Science Olympiad Forestry Training

This powerpoint is intended to train students how to use a Tree Key to identify unknown trees. Tree Keys are are permitted for the competition. The terminology found within is also part of the material that is subject to part of the competition in the form of questions.

Common names are given to many plants and can be used in everyday conversation. They are easy to pronounce and are usually descriptive but there are a few issues with only using commons names:

• trying to communicate with someone from a different region

or country can be difficult

• sometimes the same plant has many different common names

• different plants may have the same common name

• some plants are so rare that no common name is given

Scientific Names V.S. Common Names

The Father of Botany

Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778) is was the first to consistently use a system of binomial nomenclature which literally means two names.

– Scientific names of plants consist of a generic name (Genus) and a specific epithet, in Latin either underlined or in italics.

TAXONOMIC CLASSIFICATION

King David Came Over For Good Spaghetti

I I L R A E P

N V A D M N E

G I S E I U C

D S S R L S I

O I Y E

M O S

N

Delaware has over 60 species of trees!

• It is hard to know every tree in the forest so taxonomists have constructed dichotomous keys to help identify them.

The Key to Knowledge• A dichotomous key is a tool that allows the user to

determine the identity of items in the natural world, such as trees, wildflowers, mammals, reptiles, rocks, and fish.

• Keys consist of a series of choices that lead the user to the correct name of a given item. "Dichotomous" means "divided into two parts". Therefore, dichotomous keys always give two choices in each step.

1. a. wings covered by an exoskeleton……………….go to step 2

b. wings not covered by an exoskeleton………..….go to step 3

2. a. body has a round shape………………………….ladybug

b. body has an elongated shape…………………….grasshopper

3. a. wings point out from the side of the body………dragonfly

b. wings point to the posterior of the body………...housefly

Below is an example of a dichotomous key. Always begin your inquiry at Question 1. Always make sure to ready both statements completely and chose the one that best describes your unknown. Pay close

attention to where the key instructs you to go next until you arrive at your answer. You will notice each set of “questions” compares different expressions of the same character.

Tree Keys• Keying is a way to identify a plant or tree by

looking at the similarities and differences that exist among them.

• A tree key would begin with a group of trees that are split into two groups by comparing different expressions of the same character (flower color red or white).

• In most tree keys, the first set of questions will be if the tree has needles (evergreen) or broad leaves (deciduous).

Basic TerminologyIT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO LEARN HOW TO IDENTIFY THE FOLLOWING TERMS TO BE SUCESSFUL IN KEYING OUT THE UNKNOWN TREE. IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO DECIFER

WHETEHR THE TREE LEAF IS OPPOSITE OR ALTERNATE OR SIMPLE OR COMPOUND, YOU WILL END UP WITH AN INCORRECT ANSWER.

• Opposite: This is referring to the orientation of the leaves and buds and twigs and branches. Opposite means the leaves, etc. are directly across from one another on the branch.

• Alternate: the orientation of the leaves, buds, twigs and branches are staggered along stem

• Simple leaf: is a leaf that is comprised of one leaflet with a petiole attaching it to the twig. At the base of the petiole will be a bud. An example would be red maple.

• Compound leaf: is a leaf that is comprised of many leaflets with a petiole attaching it to the twig. If you trace back the stem of a leaflet you will NOT find a bud, therefore it cannot be a leaf.

• Petiole: the stem of a leaf that connects it to the twig• Margin: the edge of the leaf. It can be entire (uncut), lobed,

toothed, etc.

LEAVES

leaves can be needle-shaped, scale-shaped, or broad and flat

LEAVES

• Broad leaves can be simple or compound and are arranged along the branch in an opposite, alternate, or whorled pattern.

LEAF MORPHOLOGY

• Leaf shape

• Leaf Margins

• Leaf venation

Leaf & Flower Parts

Flowers

• sepals which are usually green and leaf-like

• petals with are brightly colored

• stamens (the male reproductive structures)

• pistals (the female reproductive structures)

• Most tree flowers contain both male and female parts but some trees are only female or only male

Major types of forests

• Northern Forests – spruces, firs, pines, tamarack, paper birch, quaking aspen

• Pacific Coast Forest – western hemlock, redwood, Douglas fir, western red cedar

• Western Mountain Forests – ponderosa pine, lodgepole pine, Engleman spruce, Douglas fir.

• Northeastern Deciduous Forests – eastern hemlock, American beech, red oak, basswood, sugar maple beech, maples

• Central Forests – tuliptree, sycamore, shagbark hickory, white oak, Ohio buckeye

• Southeastern Forest – Loblolly pine, shortleaf pine, longleaf pine, mockernut hickory, live oak.

• Subtropical Forest – red mangrove, black mangrove, cabbage palmetto

• Unforested Areas – desert, grassland, tundra

Tree Ecology

• Growth requirements

• Environmental impacts of trees

• Interspecies relationships

• Role within their ecosystems

• Economic impact

• Uses for the various parts of a tree

• Mode of dispersal of their seeds

Benefits to the Environment

• Photosynthesis uses carbon dioxide, water and sun energy to produce oxygen and carbohydrates

• Prevent erosion

• Improve Air Quality – absorb harmful pollutants

• Remove CO2, ozone, small particulate matter

• Help with global warming

• Keep us cool

• Trap rainwater

• Help keep water quality high