1.Logging occurs in many locations in the United States and Canada to provide ti

Question

1.Logging occurs in many locations in the United States and Canada to provide timber for lumber and paper use. Looking at the view of Cottage Springs within Google Earth, approximately how many patches of logging do you see, and what are some potential impacts to the natural systems there?

1.Note that some evidence of replanting exists; find those. Approximately how many of the patches show signs of replanting, and why is this significant? (2 points)

1.When zoomed way in, what specific evidence of logging can you see in some of the patches? (2 points)

1.If large amounts of vegetation are removed from extensive areas, the biogeochemical cycles described in Section 3.5 can be affected. Choose one and describe the potential impacts in your own words. (3 points)

1.Besides logging, what are some other ways that human activities can result in loss of vegetation? (3 points)

Explanation / Answer

Approximately 50 patches of logging for every 32 sqkm of Cottage Springs region acn be seen from Google Earth Imagery.

Their potential impacts on natural systems -

Evidences of replanting -

Approximately 25% of the patches show replanting. This is significant with respect to the following three aspects:

1. It shows the efforts of Afforestation by the Logging companies

2. Same aged replanted trees increase the probability of big forest fires

2. Monocultures on patches and use of herbicides on a large scale to prevent non-required plants have the capacity to pollute groundwater

When zoomed to a considerable extent, specific evidence of logging like -

Potential impacts on the Phosphorus Biogeochemical cycle.

Phosphorus is present as phosphate in soils through weathering of rocks. It rarely exist in gaseous form in the atmosphere. Its ions are mobilized by soil bacteria which convert it into a chelate complex which plant can utilize directly for their growth. Foliage provides phosphorus back to the soil and the cycle continues. But due to logging practices, soil erosion increases. This leads to loss of phosphate ions to rivers. It results in eutrophication of the rivers and the soil becomes eventually devoid of Phosphorus. The soil microorganisms without phosphorus fail to thrive thus disturbing the Phosphorus bio-geochemical cycle.

Besides logging their are certain other activities that can result in loss of vegetation

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