Tree Anatomy
What is the name of the outer protective layer of a tree that reduces water loss and protects from injury?
Bark
What process do trees use to convert sunlight into chemical energy?
Photosynthesis
What is the main difference between gymnosperms and angiosperms regarding reproduction?
Gymnosperms produce naked seeds (cones); angiosperms produce seeds in flowers/fruits.
What would happen to a tree if it was exposed to a drought?
Reduced water would add stress to the tree and it may eventually die if the drought lasts for a long time.
What is deforestation?
he clearing or removal of forests, often converting land to non-forest use.
What tissue in the trunk transports water and minerals upward from the roots to the leaves?
Xylem
What gas do trees take in during photosynthesis and what gas do they release?
Take in carbon dioxide (CO2); release oxygen (O2)
Name two common leaf arrangement patterns on a stem.
Alternate and opposite (also whorled)
What would happen to a tree if it was exposed to a excessive rain?
root rot, structural instability, and potential toppling
Name one major cause of deforestation worldwide.
Agricultural expansion (e.g., slash-and-burn for farming), logging, urban development, mining.
Which part of the tree contains the living, thin layer of cells that produces new xylem and phloem?
Cambium (vascular cambium)
What other reactants are required for photosynthesis besides CO2?
Water (H2O) and sunlight
How can you determine the difference between oak and maple trees but just looking at the leaves?
Oaks often have lobed leaves with rounded or pointed lobes and distinctive acorns; maples have palmate lobed leaves and samara fruits (winged seeds)
When looking at a cross section of a tree trunk, you notice a thick black line. What is this line representing?
A scar (most likely from a wildfire)
List two ecological impacts of large-scale deforestation on ecosystems.
Habitat loss leading to reduced biodiversity; increased soil erosion and altered water cycles; carbon release contributing to climate change.
Name the structural tissue that directs the flow of sugar throughout the plant.
Phloem
What other product is made from photosynthesis alongside O2?
Glucose (C6H12O6)
You find a tree with needle-like leaves in bundles of two. What tree category would this fall under?
Conifer (Pinus - Genus)
If part of a root system is harmed, what would you expect to happen to the tree long-term?
Long-term decline, characterized by reduced growth, canopy thinning, branch dieback on the affected side, and increased susceptibility to pests or disease
Describe one forest management or conservation practice that helps maintain tree biodiversity.
Practices: selective logging, protected areas/reserves, sustainable forestry certification, reforestation with native species, community-based management.
What is the role of the roots?
Roots are the highways that minerals and water can be transported from the soil to the rest of the tree
Describe how stomata regulate gas exchange and water loss; include one environmental factor that causes stomata to close.
Stomata are pores controlled by guard cells; they open to allow CO2 in and close to reduce water loss. Drought or high temperatures often cause stomatal closure.
Besides leaves, what else can be observed on a tree to help identify the species?
Bark, twigs, branches, flowers, fruit, seeds, etc.
Checking for discolored (yellow/brown) or premature leaf drop, dead/brittle branches, fungus growth, and bark damage like splits or cankers
Why is the conservation of trees essential for tackling climate change?
Trees absorb large amounts of CO2 from the atmosphere and release O2 through the process of photosynthesis.