Reference no: EM132822544

VIRTUAL VISIT TO ARATAKI FOREST

Watch this video and use the following prompts to make notes on observations.

You may print out your notes from this observation and include these in your research portfolio - just make sure that you add a reference to the video.

What would you normally find on the ground layer (forest floor)?

The ranger points out the kawakawa in the shrub layer. What are some of the adaptations that the kawakawa has that enables it to survive in the shrub layer? Why do plants in this layer normally have a thin waxy cuticle rather than a thick cuticle?

What other plants does the ranger point out in the shrub layer?

What is an example of a tree in the emergent layer?

What are features of podocarp trees?

How do the leaves of podocarp trees in the emergent layer differ from the trees seen in the shrub layer? How are the podocarp leaves adapted for their particular niche? Why is this important?

Describe some of the features of the cones of podocarp trees such as the rimu or kahikatea?

How do the cone adaptations enable the rimu/kahikatea trees to survive in their niche?

What type of relationship to the kereru and the rimu have? How is each organism benefited/harmed?

Why is a kereru so important to the Arataki forest ecosystem?

What are some threats to the survival of the kereru? What ecological relationships can be seen here?

Why is it better for the forest ecosystem if the kereru eats seeds than the rat eats seeds? What is this relationship between the rat and the kereru called?

What do possums eat? What is this kind of ecological relationship called? What is one of the possum's favourite foods?

What is another predator for birds in the forest?

What are some examples of trees found in the sub-canopy layer?

What are the abiotic factors like in the sub-canopy layer relative to the forest floor?

What kinds of adaptations would we expect to see in trees in the sub-canopy?

What are some trees found in the canopy?

Why might nikau lose their leaves as they grow taller?

Describe how nikau leaves are adapted to attract animals that eat nectar? What is the benefit of this to the plant? What is this ecological benefit described as?

Describe the nikau berries - how are these important for the nikau's survival in this niche?

When seedlings of one plant all begin to grow together, what is this relationship? What is the end outcome of this?

What layer is the rewarewa found in?

What plant is growing with the rewarewa? Describe this plant. What is it doing and why? What kind of adaptations does it have? What is this relationship called?

Describe the plant that starts growing at the top of the rewarewa. What is it doing and why? What kind of adaptations does it have? What is this relationship called initially? Describe what begins to happen over time?

What is the Northern rata referred to as a ‘keystone species'?

How are the Northern rata's seeds adapted for dispersal in the forest?

Describe the kauri leaves. What layer will the kauri eventually grow to?

What is an epiphyte? What relationship does an epiphyte have to its host? Why does an epiphyte gain from its host?

Describe some of the adaptations of the perching lily that enable it to survive in its niche.

How do adaptations of the perching lily fruit enable it to grow as an epiphyte?

What kind of conditions suit the kahikatea tree? Describe how the roots of the kahikatea give it stability.

Describe the adaptations of the kahikatea leaf that enables it to live in the emergent layer. How do these adaptations help?

Attachment:- Video Forest.rar