LITHUANIAN UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE INSTITUTE OF ENVIRONMENT. Department of Ecology STUDY SUBJECT DESCRIPTION FOREST ECOLOGY

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1 LITHUANIAN UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE INSTITUTE OF ENVIRONMENT Department of Ecology STUDY SUBJECT DESCRIPTION FOREST ECOLOGY Study level: Bachelor Number of ECTS credit points: 4.5 (BSc, MSc, PhD) Teaching method: Lectures, supported by PowerPoint presentation and slides. Prerequisites: Basic knowledge of ecology, botany, zoology, soil science. Teaching aids: Scripts referring to the actual topics are distributed during lectures. Examination method: Oral examination, upon appointment Registration for course: Two weeks before the beginning of the course. Registration for examination: With lecturer, personally, by or phone. Remarks: This lecture is suitable for students studying in the fields of forestry, ecology and environment sciences. INTRODUCTION After completing the course students should obtain the knowledge of theoretical fundamentals and practical methods for forest ecosystems structure and composition, classification, assessment of forest ecosystems dynamics: have good knowledge about the forest ecosystems composition and structure; have a clear overall picture about the ecological factors and their influence on the forest ecosystems; have good knowledge concerning forests natural and anthropogenic dynamics; have enough knowledge about the world forest diversity and typology. Syllabus Theory (40 hours): Introduction. Forest community. Forest and Solar radiation. Forest and temperature. Forest and water. Forest and atmosphere. Forest and soil. Forest and wildlife. Forest dynamics. Forest ecosystems classification and diversity.

2 Practice classes (20 hours) 1. Forest dynamics analyses (20 %) 2. Forest types characteristics (60 %) 3. Forest biodiversity assessment (20 %) Independent work (60 hours) 1. Individual home work 14 hours 3. Preparation for seminars and workshops 16 hours 4. Preparation for examination 30 hours LITERATURE MAIN LIST 1. Burton V. Barnes, Donald R. Zak, Shirley R. Denton, Stephen H. Spurr Forest ecology. John Wiley&sons, 774 p. 2. Kimmins J. P Forest ecology. Pretice-Hall, 1997 p. 3. Otto H.J Waldekologie Stuttgart: Ulmer, 391 S. 4. Ricklefs R. E Ecology. New York: W. H. Freeman and Co, 898 p. ADDITIONAL LIST 1. FAO Forestry Paper Nr Global forest resources assessment Main report, 479p. 2. FAO State of the World s Forests Rome. 3. Karazija S Age-related Dynamics of Spruce Forest Communities in Lithuania Baltic Forestry, 8 (2): 42-56p. 4. Karazija, S Age-related Dynamics of Pine Forest Communities in Lithuania. Baltic Forestry, 9 (1): Sudnik, A., Pugachevski, A., Korotkevich, N., Malazhavski, A., Vershitskaya, I Influence of Surface Fires on Stable Stands in Mossy Pine Forests (Pinetum pleuroziosum). Baltic Forestry, 9 (1): Simons H Global ecological zones mapping. FRA Working Paper No. 56. Rome, FAO. Study programme prepared by Assoc. prof. dr. Vitas Marozas Department of Ecology, Institute of Environment, Signature:.

3 Lithuanian University of Agriculture Studentu 11, Akademija, LT Kauno raj., Lithuania Phone: Fax.:

4 ANNEX CONTENT OF STUDY PROGRAMME LESSONS (40 hours) 1. Introduction (10 %) Importance of forest and their functions. Concept of forest ecology. Forest ecology and other disciplines. Concept of forest ecosystem. Components of forest ecosystem. Forest formation. 2. Forest community (10 %) Components of forest community: stand, understory, undergrowth, herbs and mosses, litter. Interaction between trees. Differentiation and elimination process of trees in the stand. Classifications of trees by Kraft and Kairiukstis. 3. Forest and Solar radiation (10 %) Spectrum of Solar radiation. Physiology active radiation. Influence of light for trees growth, morphological features. Demand of trees for light intensity. Distribution of solar radiation in forests. Influence of forest on the light distribution of the neighbouring ecosystems. Regulation possibilities of the distribution of solar radiation in forests. 4. Forest and temperature (10 %) Importance of temperature for plants. Demand of various tree species for temperature. Influence of extreme temperature on trees. Temperature under trees crowns. Influence of forest on the temperature of the neighbouring ecosystems. Regulation possibilities of temperature in forests. 5. Forest and water (10 %) Importance of water for plants. Demand of various tree species for water. Humidity under trees crown. Influence of forest on the distribution of precipitation, water flow. Water balance in the forest. Influence of forest on humidity of the neighbouring ecosystems. 6. Forest and atmosphere (5 %) Wind and forest. Negative wind impact on forest. Influence of forest on wind speed changes. Atmosphere and forest. Impacts of pollution on forest ecosystems. Fire and forest. 7. Forest and soil (10 %) Importance of soil for forest formation. Physical and chemical soil characteristics and their influence on forest growth, productivity and stability. Soil fertility and tree species. Forest litter. Importance of forest for soil formation. Forest soil protection. 8. Forest and wildlife (5 %) Forest wildlife populations, their characteristics. Influence of wildlife on forest vegetation. Game species and their regulation. 9. Forest dynamics (10 %) Concept of forest succession. Categories of succession, concept of climax.

5 Reasons of forest dynamics. Long-term changes of forests. Short time changes of forest. Short time changes of pine, spruce and deciduous species stands. 10. Forest ecosystems classification and diversity (20 %) Classification of forest ecosystems. Forest typology and their development. Main trends of forest typology. Forest classification based on soil. Forest classification based on vegetation. Forest classification based on ecosystem features. Characteristics of forest types of Lithuania. The world forests. Forest vegetation zones.