Oak Tree EcosystemOak Tree Ecosystem

Martin MaursMartin Maurs

AndAnd

Szymon SzulcSzymon Szulc

Interesting FactsInteresting Facts

The oak tree can The oak tree can live for hundreds of live for hundreds of years.years.

An oak tree can An oak tree can grow to 40 metres.grow to 40 metres.

Oak trees do not Oak trees do not produce seed until produce seed until it is 35 years old.it is 35 years old.

AcornsAcorns

The seed of the oak is an acorn.The seed of the oak is an acorn. Each tree will produce over 50,000 acorns Each tree will produce over 50,000 acorns

but only 1 or 2 will grow into oak trees.but only 1 or 2 will grow into oak trees.

EcosystemEcosystem

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

DeciduousDeciduous

The oak is a The oak is a deciduous hard deciduous hard wood tree.wood tree.

It loses its leave It loses its leave every Autumn.every Autumn.

DairDair

The Irish word for tree is Dair.The Irish word for tree is Dair. Several Irish cities are named after Dair Several Irish cities are named after Dair

like Doire (Derry) Cill Dara (Kildare)like Doire (Derry) Cill Dara (Kildare)

Types Of OakTypes Of Oak

There are many There are many types of oaks such types of oaks such as English oak, as English oak, Cork oak and White Cork oak and White oak.oak.

Oak Tree GrowsOak Tree Grows

Oak trees need: Oak trees need: water water (ground) (ground) minerals (ground) minerals (ground) sugar sugar (ground) (ground) sunlight (sun) sunlight (sun) carbon carbon dioxide (air)dioxide (air)

RootsRoots

The oak roots The oak roots spread for many spread for many metres metres underground.underground.

Their main task is Their main task is to gather water to gather water and minerals.and minerals.

Many minerals Many minerals come from the come from the dead leaves.dead leaves.

Oak LeafOak Leaf

The oak leaf is one The oak leaf is one of the easiest to of the easiest to recognise.recognise.

It has a serrated It has a serrated edge.edge.

PhotosynthesisPhotosynthesis

The oak leaf is a The oak leaf is a factory which turn factory which turn water, minerals and water, minerals and carbon dioxide into carbon dioxide into sugar to feed the tree.sugar to feed the tree.

This happens once the This happens once the sun is warm enough.sun is warm enough.

The leaf must have The leaf must have green chlorophyll for green chlorophyll for this to work.this to work.

EcosystemEcosystem

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

EcosystemEcosystem

The oak tree The oak tree supports many supports many birds who eat the birds who eat the insects and nests insects and nests in the tree.in the tree.

Owl, Sparrow and Owl, Sparrow and Hawk.Hawk.

EcosystemEcosystem

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

EcosystemEcosystem

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

EcosystemEcosystem

Lichen grow at the Lichen grow at the oak tree.oak tree.

Lichen is a living Lichen is a living fungi.fungi.

The fungi helps rot The fungi helps rot the dead leaves.the dead leaves.

EcosystemEcosystem

Insects build homes Insects build homes on the tree.on the tree.

Animals shelter in Animals shelter in the tree and eat the tree and eat insects.insects.

Animals and insects Animals and insects eat the fruit, the eat the fruit, the bark and the leaves.bark and the leaves.

Birds eat the Birds eat the insects.insects.

Birds build nests.Birds build nests.

EcosystemEcosystem

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

EcosystemEcosystem

The leaves provide The leaves provide a wonderful place a wonderful place for insects to lay for insects to lay their eggs.their eggs.

Such as the Such as the butterfly.butterfly.

EcosystemEcosystem

The two types of The two types of squirrel ( red squirrel ( red squirrel & gray squirrel & gray squirrel ) use the squirrel ) use the trees to build their trees to build their homes (drey).homes (drey).

They eat and store They eat and store thousands of thousands of acorns.acorns.

EcosystemEcosystem

The fox uses the The fox uses the tree to catch other tree to catch other smaller animals.smaller animals.

ManMan

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