Question

Quercus species are the dominant component in
A. Scrub forests
B. Tropical rain forests
C. Temperate deciduous forests
D. Alpine forests

Answer 1

Hint:Quercus species refers to Oak trees. They have broad-leaves and are found in the Northern Hemisphere. These are dominant species in cool temperate to tropical latitudes. They are dominantly found in areas having warm summer and moderately cool winters.

Complete answer:Oak trees are large trees having spirally arranged leaves that are broad and generally evergreen. The leaves have smooth margins and they do not drop until spring. Oak trees are monoecious which means that a single Oak tree produces both female and male flowers. The fruit of Oaks is called acorn which is a nut fruit. Each of the acorns contains a single seed. The seed takes 6 to 18 months to mature. The acorns and leaves of Oak produce tannic acid. This protects them from fungal and insect attacks. The Oaks are mostly evergreen.
Although Oaks are keystone species in a wide range of environments, they are found predominantly in temperate deciduous forests. These forests are known to have broad-leaved trees. They have warm summers and moderate winters. They receive 100 to 200 cm of precipitation. The dominant trees are Oak, Birch, Elm, Chestnut, Poplar, Maple Ash, and Magnolia. Trees in these forests shed their leaves during autumn and make the soil brown and fertile. Oak trees are important components of the hardwood forests.

Hence, from the above discussion, we can conclude that option C is correct.

Note: Many of the Oak species are under threat of extinction. Land-use changes, livestock grazing, and unsustainable harvesting are the key reasons for their extinction. Oak trees are the target of exploitation for timber, charcoal, and fuelwood.