Ecosystems + Epping Forest

Ecosystem

All the biotic parts and the abiotic parts of an area

Producer

Uses sunlight energy to produce food

Consumer

Gets its energy by eating other organism. They can eat producers or other consumers

Decomposer

An organism that gets its energy by breaking down dead material. Bacteria and fungi are decomposers

What happens during the nutrient cycle?

1. Dead material decomposes and nutrients are released into the soil

2. The nutrients are then taken up from the soil by plants. They plants may be eaten by consumers

3. When the plants or consumers die, the nutrients are returned to the soil

4. This transfer of nutrients is called nutrient cycling

Food chain

Shows what organism eats what other organisms

Food web

Shows lots of food chains and how they overlap

Interdependence

The reliance of organisms on each other for survival

What happens if one aspect of the ecosystem changes?

It will affect all other parts of the ecosystem

Epping Forest - Where is Epping Forest located?

North east of London, it is all that remains of a larger forest

Epping Forest - How many different types of dragonfly are found in the forest?

20

Epping Forest - After what time period, did the larger forest begin to shrink?

Ice Age

Epping Forest - What native trees can be found in the area?

Oak, ash, elm, beech

Epping Forest - What is the lower shrub layer like?

Shrub layer of holly and hazel overlying a bracken field of grass, brambles and flowering plants

Epping Forest - How many bird species can be found?

38

Epping Forest - How is the forest interdependent?

Annual life cycle of trees, nutrient cycling, food web

Epping Forest - What is the biomass store like?

Large

Epping Forest - Why is the biomass store so large?

Due to the height of the trees and the dense undergrowth beneath them

Epping Forest - Why is the soil store large?

There is always plenty of humus

Humus

Decaying plant and animal matter

Epping Forest - Why does the forest lose a lot of nutrients every year?

Via leeching

Epping Forest - What is the climate like?

4 seasons
Temperate
18 degrees in July, 5 degrees in January - average

Epping Forest - How is the forest managed via recreation?

Recreation is controlled, leaflets are available on how to use the forest, forest keepers protect the forest

Epping Forest - What happens to keep deer safe?

Vegetation is cut back so deer are aware of traffic

Epping Forest - How does the reintroduction of cattle support the forest?

Grazing cattle support the growth of flora