Fowells, H. A.; Means, Joseph E. 1990. The tree and its environment. in: Burns, Russell M.; Honkala, Barbara H., technical coordinators. Silvics of North America. Volume 1, Conifers. Ag. Handbk 654. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: 2-11.
The mature forest tree is an outstanding exampleof interaction between the hereditary characteristicsof an organism and its environment. The tiny embryoof the seed of the giant sequoia (Sequoiadendrongiganteum) contains the potential to develop into themost majestic of plants. But if the environment isunfavorable, this potential will not be realized Thus,responses of different species to environmental in-fluences determine in part the success of silviculture.Silviculturists must know how the environment willaffect the growth and development of trees they wishto manage.
Effects of environmental factors are generally thesame for all trees. Reports in this publicationdescribe known responses of each species to specificenvironmental conditions. This introduction providesbackground information of a general nature. The in-formation offered here cannot approach the scope oftexts on forest tree physiology, such as those byKramer and Kozlowski and by Thimann (see GeneralNotes and Selected References). Recently, Kozlowski(26) outlined specific effects of some environmentalstresses on tree growth and development. More in-formation on forest ecology is available in texts byDaubenmire and by Spurr.