Small Scale Ecosystem: Epping Forest

Aim: To know the characteristics of this ecosystem and be able to explain how it is interdependent (what depends on what).

1. Using Figure 5.5 below, write three sentences to describe the location of Epping Forest. (3)Hint: Use compass directions and use places and roads on the map as a starting point. E.g. a) Epping Forest is ________ from London. b)___________________________________________________________________________ c) ___________________________________________________________________________

2. Use the internet to find a definition for ‘biodiversity’. Copy the URL of the website you used so you can find it again if you need to.Biodiversity is: ___________________________________________________________________________________

3. Read the information below. Is biodiversity high or low in Epping Forest? ________________________

4. Below is a food chain for Epping Forest. Use the information above to answer the questions around the food web.

5. Read the information below and answer these questions:

UK climate is seasonal. How do our winters compare to our summers in terms of sunlight and temperatures (be specific)?

Winters are ____________ and ____________ than summers. Temperatures are ___ ˚c in January compared to ___˚c in July.

Why are the leaves of deciduous trees so broad (big)?

So they can maximise __________________during the summer.

What do deciduous trees do in winter? Lose their __________________.Why do deciduous trees lose their leaves in winter?

To conserve _______________.

When is there lots of leaf litter on the forest floor?

Mid-___________________

Why has the leaf litter all but disappeared by Spring?

Detritivores and ________________ have done their job.

What is converted into humus? _____________________ stored in the leaves.

6. Read the information below and answer these questions:

What is humus? An _____________substance (decomposers help to return nutrients to the soil in the form of an organic substance called humus).

Give an example of a detritivore? B_______________________

7. Read the information below and answer these questions:

Give two ways that people and the ecosystem are interdependent. Hint: Why did we coppice trees?How do we help spread seeds from vegetation?

1. Coppicing/___________________________ trees to encourage new _____________________.

2. Visitors pick ___________________ and ________________ and the _________________ stick to clothes and so ________________ across Epping Forest.

Look at Epping Forest’s nutrient cycle. Give two reasons why the biomass store is so large.

Great _________________ of the trees.Dense ___________________ beneath them.

Why is the soil store so large? Always plenty of ______________________.Why are the transfers (arrows) so wide between the litter, soil and biomass?

Lots of new ______________________ each year

Epping Forest loses a lot of nutrients each year by leaching – when does leaching happen?

During episodes of heavy r_____________.

6. Read the information below and answer these questions:

What is a canopy? Top of the _____________ grown trees.Why is it so dark on the ground floor? The canopy acts as an ________________ and blocks out

the light.Why do bluebells flower in early spring? To get the _______________ before the canopy is fully

grown and blocks it out.

Loss by leaching

Extension – pupils with target grades 7+ must complete this section:

• Use all the information you have read in this homework to describe how interdependent Epping Forest ecosystem is – how is each biotic and abiotic element of the ecosystem linked with each other. Write your ideas down around the diagram below. See your teacher for help if necessary.