Explanation should include
o light
o water availability
o nutrient availability
o topography
o soils
o aspect (i.e., direction of slope face)
o climate
o natural disturbances (e.g., lightning, fire, flood)
o competition
o disease susceptibility
o anthropogenic factors (e.g., logging, farming, mining)
o the influence of plants, animals, fungi, and bacteria
o the effects from forest pests (e.g., emerald ash borer, southern pine beetle, spotted lanternfly)
o mycorrhiza.
Process/Skill Questions:
- How does aspect affect water availability in a location?
- What types of diseases affect tree growth?
- What are ways biotic and abiotic factors influence tree growth?
- What are examples of limiting factors that affect tree growth?
- How do the producer, consumer, and decomposer relationships affect tree growth?