Forest Ecology Module

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Forest Ecology Module

• BIOL3144L Ecology Lab
• Topic 4

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What is soil?

• Not easily defined
• Operational definition of soil
• A natural product composed of organic and
  inorganic matter, and formed and synthesized by
  the weathering of rocks and the action of living
  organisms

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Factors involved in soil formation The great five

• Parent material
• Climate
• Biotic factors
• Topography
• Time

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Soil structure Stratification

• Stratification
• Stratum, pl. strata (Lat.)Layer
• Stratification subdivision into layers

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Soil structure Stratification

• Major horizons (strata)
• O, A, E, B, C, R
• O organic horizon
• A upper layer of mineral soil enriched in
  organics
• E eluviation (leaching) layer
• B illuviation (collection) layer
• C weathered parental material
• R unweathered material (parent rock)

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Soil texture

• Is determined by of sand, silt and clay

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Moisture-holding capacity of soils
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Distribution of worlds major biomes correlates
with the climate and soil properties
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