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Are there lesson plans and practice tests?

Orcaboy wrote: ↑October 4th, 2022, 7:21 pm Are there lesson plans and practice tests?

There are some practice tests from the 2012 and 2013 seasons that can be found here:

2012 Forestry
2013 Forestry

It is important to note that these tests will likely be much easier than what you will experience during this season's competition, because during the 2012 and 2013 seasons competitors were only allowed reference sheets and now they are allowed binders.

Resources for learning forestry can be found on the SOinc website.



For others, I also want to ask the question of whether or not a leaf is required to have in a test when identifying a tree. Currently, rule 3e. states

"Leaf specimens ... may be accompanied by twigs, cones, seeds, or other parts of the tree.
Identification will be based on an examination of the leaf specimens..."

I interpret this to mean that the bare minimum when asked to identify a tree is to provide a leaf, and that it is not allowed to ask a competitor to identify a tree solely based on a twig, cone, seed, or other part, i.e. a leaf must be included no matter what. I understand that some people interpret this to mean that it is allowed to ask a competitor to identify a tree based solely on a twig, cone, etc. Rules clarifications were supposed to be open on the SOinc website by October 1st, and seeing as they haven't yet, just wondering if anyone was willing to weigh in on this.

Also why are there so many spelling mistakes on the list :/

Does anyone know any reliable websites/alternate sources for finding info that isn't available in the "Audubon: Trees of North America" guide?

nookandcranny wrote: ↑October 19th, 2022, 1:01 pm Does anyone know any reliable websites/alternate sources for finding info that isn't available in the "Audubon: Trees of North America" guide?

Here are some resources that may be useful:

• Oregon Forests - General forest management and conservation. Although a bit sparse in text, it also links to videos.

• Know Your Forest - A good starting point, it links to many different sources about general forestry information.

• Trees Are Good - Focused on conservation and tree care.

• Forestry Encyclopedia - Extremely large database of forestry terms, articles, and general information.

• Silvics of North America - Includes detailed information about specific trees. Be wary of outdated information.

• Botany 115 - Online textbook and resources for a college level botany course.

• Angiosperm Phylogeny - Contains a lot of information on tree taxonomies and some on individual trees, but is extremely dense.

• Brandeis University Field Biology - Contains basic info about many species, made by students so reliability may be limited.

• Manual of Leaf Architecture - Lots of pictures and info about identifying and classifying leaves.

• Fire Effects Information System - Contains detailed information on specific trees, especially about their relationships to fires. Sometimes dense to read.

• Minecraft Tree - lol

• Arbor Day Tree Guide - Contains semi-detailed information on specific trees, as well as basic general tree information.

• North Dakota Tree Handbook - Contains semi-detailed information on specific trees, but the information it does have is very useful.

• Michigan Trees - Contains basic information on only a few specific trees, has pretty pictures though!

• Ohio Field Guide - Contains semi-detailed information on specific trees.

• State of the World's Trees - A great resource for general tree information.

• STIHL Encyclopedia of Trees - Contains semi-detailed information on specific trees.

• UK Forestry Commission - Extensive information about specific tree diseases and pests.

• Tree Physiology and Growth - General tree information.

"Leaf specimens ... may be accompanied by twigs, cones, seeds, or other parts of the tree.
Identification will be based on an examination of the leaf specimens..."

I interpret this to mean that the bare minimum when asked to identify a tree is to provide a leaf, and that it is not allowed to ask a competitor to identify a tree solely based on a twig, cone, seed, or other part, i.e. a leaf must be included no matter what. I understand that some people interpret this to mean that it is allowed to ask a competitor to identify a tree based solely on a twig, cone, etc. Rules clarifications were supposed to be open on the SOinc website by October 1st, and seeing as they haven't yet, just wondering if anyone was willing to weigh in on this.

I don't think that's the case. In the BullSO test there were some IDs which were by cross-sections of the trunk, as well as some description-identifications, so I guess that's the precedent???
I don't think it should be made to have only leaf-IDs because those cross-section and description IDs were really interesting/novel.

sc95837 wrote: ↑November 26th, 2022, 10:48 am

"Leaf specimens ... may be accompanied by twigs, cones, seeds, or other parts of the tree.
Identification will be based on an examination of the leaf specimens..."

I interpret this to mean that the bare minimum when asked to identify a tree is to provide a leaf, and that it is not allowed to ask a competitor to identify a tree solely based on a twig, cone, seed, or other part, i.e. a leaf must be included no matter what. I understand that some people interpret this to mean that it is allowed to ask a competitor to identify a tree based solely on a twig, cone, etc. Rules clarifications were supposed to be open on the SOinc website by October 1st, and seeing as they haven't yet, just wondering if anyone was willing to weigh in on this.

I don't think that's the case. In the BullSO test there were some IDs which were by cross-sections of the trunk, as well as some description-identifications, so I guess that's the precedent???
I don't think it should be made to have only leaf-IDs because those cross-section and description IDs were really interesting/novel.

BullSO is an invitational, and invitationals tend to not adhere to the rules as strictly as regionals/states/national competitions, so I don't think it is wise to use them to set a precedent. I'm not saying that I agree with the rules, in fact I agree with you that it would be more interesting to not have to include leaves. However, I still think the most logical interpretation of the rules is that including a leaf is the bare minimum. In the end, this is all speculation and the specifics of this rule will likely not matter unless an official rules clarification is issued, so it is best to prepare for ID without leaves as well as with leaves.

Question: Why is the Audubón field guide the one which is mostly being used/mentioned in conversations?

Probably because the 2023 Tree List is based on the taxonomy of the Audubon Field Guide. They're also a sponsor of Science Olympiad, so coaches and administrators are inclined to mention them more often. As a field guide, it's not bad (includes all of the trees with the exception of the legume family- or at least, I think with the exception of the legume family as I've been unable to find it) but the information there is very general, with habitat, a description of the tree, a few pictures, commercial uses, information of leaves, cones, and fruit, and height of the tree. The front section of the field guide is all about leaves and reforestation and the more science-y aspects of Forestry

Question: Can someone explain the major difference between American and Slippery Elm?
Slippery Elm has larger and rougher leaves, and I usually know when one of the following questions is about the source of it's name (even though this doesn't always work). I've compared many images of the two, but sometimes the differences I know about aren't obvious or don't even show. Is there any other way to tell the difference?