Urban Tree Risk Assessment & Mitigation Flashcards
7 cards from real CATS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Urban Tree Risk Assessment & Mitigation flashcards as text
Which observation during a tree risk assessment most strongly suggests hypoxylon canker as a contributing factor to structural failure risk?
Answer: Powdery silvery-gray stromata on bark surface with brittle wood beneath
Hypoxylon canker produces characteristic gray-to-black powdery stromata on the bark surface and causes rapid sapwood decay and brittleness.
A tree risk assessment report should always include which of the following to be considered complete under ISA guidelines?
Answer: Risk rating, recommended mitigation, and re-inspection timeline
ISA guidelines require that a complete risk assessment document include a risk rating, mitigation recommendations, and a suggested re-inspection interval.
Which wind-related factor is most unique to Albuquerque that arborists must account for during urban tree risk assessments?
Answer: Seasonal high-wind events from the Rio Grande valley and mountain downslope winds
Albuquerque experiences strong downslope and channeled winds from the Sandia and Manzano Mountains, particularly in spring and during monsoon season, creating significant wind load events.
During a post-storm assessment, a large branch has partially failed but remains attached to the tree. This is referred to as a:
Answer: Widow maker or hung-up limb
A partially failed branch still attached and suspended in the canopy is called a widow maker or hung-up limb, presenting extreme immediate hazard.
Which symptom would most distinguish Cytospora canker from mechanical damage on a stressed Albuquerque tree?
Answer: Resinous amber-colored gum exudate with discolored bark at the margins
Cytospora canker produces distinctive resinous gumming (gummosis) and sunken, discolored bark lesions, distinguishing it from mechanical injuries.
What is the primary structural advantage of a branch attachment with a visible branch bark ridge (BBR) compared to one without?
Answer: Represents a strong union where the tree has compartmentalized the attachment
A prominent branch bark ridge indicates the tree has formed a strong, interlocked grain pattern at the attachment, which is a sign of a mechanically sound union.
An arborist recommends re-inspection of a moderate-risk tree in 12 months. Which factor would most appropriately shorten this re-inspection interval?
Answer: Active decay fungi are present and the tree is in a high-occupancy target zone
Active decay combined with a high-occupancy target zone means conditions can deteriorate rapidly, warranting a shorter re-inspection interval to maintain safe risk levels.