Woodland EcologyWoodland Ecology

DefinitionsDefinitions

HabitatHabitat MicrohabitatMicrohabitat EcosystemEcosystem NicheNiche

Food Chains and WebsFood Chains and Webs

A food chain shows how each living thing gets A food chain shows how each living thing gets its foodits food

Plants are PRODUCERS –use sunlight to Plants are PRODUCERS –use sunlight to produce foodproduce food

Animals eat plants or other animals - Animals eat plants or other animals - CONSUMERSCONSUMERS

Animals eating plants are HERBIVORESAnimals eating plants are HERBIVORES Animals eating other animals are Animals eating other animals are

CARNIVORESCARNIVORES

Carnivores that eat Herbivores are called Carnivores that eat Herbivores are called SECONDARY CONSUMERSSECONDARY CONSUMERS

Carnivores eating other carnivores are Carnivores eating other carnivores are TERTIARY CONSUMERSTERTIARY CONSUMERS

There are also DECOMPOSERS which feed There are also DECOMPOSERS which feed on dead and decaying matteron dead and decaying matter

Interconnected food chains form a FOOD Interconnected food chains form a FOOD WEBWEB

TROPHIC LEVELSTROPHIC LEVELS

In the chain energy is passed from one LEVEL In the chain energy is passed from one LEVEL to the nextto the next

Only a small amount of the energy that is Only a small amount of the energy that is received is passed on to next levelreceived is passed on to next level

PYRAMIDSPYRAMIDS

Of numbersOf numbers Of biomassOf biomass

A woodland chainA woodland chain hazel tree hazel tree food for food for wood mouse wood mouse food for food for tawny owl tawny owl and nuts and nuts Hazel trees grow well in open woodland and produce nuts. Hazel trees grow well in open woodland and produce nuts. Wood mice live on the woodland floor where they can find Wood mice live on the woodland floor where they can find

nuts that have fallen off the trees and where they can hide in nuts that have fallen off the trees and where they can hide in the undergrowth from owls. the undergrowth from owls.

Tawny owls have exceptionally good hearing that helps them Tawny owls have exceptionally good hearing that helps them to hear mice rustling in the undergrowth. to hear mice rustling in the undergrowth.

Here are examples of other food chains: Here are examples of other food chains: Dead plants centipede robin Dead plants centipede robin Oak leaf caterpillar blue tit Oak leaf caterpillar blue tit

Woodland structureWoodland structure

‘‘Layers’Layers’ Ground Ground FieldField ShrubShrub Canopy – upper, lowerCanopy – upper, lower

Examples of plants in each Examples of plants in each ‘layer’‘layer’

http://www.countrysideinfo.co.uk/woodland_manage/struct.htm

ColonisationColonisation SuccessionSuccession Catastrophic changeCatastrophic change

Veteran Trees -Veteran Trees -

““Veteran Trees are trees which, because of Veteran Trees are trees which, because of their great age, size or condition are of their great age, size or condition are of exceptional value culturally, in the landscape exceptional value culturally, in the landscape or for wildlife”or for wildlife”

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Plantations and man made Plantations and man made forestsforests

Improving plantationsImproving plantations

Different silvicultural systemsDifferent silvicultural systems Restructuring – diversify age structureRestructuring – diversify age structure Changing edge structureChanging edge structure More broadleavesMore broadleaves Diversify speciesDiversify species Less chemicalsLess chemicals Open ground , ridesOpen ground , rides Diversity of habitats.Diversity of habitats.

ThinningThinning Use water, wetlands, rocks etc.. Riparian zonesUse water, wetlands, rocks etc.. Riparian zones Reduce grazingReduce grazing Management for particular species or habitatsManagement for particular species or habitats Integrated land useIntegrated land use UKWASUKWAS