Trees

Question 1

Forest ecosystem

Answer 1

• Interactive biological community dominated by trees

- We live in one

Question 2

What is the dominant landscape of Canada? Break down of numbers.

Answer 2

• Forest ecosystem
• 9% of world’s forests
• 24% of world’s boreal forests
• Highest forest area per capita
• 80% of BC which has more forest classifications than all the rest of Canada

Question 3

How many trees are there in the world? Where are the majority?

Answer 3

• 2015, 2017 estimates 3 trillion
• 7.5x more than previous estimate of 400 billion by satellite image
• Half are in tropical to sub-tropical zone

Question 4

What is the current number of trees in relation to the estimate before humans?

Answer 4

• 46% of the number of trees on planet before humans

Question 5

What is the current turnover each year of trees?

Answer 5

• 15 billion cut, 5 billion replanted

= 10 billion loss/year and habitat destruction

Question 6

What is a tree?

Answer 6

• Single-stemmed woody plant
• Greater than 10m in height when mature
• Some are trees by name only, don’t have wood

Question 7

Biogeoclimatic zones of BC

Answer 7

• Divided into 16 types

- The macro-climate condition of a zone supports an ecosystem with characteristic vegetation and soil

Question 8

What are the 2 biogeoclimatic zones of southern Vancouver Island?

Answer 8

• Coastal Douglas Fir

- Coastal Western Hemlock

Question 9

Coastal Douglas Fir Zone

Answer 9

• Mild, even in winter
• Dry summers
• Below 150m elev.
• SE Vancouver island, southern gulf islands, small patch on mainland (unique)

Question 10

Coastal Western Hemlock Zone

Answer 10

• Cool summers
• Mild winters
• to 900m elevation on south side
• to 350m on north side
• On windward side of coast mountains

Question 11

Trees of Coastal Douglas Fir Zone

Answer 11

• Coastal douglas fir
• Arbutus
• Garry Oak
• Big leaf maple
• red alder

Question 12

Trees of Western Hemlock Zone

Answer 12

• Western hemlock

- Sitka spruce

Question 13

Coastal Douglas Fir Tree

Answer 13

• Pseudotsuga menziesii, var. menziesii, Pinaceae, pine family
• Reach great heights of 100m plus
• Harvested for lumber, also planted world-wide for lumber

Question 14

Arbutus Tree

Answer 14

• Arbutus menziesii, madrone
• Evergreen tree, Ericaceae, heather family
• Large green waxy leaves
• Orange-red bark that peels in sheets
• Berries can be eaten
• Respected in Saanich legend

Question 15

Garry Oak Tree and ecosystem

Answer 15

• Quercus garryana, Fagaceae, oak family
• Drought tolerant
• Dramatic twisted shapes
• Part of special meadow ecosystem (like w/ camas flowers)
• Harbours high diversity of organisms
• Probably similar to pre-settlement habitat

Question 16

Big Leaf Maple Tree

Answer 16

• Acer macrophyllum, Sapindaceae, horse-chestnut family

- Largest leaves of any maples

Question 17

Red Alder Tree

Answer 17

• Alnus rubra, Betulaceae
• Fix nitrogen
• Early colonizer after clear-cut
• Sometimes used for red dye

Question 18

Western Hemlock Tree

Answer 18

• Tsuga heterophylla, pine

- Bark high in tannins

Question 19

Sitka Spruce Tree

Answer 19

• Picea sitchensis, pine
• Only grows close to the coast
• Used to make musical instruments (violin, piano, light and strong, few knots)
• Roots make water-tight hats

Question 20

Tree of Life

Answer 20

• Western Cedar, Thuja plicata, Cupressaceae, cypress family
• Used for almost everything by coastal indigenous people
• Houses, totem poles, canoes, baskets, boxes, rope, fish traps, cradles, bowls, ladles, blankets, capes, skirts, hats, medicine
• Believed to have important spiritual power
• Salish legend that cedar grew in honour of a man who always helped people in every way