The image to the right depicts a rotting log, which is a habitat for the other organisms in the photo. The moss and mushrooms are decomposers. They are doing the work of recycling the matter contained in this fallen tree. However, this is the trees final role in its ecosystem. 

    Lets go back to the beginning. 

Ecology is the study of how animals interact with one another and their environment. 

    This tree started out life as a seed, an acorn to be exact. Squirrel's really like to eat acorns, but there aren't many around in the winter. So our squirrel, Sammy, digs holes and buries a lot of acorns, so he will be able to dig them back up in the winter and eat them. Sammy has an excellent memory, but he still forgets where some of his acorns are and never digs them back up.

    In the spring, as temperatures increase, the acorn Sammy buried, sprouts into a small oak sapling. 

    At this point in its life, our tree is taking in nutrients and water from the ground and pulling carbon dioxide from the air. It uses that carbon dioxide to grow bigger. 

    Oak trees are producers, so it uses photosynthesis to turn carbon atoms into sugar.

Each year our tree gets about 3 feet taller.

    As it gets bigger, it starts to become a habitat for the first time. 

    Songbirds build their nests in it. 

    Turkeys and Squirrels use it as a safe place to sleep at night.

    Moss and Lichens grow on its bark.