Whitebark Pine Communities: Reviewing Chapters 1 & 2

Please answer the following questions over Chapters 1 & 2.

1. Please define the following terms:

keystone species -

ecotone -

mycorrhizal fungi -

krummholz forest -

pioneer species -

"nurse" tree -

silviculture -

prescribed burns -

climax forest -

2. Please "identify" the following species:

Pinus albicaulis -

Pinus monticola -

Cronartium ribicola-

Abies lasiocarpa or Abies bifolia -

Bromus tectorum -

Nucifraga columbiana -

Ursus arctos horribilis -

Tamiasciurus sp. -

Dendroctonus ponderosae -

Picea engelmannii -

Tsuga mertensiana -

Pinus contorta -

Pinus monticola -

Pinus aristata -

Ursus americana -

 

3. List four factors that are affecting whitebark pine populations?

4. How does the whitebark pine community affect the hydrological cycle?

5. What species are known to eat whitebark pine seeds?

6. How has the introduction of cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) affected forest communities?

7. Why is fire such an important factor in influencing whitebark pine communities?

8. Why is whitebark pine considered to be a "keystone" species?

9. Please name some other well known keystone species:

10. How does the whitebark pine facilitate natural succession in the forest community?

11. List some of the consequences of losing whitebark pine from the forest community?

12. How long ago are the first conifers believed to have originated? Where on earth did they arise first?