BIG IDEAS & ECOLOGY

DATE: Tuesday, September 22, 2015

TIME: approximately 11:45 AM

LOCATION: If you are standing facing Stinson Hall, I am the massive Turkey Oak tree on the right side of the house.

WEATHER: At the time of observation, it was 66ºF outside. There was no precipitation before or during the time of observation. There were 30 in. of atmospheric pressure. There was an average of 85% humidity throughout the day. There was no wind. The weather was gray and overcast.

IDENTIFICATION: Turkey Oak (White Oak) Quercus Laevis Walt

BIG IDEAS:
1. The Turkey Oak is known for being drought-resistant, and has therefore become dominant in drier, infertile communities. The species most likely evolved due to the fact that it held the favorable trait in its environment: being able to go without much water for an extended period of time. Over time, other tree species would have died out because they needed a lot of water to survive, leaving only the Turkey Oaks to survive and reproduce.

2. Homeostasis is an essential process that all living things must go through to ensure that they maintain a stable internal environment. For trees, this means temperature and water regulation. In terms of water, the Turkey Oak absorbs water through its roots, and then releases that water through leaves in the form of vapor. This is a molecular process is called osmosis, and it is essential in ensuring that water is being distributed to all parts of the tree so that it can continue to grow and reproduce.

3. The Turkey Oak tree, along with all other trees and plants, receives important messages from its environments through receptors located in the plasma membranes of the cells. These messages can be about a change in season, or the shift from day to night. These are all important messages for a tree to understand, because some are more suited for longer amounts of sunlight and warmer weather, and would thus be better suited for a particular environment.

4. In terms of interactions within its community, the Turkey Oak provides many services to its community. In the winter, its leaves do not fall off, which makes it the perfect home for birds and small mammals year round. These animals also utilize its leaves for their nests, and are able to do so even in the winter as this is one of the only sources for leaves during that time. This tree also grows acorns, which are an essential part of many small mammal's diets, such as the squirrel.

ENVIRONMENT: 
Climate - Can be anywhere from the low negatives (F) during the winters to around 86ºF in the summer. There is about 30-60 inches of rainfall per year.
Plants - Trees such as oaks, maples, and beeches, shrubs, mosses, and perennial herbs.
Animals - Birds such as hawks, snowy owls, cardinals, and woodpeckers. Mammals such as deer, raccoons, opossums, porcupines, and foxes.
Important Factors - Temperate deciduous forests are unique because they are one of the only biomes that experiences all four seasons. This means that the plants and animals living in this community need to be able to adapt to a cold winter, but also a hot summer.

COMMUNITY MEMBERS: As you can see in the picture above, there is green moss and lichen covering the bottom third of the tree trunk. Although these are both non-parasitic, they often indicate the old age and deterioration of a tree. When I observed the tree, I did not see any birds nests within the branches or any birds flying around. However, I did find several red and black ants crawling up the trunk, as well as acorns scattered across the base of the trunk, which indicates that this particular tree is a favorite food source for squirrels.

SUCCESSION: Because my tree is located next to a building and walkway, the space surrounding it had to be cleared to make room for these structures. This means that the previously existing ecosystems in these areas were destroyed and cleared out in order to make room for the new structures. In the walkway adjacent to the tree, grass surrounding the pavement most likely grew first in terms of ecological succession. Next, smaller organisms such as ants, beetles, and spiders populated the area. Lastly, as trees and shrubs were planted along the walkway and acorns grew from them, small mammals like squirrels arrived.

NUTRIENT CYCLES:
Water - The Turkey Oak tree, as well as all other trees in general, play an important role in the water cycle. In a process called evapotransporation, the tree soaks up the precipitation in its roots, and then releases small amounts of water through its small pores along the branches and trunk back into the atmosphere. This water that is added back into the air then condensates in the atmosphere and helps produce more rain and precipitation.
Carbon - The Turkey Oak tree absorbs atmospheric carbon dioxide and uses it in the photosynthesis process to produce glucose cellulose that is then stored in the tree. The tree also uses the CO2 to put oxygen back into the atmosphere, which is necessary for all other living things.
Nitrogen - Nitrogen is essential to the Turkey Oak tree because the tree needs this nutrient in order to grow, reproduce, and survive. The tree soaks up this nutrient through the soil, and then other animals who use the tree's resources such as its oxygen or acorns benefit because the tree remains healthy.
Phosphorous - Similar to nitrogen, phosphorous is the second most vital nutrient to a plant's health. The Turkey Oak tree absorbs the phosphates through its root hairs, and in turn remains healthy and thriving. All living organisms are then able to enjoy the tree's resources, such as its oxygen, food, shelter, and shade.

REFERENCES:

• http://www.wunderground.com/personal-weather-station/dashboard?ID=KNCDAVID5&scrollTo=historyTable#history/s20150922/e20150922/mdaily
• http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/white_oak.htm
• http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/tree/quelae/all.html
• https://prezi.com/eenyrutqbuel/homeostasis-in-oak-trees-and-elephant/
• Campbell Biology Tenth Edition textbook
• http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Experiments/Biome/biotemperate.php
• http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/nwep8c.htm
• https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=411
• http://climate.ncsu.edu/edu/k12/.watercycle
• http://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/niacs/carbon/forests/
• http://lifeofplant.blogspot.com/2011/03/phosphorus-cycle.html