July 2000(c) Mr. P. R. Hanley1 The OAK TREE Ecosystem A World of its Own

July 2000(c) Mr. P. R. Hanley2

July 2000(c) Mr. P. R. Hanley3 Interesting Facts about the OAK §The oak tree can live for hundreds of years. §An oak tree can grow up to 40 metres high. §Oak trees do not start producing seed until it is about 35 years old. §Oak trees appeared in Ireland about 10,000 years ago

July 2000(c) Mr. P. R. Hanley4 General Notes §T§The Oak Tree grows from the acorn seed. §T§The oak tree becomes an ecosystem of its own. §M§Many animals, plants, insects and fungi depend on it for life.

July 2000(c) Mr. P. R. Hanley5 Oak Tree …Deciduous §Oak is a DECIDIOUS tree--- it loses its leaves every Autumn.

July 2000(c) Mr. P. R. Hanley6 An Dair § The Oak is known as Dair in Irish. §Saint Colmcille built a church from Oak and the city that grew up around it is now known as Derry (Doire Colmcille) §Derry is known as the Oak Leaf County.

July 2000(c) Mr. P. R. Hanley7 Types of Oak §The English oak also found in mainland Europe, grows to 36 metres. with a girth of 15 m. § Evergreen oak § Turkey oak §Cork oak ( Mediterranean region) § White oak §Evergreen live oak

July 2000(c) Mr. P. R. Hanley8 OAK TREE NEEDS §Water (ground) §Minerals (ground) §Sugar (ground) §Sunlight §Carbon Dioxide (air)

July 2000(c) Mr. P. R. Hanley9 Roots §The oak tree roots spread out for many metres under the ground. §The main task is to collect water and other minerals from the ground. §Many of the minerals come from the dead leaves from the previous year’s growth.

July 2000(c) Mr. P. R. Hanley10 Oak Leaf §The oak leaf is one of the easiest to recognise. It has a serrated edge.

July 2000(c) Mr. P. R. Hanley11 PHOTOSYNTHESIS (food making by Oak) The leaves of the Oak get energy from the Sun. This energy is used to set up a chemical reaction which makes carbohydrates. The carbohydrates are like simple sugar, or glucose, which provides the basicfood for plants. For photosynthesis to occur, the plant must possess chlorophyll (green part of leaf) and must have a supply of carbon dioxide and water. Photosynthesis takes place inside chloroplasts which are found in the leaf cells of plants. Photosynthesis also means plants make oxygen, this is of great importance to all living things especially US.

July 2000(c) Mr. P. R. Hanley12 Acorn….Oak Tree §In the autumn the oak tree produces 50,000 acorns. Only 1 or 2 will eventually grow into trees.

July 2000(c) Mr. P. R. Hanley13 Acorn §Acorn (cup &saucer) is the seed of the oak. §The acorn is eaten by birds, insects & animals. §Only one or two acorns will eventually grow into full oak trees.

July 2000(c) Mr. P. R. Hanley14 Living ON or Using the OAK

July 2000(c) Mr. P. R. Hanley15 Growing on or near the OAK §LICHEN grow on the tree. It usually looks like a blotch of colour. §Lichen is a living fungi. §Lichens will not live if there is pollution. §FUNGI live usually under the shade of the tree. §The normal fungi are mushrooms or toadstools. §The fungi rots the dead leaves and branches.

July 2000(c) Mr. P. R. Hanley16 Life on the Oak Tree §A§Animals build homes in or on the tree §A§Animals use the tree for shelter §A§Animals eat the fruits, seeds, bark and leaves. §A§Animals catch food on the oak §Insects feed on the leaves. §Insects live on the tree and use it to reproduce §Birds build nests on the oak §Birds feed on the insects

July 2000(c) Mr. P. R. Hanley17 Wild Flowers & the OAK §Many wild flowers such as cowslips, primroses and daffodils grow near the oak. §The dead leaves means that the flowers have an easy and excellent food.

July 2000(c) Mr. P. R. Hanley18 Butterflies & the OAK §T§The leaves of the Oak provide an excellent place for the larvae of the caterpillar to turn into a butterfly. §T§The butterfly then also uses the oak as a food source.

July 2000(c) Mr. P. R. Hanley19 Red Squirrel and the OAK §The squirrel (red or grey) uses the tree as its home, safe place and its foodshop. §It makes its home (drey) in the branches and bark. §It eats thousands of Acorns. §The squirrel through storing acorns elsewhere in the forest spreads the acorns and gives the acorn the chance to grow into an oak.

July 2000(c) Mr. P. R. Hanley20 The Fox and the OAK §Because many small animals live on or near the oak the fox often visits. §The fox will eat small animals or birds like the robin, squirrel and rabbit.

July 2000(c) Mr. P. R. Hanley21 We USE the OAK for:

July 2000(c) Mr. P. R. Hanley22 Protect our Oak… we use it when we need but we should not forget it is the home of many plants, insects, birds and animals.