Forestry Terms - Q,R -
QUADRANGLE: See LAND LOCATION (Metes and Bounds).
RADIAL GROWTH (Increment): The increase in tree radius over a period of time (e.g., 10 years or period between measurements) at breast height or occasionally at the base.
RANGE: See LAND LOCATION (GLO).
RANGE TREATMENT CLASS: Standard treatment categories identified in inventories of range resources to assess forage availability and treatments needed to improve forage production and/or protect the soil.
RANGELAND (RANGE): Land on which vegetation is predominantly grasses, forbs, or shrubs suitable for grazing or browsing. Rangeland is generally and Shrubland, but may include some Treeland and Barren land. Agricultural land is excluded. Also included are areas seeded to native or adapted introduced species that are managed like native vegetation.
RAPIDS: Stream habitats which possess a gradient greater than 4 percent with swiftly flowing water ( > 50 cm/sec) having considerable turbulence. The substrate of rapids is generally coarser than the substrate of low gradient riffles, and during low streamflow conditions large boulders typically protrude through the surface.
RAPTOR - A bird of prey such as an owl, hawk, osprey, or eagle.
REACH NUMBER: Number given to a location on or segment of a stream within the Hydrologic Unit Code.
REACTION WOOD -Wood with distinctive anatomical and physical characteristics, formed
typically in parts of leaning or crooked stems and in branches, that tends to restore the
original position of the branch or stem if this has been disturbed. Also known as tension
wood (in broadleaved trees) and compression wood (in conifers).
RECREATION OPPORTUNITY CLASS: An assessment of the general potential of the site for outdoor recreation. The following minimum number of classes are recognized:
- Primitive: Area characterized by essentially unmodified natural environment with a high probability of experiencing isolation from the sights and sounds of man.
- Roaded Natural: Area is characterized by a predominantly natural or natural-appearing environment with a low probability of experiencing isolation from the sights and sounds of man.
- Rural: Area characterized by a substantially modified natural environment with a low probability of experiencing isolation from the sights and sounds of man.
- Semi-primitive: Area characterized by a predominantly natural or natural-appearing environment with a moderate probability of experiencing isolation from the sights and sounds of man.
- Urban: Area characterized by a substantially urbanized environment, although the background may have natural-appearing elements.
RECREATION USE: The primary type of recreation use observed in the vicinity of the sample unit.
REFORESTATION - Reestablishing a forest by planting or seeding an area from which forest vegetation has been removed.
REGENERATION CUT - A cutting strategy in which old trees are removed while favorable environmental conditions are maintained for the establishment of a new stand of seedlings.
REGISTERED LANDS - A permit-only hunting program in which land is registered with and patrolled by the Wildlife Resources Commission. Hunters without a permit issued by the landowner are cited for trespass and prosecuted without need for the landowner to appear in court or swear out a warrant.
REGION/STATION/AREA: Geographic grouping of Forest Service administrative units.
RELATIVE HUMIDITY: A ratio, expressed in percent, of the amount of moisture in a volume of air to the total amount which that volume can hold at the given temperature and atmospheric pressure.
REPRODUCTION - (a) The process by which young trees grow to become the older trees of the future forest. (b) The process of forest replacement or renewal through natural sprouting or seeding or by the planting of seedlings or direct seeding.
RESIDUAL STAND - Trees left in a stand to grow until the next harvest. This term can refer to crop trees or cull trees.
RIFFLE: A shallow rapids where the water flows swiftly over completely or partially submerged obstructions to produce surface agitation, but standing waves are absent. Three types of riffle habitats are identified. Low gradient riffles are shallow (< 20 cm deep) stream reaches with moderate current velocity (20-50 cm/sec) and moderate turbulence. Substrate is usually composed of gravel, pebble, and cobble-sized particles. The upper gradient for this habitat is arbitrarily limited to 4 percent.
ROAD FUNCTIONAL CLASS: Alpha code designating the functional classification to road segment.
- Arterial: A road segment that provides service to large land areas and usually connect with other arterial roads or public highway.
- Collector - Intermediate Links: Segments that connect major heavily traveled multiple purpose arterial routes and single source local roads.
- Local: Segments which connect terminal facilities such as log landings and recreation sites with Forest collector or arterial roads or with public highways. Usually single purpose.
ROAD SURFACE: An alpha code describing the general type of running surface on an existing road management section.
ROAD SYSTEM: An alpha code indicating primary systems designation where primary indicates the system under which principle funding and management criteria for operation and maintenance of a road is derived.
ROOT COLLAR - The transition zone between stem and root at the ground line of a tree or seedling.
ROOT ROT -Disease that destroys tree roots, often killing the tree.
ROTATION - The number of years required to establish and grow trees to a specified size, product, or condition of maturity. A pine rotation may range from as short as 20 years for pulpwood to more than 60 years for sawtimber.
ROUGH CUT -Lumber that has not been dressed (surfaced) but which as been sawn, edged, and trimmed to at least show saw marks in the wood on the four longitudinal surfaces of each piece for its overall length.
ROUNDWOOD -A length of cut tree generally having a round cross-section, such as a log or
bolt.
ROUNDWOOD PRODUCTS -Logs, bolts, or other round sections cut from trees for industrial or
consumer use.
