Oak Tree Ecosystem

1. Oak Tree Ecosystem Martin Maurs And Szymon Szulc

2. Interesting Facts • The oak tree can live for hundreds of years. • An oak tree can grow to 40 metres. • Oak trees do not produce seed until it is 35 years old.

3. Acorns • The seed of the oak is an acorn. • Each tree will produce over 50,000 acorns but only 1 or 2 will grow into oak trees.

4. Ecosystem • Many animals, plants, insects and fungi depend on the oak.

5. Deciduous • The oak is a deciduous hard wood tree. • It loses its leave every Autumn.

6. Dair • The Irish word for tree is Dair. • Several Irish cities are named after Dair like Doire (Derry) Cill Dara (Kildare)

7. Types Of Oak • There are many types of oaks such as English oak, Cork oak and White oak.

8. Oak Tree Grows • Oak trees need: water (ground) minerals (ground) sugar (ground) sunlight (sun) carbon dioxide (air)

9. Roots • The oak roots spread for many metres underground. • Their main task is to gather water and minerals. • Many minerals come from the dead leaves.

10. Oak Leaf • The oak leaf is one of the easiest to recognise. • It has a serrated edge.

11. Photosynthesis • The oak leaf is a factory which turn water, minerals and carbon dioxide into sugar to feed the tree. • This happens once the sun is warm enough. • The leaf must have green chlorophyll for this to work.

12. Ecosystem • The oak tree supports insects: beetles, ladybird, wasps and ants.

13. Ecosystem • The oak tree supports many birds who eat the insects and nests in the tree. • Owl, Sparrow and Hawk.

14. Ecosystem • The oak tree supports small animals such as wood mouse, hedgehog and mouse.

15. Ecosystem • The oak tree supports larger animals like the squirrel, badger and fox.

16. Ecosystem • Lichen grow at the oak tree. • Lichen is a living fungi. • The fungi helps rot the dead leaves.

17. Ecosystem • Insects build homes on the tree. • Animals shelter in the tree and eat insects. • Animals and insects eat the fruit, the bark and the leaves. • Birds eat the insects. • Birds build nests.

18. Ecosystem • Wild flowers grow near the trees such as cowslips, primroses and daffodils.

19. Ecosystem • The leaves provide a wonderful place for insects to lay their eggs. • Such as the butterfly.

20. Ecosystem • The two types of squirrel ( red squirrel & gray squirrel ) use the trees to build their homes (drey). • They eat and store thousands of acorns.

21. Ecosystem • The fox uses the tree to catch other smaller animals.

22. Man • We use the oak to build ships, furniture and pot handles.