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