Link Descriptions

I Silvics and Silviculture

A. Silvics of North America by the USDA Forest Service.

http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/silvics_manual/table_of_contents.htm

This source describes the affect of the environment on tree growth. It consists of 2 volumes: Volume One: Conifers and Volume 2: Hardwoods. Within each volume there is a Table of Contents from which you can access a long section (the same for each volume) entitled "The Tree and its Environment", which describes the effect of the environment on trees in general. It outlines the different zones and forest types found on the North American continent according to a number of different classification techniques. It lists a number of environmental factors that may affect forest growth. It mentions environmental interactions and discusses the way that individual environmental factors affect growth. It also discusses the possible effects of climate change. This could be useful in the global warming activity in the SimForest Teacher’s Guide.

The table of contents also contains a list of the North American tree species included in the selected volume. The species are listed alphabetically by scientific name, though the common names and common genus names are also listed (in an adjacent column). Clicking on any species name takes you to another section where you can read about that species habitat, life history, genetics, and special uses of the chosen species. The habitat section seems to be of the most use to our project as it includes information on the native range (including a map), the climate, soils, and topography that favor that species, and the other species and forest types that are often associated with that species.

This website also includes a glossary of silvics terms, and a summary of tree characteristics in which the most useful information for our project is the shade tolerance status of each species. The website also contains checklists of insects and mites, organisms that may cause tree damage, mammals and birds. I am not certain of the purpose of these check lists however, because the only information they contain are the scientific and common names of a number of species, with no description of the species, where it might be found of what tree species it may be associated with.

B) The Science of Forestry A Quick Lesson in Silvics and Silviculture by the Maryland Forests Association

http://forestry.about.com/science/forestry/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http%3A%2F%2Fiaa.umd.edu%2Fmfa%2Fsilvics.htm

As the name implies, this page offers

A brief description of silvics, including some examples of shade tolerant and intolerant species that could be compared to the SimForest model
A brief description of silviculture including descriptions of some different forest management techniques that could be used in the Human Disturbance section of the SimForest Teacher’s Guide.

C) About.com’s Forestry Site

http://forestry.about.com/science/forestry/cs/silviculture/

This site provides links to a number of sites of silviculture. Some are interesting but none relate directly to our project or software.

II Tree Identification

A) Virginia Tech Dendrology Leaf Key

http://www.fw.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/syllabus/key/key1.htm

This source begins with photographs and descriptions of different types of leaves (i.e. "I have broad leaves (Hardwoods)"; "I have slender or scaly leaves (Conifers)" by clicking on the description you are taken to the next step in the key. This source has an advantage over some keys in that it provides photographs as well as descriptions. It defines the terms used in identification, such as fascicles. One confusing aspect of the design of this website is that if you click on the photograph it takes you directly to the end of the key for the species photographed. To move on to the next step in the key you must click on the written description below the photographs, however this is in the key instructions (so if you read them there should be no problem J ). Waiting for the photographs to load can be painful, depending on the speed of your Internet connection. This is especially true when you get to the point where the key gives you a list of species and you must click on each one in order to get more information on the appearance of the bark, flowers, fruits, twigs and cones. However at each stage there are also written descriptions that load immediately and once you have endured the wait the photographs are beautiful!

B) Virginia Tech Dendrology Twig Key

http://www.fw.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/syllabus/twigkey/key1.htm

Same as above but for twigs.

C) Key to Leaves of Virginia Trees

http://www.fw.vt.edu/dendro/forsite/key/intro.htm

Similar to the Virginia Tech Leaf Key except you can click on the photograph or the written description in order to progress to the next step in the key. Also at the "end" of the key when there are a number of options as to which species your tree might be, the key provides leaf photos along with the species names, which makes the decision easier to make. By clicking on the photo or species name you are brought to a page with descriptions and photos of the flower fruit, bark, leaf, twig and form of the tree.

D) Upper Peninsula Tree Identification Key from Michigan State University

http://forestry.msu.edu/uptreeid/default.htm

The key available on this site is specific to the state of Michigan, which means that the species list may not be the same as the one for other parts of the country. However the site may still be useful for users in other parts of the country.

In addition to the key this site contains instruction on how to use different types of tree identification keys and descriptions of identifying characteristics of trees. The site also offers a "Fun Forest Quiz," a list of the species included on the website, lists of the most common trees by county (in Michigan), lists of the counties (in Michigan) where a species grows, a tree identification glossary, a taxonomy list for the U.S.A, a taxonomy list for the Upper Peninsula, teacher information, and information about the history of Michigan’s forests.

The key offers descriptions of different tree parts. You select the description that suits your tree by clicking on the key beside it. This brings you to the next set of descriptions. You can also click on a button labeled "pic" to see a photograph of the described attribute. If you have an idea of the genus (e.g. maple) of your species before you begin you can take a shortcut to that part of the key.

E) Umass Hints for Identifying Local Species

http://www-unix.oit.umass.edu/%7Enrc290p/ID_hints.html

This site gives hints for identifying trees, including an acronym for remembering which trees have opposite branches, as well as tips for distinguishing between different types of oaks and hickories.

More hints can be found at

http://www-unix.oit.umass.edu/%7Enrc290p/ID_hints2.html

Both sites appear to have been made for use by students in a course.

F) Trees of the Pioneer valley by Beth Day

http://demeter.hampshire.edu/~treeproject/index.htm

This site contains

A tree ID section, which includes photographs and descriptions of a few New England species in winter, as well as a link to other Tree ID websites.
An activities section, which lists a number of lesson topics. Under each topic there is a student page which lists web resources on that topic and a teacher page which outlines a class discussion or activity on that topic.

G) Identification of Some Common Trees of Iowa

http://www.extension.iastate.edu/pages/tree/

A picture key of common Iowa species, though many of the species are also found in New England.

It has a nice illustrated section on the definition of forest terms which explains the special terms of tree ID. It also has a section on tree growth that includes information and illustrations.

H) What Tree is it? (from Ohio)

http://www.oplin.lib.oh.us/products/tree/

Tree Identification by leaf or seed. Provides drawing and descriptions at each step in the key. It also allows user to identify a tree by common or scientific name. The background section provides an illustrated glossary of tree identification terms.

This is the only key so far that allows the user to identify by fruit.

This leaf key begins not with the usual 2 options: leaves needle or scale like vs. leaves broad, but rather 4 options: leaves needle-like, single or in bundles of 2-5 needles, leaves scale-like, leaves flat and broad, leaves flattened. I think that this could be confusing, as it immediately breaks pines and hemlocks into two different groups and it may be difficult for some trees to decide whether the leaves or broad and flat or flattened.

III Other Stuff

Big Trees by Bob Leverett

http://www.massforesters.org/bigtrees.htm

This site provides information on trees of record size. Has stats for a number of tree species. This site may be useful for comparison in an activity in which student try to grow the largest tree of a given species, as it will give them means for comparison.

USDA page on old growth

http://www.fs.fed.us/land/fm/oldgrow/oldgrow.htm

Defines the term old growth and provides information about old growth. May be useful in the design of an activity on old growth using SimForest.

Vascular Plant Image Gallery

http://www.csdl.tamu.edu/FLORA/gallery.htm

Provides drawings of twigs, leaves, flowers and fruits of a number of species. Drawings are indexed and labeled by scientific names, which means that a user must know these names.

Three Views of the Quabbin

http://www.the-spa.com/nomortal/three.htm

This site does not directly relate to our project but it is interesting to see the before and after shots of the Quabbin valley.

C) National Wildlife Federation’s page on the Quabbin

http://www.nwf.org/northernforest/quabbin.html

Info about the management of the Quabbin since it was flooded.

Does not really pertain to the project.