In studying Environmental Science, learners develop their investigative, analytical and communication skills.
Learners apply these skills to their understanding of ecology and environmental issues in order to engage in public debate, solve problems and make evidence-based decisions about contemporary environmental issues in society.
TASC. Environmental Science. Level 3, ESS315118, 2020.
Course Information for TASC Environmental Science level 3 can be found here.
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Forests are a complex ecological system in which trees are the dominant life-form. Tree-dominated forests can occur wherever the temperatures rise above 10 °C (50 °F) in the warmest months and the annual precipitation is more than 200 mm (8 inches). They can develop under a variety of conditions within these climatic limits, and the kind of soil, plant, and animal life differs according to the extremes of environmental influences.
Britannica, 2015
In cool, high-latitude subpolar regions, forests are dominated by hardy conifers like pines, spruces, and larches. These taiga (boreal) forests have prolonged winters and between 250 and 500 mm (10 and 20 inches) of rainfall annually.
In more temperate high-latitude climates, mixed forests of both conifers and broad-leaved deciduous trees predominate. Broad-leaved deciduous forests develop in middle-latitude climates, where there is an average temperature above 10 °C (50 °F) for at least six months every year and annual precipitation is above 400 mm (16 inches). A growing period of 100 to 200 days allows deciduous forests to be dominated by oaks, elms, birches, maples, beeches, and aspens.
In the humid climates of the equatorial belt, tropical rainforests develop. There heavy rainfall supports evergreens that have broad leaves instead of needle leaves, as in cooler forests. In the lower latitudes of the Southern Hemisphere, the temperate deciduous forest reappears.
Britannica, 2015
A word about spelling. Some books and internet sites spell "rain forests" as two seperate words; other resources spell it as one word "rainforests". If you are having trouble finding material try spelling it the other way.
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Tasmanian forests
Tasmanian ancient forests contain unique flora and fauna; including the tallest flowering trees on the planet. They have also been the scene of significant conflict between those who wish to conserve these forests and others who wish to use the resources found there.
The following books on our shelves will help you explore these issues:
From the Library archives
These books feature the work of two significant Tasmanian wildlife photographers:
Australia
International
Tasmania