Oak CommunitiesOak Communities

byby

A. G.A. G.

IntroductionIntroduction

Have you ever heard of an oak community? An oak Have you ever heard of an oak community? An oak community is like a small village. It consists of one or community is like a small village. It consists of one or several oak trees and all of the plants, animals and insects several oak trees and all of the plants, animals and insects that rely on the oaks to survive. that rely on the oaks to survive.

In our class we are studying oak trees. Every week or In our class we are studying oak trees. Every week or so, the class walks around the school, recording the plants, so, the class walks around the school, recording the plants, animals, birds, insects, plant material, and animal signs that animals, birds, insects, plant material, and animal signs that we see on or around an oak tree. There are about seven we see on or around an oak tree. There are about seven oaks that we routinely check.oaks that we routinely check.

MAP

Oak Community SurveyOak Community Survey

  Animals Plants Birds Insects Plant Material Animal Signs

November 2 30 1 34 41 53

December 0 28 28 117 16 87

January 0 26 7 85 48 71

February 1 33 5 24 38 64

March 0 55 3 32 30 61

Oak Community SurveyOak Community Survey

0 50 100 150

November

December

January

February

March

Month

Number

Animal Signs

Plant Material

Insects

Birds

Plants

Animals

ConclusionConclusion

Since December, the temperature has gotten cooler, Since December, the temperature has gotten cooler, and it has also started to rain. This has triggered a chain and it has also started to rain. This has triggered a chain reaction of events around the oaks. Because of the cold, reaction of events around the oaks. Because of the cold, insects have stopped coming out, causing birds to search insects have stopped coming out, causing birds to search elsewhere for food. Also, the rain has caused more plants to elsewhere for food. Also, the rain has caused more plants to sprout, but has also caused animals to seek warmer climates, sprout, but has also caused animals to seek warmer climates, causing a decrease in animal signs. Another reason that we causing a decrease in animal signs. Another reason that we have seen increases and decreases in some populations is that have seen increases and decreases in some populations is that we only observe the trees for about half an hour every two we only observe the trees for about half an hour every two weeks. Some mornings are cold and some are warm. On cold weeks. Some mornings are cold and some are warm. On cold mornings, we don’t see as many insects, birds and animals. mornings, we don’t see as many insects, birds and animals. These changes are a significant part of the oak communities These changes are a significant part of the oak communities life cycle.life cycle.