Content

Introduction
Video Lecture
Supplementary Readings
Topic Quiz
Online Discussion
Assignments
Self Review

Topic Introduction

All vegetation, including forests, can be classified according to major structural or physiognomic characteristics, including height, and the number of stems per unit area. These characteristics are strongly influenced by the annual temperature and precipitation regime in a region, so that vegetation of similar ecology and physiognomic characteristics can be broadly grouped into biomes. Biomes help us to describe the prevailing conditions on a site and to compare the ecology, or ecosystem processes, of two or more regions. For example, ecologists often compare the productivity of tropical forests with temperate or boreal forests – and it is a useful way for us to start our discussion of forest restoration and plantation development. In comparing forests we gain a better understanding of how to go about forest management.

This first topic revises some common concepts in ecology and acts as a refresher for terminology that you may not have used for a while. In later modules we will apply these key ecological concepts to the practices of forest restoration and plantation development.

The ecosystem paradigm has proved a very useful way of thinking about forests and forming management actions, so this is where we will start. Ecosystem ecology is the study of the structure and function of nature, and it focusses on patterns of material and energy flow and the processes controlling them. A good conceptual understanding of ecosystem ecology provides a first-principles background to help manage trees for restoration and plantation development.

Video Lecture

Lecture Video & Powerpoint

Topic 1.1 Lecture: Ecology and Ecosystems

[1.1 Lecture ppt to be embedded here.]

Supplementary Readings

Textbooks

Perry, D.A., Oren, R., and Hart, S.C. (2008). Forest Ecosystems. 2^nd Edition. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press.Chapters 2, 3, 4, 11 and 20

Chapin, F.S. III., Matson, P.A. and Mooney H.A. (2012). Principles of Terrestrial Ecosystem Ecology. 2^nd Edition. New York, Springer. Chapter 1, especially pages 3-13.

Sands, R., Norton, D.A., and Weston, C.J. (2013). Chapter 3: the Environmental value of Forests, in Forestry in a Global Context (Edt. R. Sands) , 2^ndedition. Oxfordshire, UK : CABI

Articles in Journals

Francis A. P., and Currie D. J. (2003). A globally consistent richness-climate relationship for angiosperms. American Naturalist, 161(4), 523-536.

Olson D. M., Dinerstein E., Wikramanayake E. D., Burgess N. D., Powell G. V. N., Underwood E. C., D'Amico J. A., Itoua I., Strand H. E., Morrison J. C., Loucks C. J., Allnutt T. F., Ricketts T. H., Kura Y., Lamoreux J. F., Wettengel W. W., Hedao P., and Kassem K. R. (2001). Terrestrial ecoregions of the worlds: A new map of life on Earth. Bioscience, 51(11), 933-938.

Topic Quiz

Topic Quiz 1.1

The topic quiz is designed to check your understanding of important learning concepts for this topic. The quiz contains 10 multiple choice questions. When you are ready, start the quiz at Topic Quiz 1.1.

Online Discussion

Online Discussion 1

For this week's online discussion activity,

Instructor will post a discussion question based on this week’s learning on Monday.
You are expected to response to the posted discussion question with a paragraph not exceeding 150 words in corresponding discussion forum on course Canvas site not later than Friday of the week.
You are also required to critically comment on at least 2 peer’s responses not exceeding 100 words (each comment) by day 7 of each week.

Please see Course Schedule for details on due dates and check out the specific requirements and grading criteria on the Online Discussions page.

Assignments

No other assignments for the week.

Topic Self-review

Reflection Questions 1.1

Please use the self-reflection questions below as a study guide to conduct self-review for the topic.

Describe ecological levels of organization in the biosphere, identify the major forested biomes and list these forest biomes in order of their area.
Discuss the benefits of ecosystem ecology over community ecology and give examples of the kind of environmental questions that are best addressed with an ecosystem approach.
Explain the main differences between coniferous and dipterocarp forest species. In what forest biomes are forests of these species dominant?

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