturing and storage, Can refer any standard book
on Ecology and environment.
 ECOLOGY ?
❑ 2018 : Forest ecology is the study of complex interactions between organic and inorganic
components of the forest ecosystem. Explain organic and inorganic components providing two
examples of each as they relate to the forest ecosystem (8 m).

Forest ecology is the scientific study of interaction among forest flora, fauna and ecosystem
with its surrounding abiotic or physical environment.

▪ Biotic (Organic) i.e. Tree species (+Invasive), Wildlife

▪ Abiotic (Inorganic) ) i.e. Climatic factors
 FOREST ECOSYSTEM ?
▪ ECOSYSTEM : The sum of the biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) components of a particular
geographical area, collectively called ecosystem.

▪ FOREST ECOSYSTEM : the sum of all the

biotic/Living (Plants, wildlife, insect-paste,
microbes etc.) and abiotic components (Air,
water, light, temperature etc.) of a forest area,
interacting in a way to makes a close net system
of energy and biomass transfer.
 ECOLOGICAL PYRAMIDS
The pyramidal representation of trophic levels of different organisms based on their
ecological position (producer to final consumer)
 NUMBER BIOMASS ENERGY

Forest
Ecosystem
❑ 2019 : What are ecological pyramids ? Explain different types. Mention the implications of
concepts of ecological pyramids in understanding forest ecosystem (10 m ).

❑ Intro : Ecological pyramids are the graphical representation of trophic levels of different
organisms based on their ecological position/Functions (producer to final consumer)

❑ TYPES : (1) Number, (2) Biomass, (3) Energy

Subcategories : Marine, Terrestrial, Grassland, Forest, Pond

❑ IMPLICATIONS :

1. Shows relationship between different organisms in the forest ecosystem [Maintain ecosystem
stability = avoid extinction of species].
❑ IMPLICATIONS :

➢ Climate change : Species behaviour

➢ Food chain : how it work (Carbon sink/Storage capacity)

➢ New Sources of food, Medicine, Timber, Fibers etc.

➢ Wildlife management : Species behaviour

➢ Invasive species : How impacting local ecosystem [ Control ?].

➢ Utilization of forest resources in sustainable manner (Forest community – Economical

development)
❑ 2017 : Garg (1988) described the ecological pyramid as a graphical representation of relationship
between the trophic levels of an ecosystem. Explain with the help of neat diagrams (10 m).
 Pollution

❑ 2015 : Growth and productivity of forest plants are affected by different types of air pollutants.
What are those ? Suggest suitable remedies (10 m).

❑ 2011 : What are the effects of particulate air pollutants on the

regeneration of a forest ecosystem ? Discuss (10 m)

➢ Dust (Solid particles)

➢ Chemical dust from factories
➢ Sulphur/NOx = Acid rain
➢ CO2/O2
➢ Acid rain also removes minerals and nutrients from the soil
that trees need to grow [ Promote aluminum leaching]
➢ At high elevations, acidic fog and clouds might strip nutrients
from trees' foliage, leaving them with brown or dead leaves
and needles.
➢ Lichen = Cell wall dissolve = Death
➢ Wildlife health
➢ Nitrogen depletion (from soil)

https://www.epa.gov/acidrain/effects-acid-rain
 Plants adaptations

❑ IFoS 2019 : Describe various physiological mechanisms underlying drought resistance, drought
tolerance and drought avoidance in forest species [ 15 m | Linked Q ].
Forest Community

▪ PLANT COMMUNITY : A group of

several species (plants and/or animals)
living together with mutual tolerance
(adjustment) and beneficial
interactions in a natural area is known
as a community or more appropriately
biotic community.
ECOLOGICAL AMPLITUDE is the range of habitats or

we can say simply a range of torelance, often

dependent upon climatic, edaphic, topographic,

biotic and its own genetic characters that help the

species to survive in adverse conditions

❑ 2016 : Define ecological amplitude. Describe the classification and characters of plant communities
(10 m).
❑ 2012 : Discuss “ecological amplitude” and the law of tolerance” in the context in which they are
generally used (6m).
COMMUNITY CHARACTERISTICS

❑ Species diversity : There are two levels of species diversity - (i) regional level i.e. Southeast Asia,
within which many different communities exist, and (ii) local level i.e. Kumaon Himalaya, where
different communities exist at different latitudes.
❑ Growth form and structure : growth forms like - Trees, shrubs, herbs, mosses etc. (i) horizontal
zonation as well as (ii) vertical stratification in crop composition.
❑ Dominance : In each community, all the species are not equally important. There are relatively only a
few of these which determine the nature of the community These few species exert a major
controlling influence on the community. Such species are known as dominants.

❑ Succession :

❑ Trophic structure (Self-sufficiency)

❑ 2016 : Define ecological amplitude. Describe the classification and characters of
plant communities (10 m).
❑ 2012 : Discuss “ecological amplitude” and the law of tolerance” in the context in
which they are generally used (6m).
❑ TAXONOMY : The science of identification, describing, classification, and naming of an organism
according to their resemblances and differences.

❑ Plants Identification : A process by which an organism is recognized from the others by an

already known organism and is assigned to a particular taxonomic group is called
identification.
❑ Nomenclature : Naming of an organism according to international scientific rules is called
nomenclature.
❑ Classification : A process by which an organism is grouped into convenient categories on the
basis of some easily observable characters
Dichotomous key
Clonal Parks
2014 : Which are the six major attributes of an ecosystem - explain
in detail (8 m).

❑ Structure – Composed of biotic and abiotic sub-components

❑ Function – Energy exchange between living community and physical
environment
❑ Complexity – High levels of Biological integration
❑ Interaction and inter dependency – Change in one effects another
❑ Temporal – Change overtime - Dynamic
❖ Ecosystem structure (Components) : abiotic and biotic components.
❑ ABIOTIC (PHYSICAL) COMPONENTS : The non – living elements such as sunlight, water , air and soil are
called abiotic components.
These components are classified into 3 types: Climatic factors (atmospheric temperature, wind,
sunlight and humidity), edaphic factors (soil types, organic matter, mineral composition) and inorganic
and organic substances ( carbon, nitrogen , oxygen , proteins, carbohydrates , lipids , humus).
❑ BIOTIC COMPONENTS : Living organisms are called biotic factors.
1. Primary producers – Green plants (Autotrophs) that use of sunlight and other abiotic elements to
produce food.
2. Consumers – They feed on autotrophs (plant) or other heterotrophs to obtain energy. The primary
consumers such as herbivores feed on the plants. The secondary consumers such as carnivores feed
on herbivores. Scavengers such as bacteria feed on the dead and decaying organisms.
3. Decomposers - such as bacteria or fungi. They break down dead bodies of plants and animals into
simpler compounds and return inorganic nutrients to the soil environment.
bonvictor.blogspot.com: Ecosystem : structure and
attributes

▪ Regulatory functions – govern climate, rain fall

and life support systems.
▪ Habitat functions – provide habitat for wild
plants and animals.
▪ Production functions – supply food, fuel, fibres
and fodder.
▪ Information services – cover the beauty,
inspiration and recreation that contribute to our
spiritual welfare.
 ▪ IFoS 2012 : Describe Raunkier’s life forms (8 m)

According to Raunkiaer's*** life forms are of following types. It is

bases on the position and the degree of protection to
perennating organs (bud) during adverse season

❑ Phanerophytes - The bud are located much above the surface of

the earth. Such type of plants are found more in tropics.
Epiphytes are included in phanerophytes.

❑ Chamaeophytes - The buds are situated very close/near to the

ground surface. Such type of plants are found in cold places or
high altitudes.
❑ Hemicryptophytes - The bud present just below or just above
the surface of ground. Such plants are found in temperate
climate.
❑ Cryptophytes - The buds lie very deep in the ground.
❑ Therophytes - Those plants which are passing the unfavourable
climate through their seeds

BIOLOGICAL (PHYTO-CLIMATIC) SPECTRUM*** : The ratio

or percentage distribution of different life forms in any
plant community is called biological spectrum.
❑ 2018 : What is carbon sink ? How do forest soils act as important carbon sinks? (8 m).

❑ 2015 : Why is carbon recycling important ? What are its influences on climate ? Discuss
your points for or against (10 m).

❑ 2015 : Narrate how sustainable forestry accounts for the ecological, economic, social and
cultural values of forests. Give your opinion (15).
❑ 2014 : Why is a balance between production, social and environmental objectives
necessary in sustainable forest management plans ? (20 m).
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