🌿 Science Y5-8

🌲 Forest Ecosystem Connections

Ngā Hononga o te Ngahere • Everything is Connected

🌿 Te Ngahere — The Forest

In te ao Māori, the forest (ngahere) is the domain of Tāne Mahuta — the god who separated earth and sky, and who clothed Papatūānuku with trees.

Whakataukī: "Toitū te ngahere, toitū te whenua, toitū te tangata" — If the forest stands, the land stands, the people stand.

This proverb shows how Māori understood that humans depend on healthy forests.

🔄 What is an Ecosystem?

An ecosystem is a community of living things (plants, animals, fungi, bacteria) interacting with each other AND their non-living environment (soil, water, sunlight, air).

Key idea: In an ecosystem, everything is connected. If one part changes, it affects other parts.

🌳 Layers of the NZ Forest

☀️ Emergent Layer Rimu, Kahikatea — tallest trees breaking through canopy
🌿 Canopy Tawa, Pukatea — main roof of the forest
🌱 Understory Tree ferns (ponga), māhoe, small trees
🍀 Shrub Layer Kawakawa, coprosma, young plants
🍂 Forest Floor Mosses, fungi, leaf litter, fallen logs

🦎 Key Species in NZ Forests

🕊️

Kererū

Role: Seed disperser

Only bird big enough to swallow large native seeds and spread them.

🦎

Wētā

Role: Decomposer

Breaks down dead plant material, recycling nutrients.

🥝

Kiwi

Role: Soil aerator

Probes soil for insects, mixing and turning it.

🍄

Fungi

Role: Nutrient cyclers

Connect trees underground, share nutrients between them!

🕸️ A Simple Forest Food Web

TOP PREDATORS

🦅 Kāhu (Hawk)
🦉 Ruru (Morepork)

⬇️

CONSUMERS

🐦 Tūī
🕊️ Kererū
🦎 Wētā

⬇️

PRODUCERS

🌳 Trees
🌿 Ferns
🍃 Shrubs

⬇️

DECOMPOSERS

🍄 Fungi
🪱 Worms
🦠 Bacteria

⚠️ Threats to Forest Ecosystems

Introduced predators: Stoats, rats, and possums kill native birds and eat eggs, seeds, and leaves.
Habitat loss: When forests are cleared, species lose their homes and food sources.
Invasive plants: Weeds like old man's beard can smother native plants.

📝 Activity 1: Connection Web

Draw arrows to show how these forest organisms are connected:

Organism Depends on... Is needed by...
Rimu tree
Kererū
Fungi
Ruru (owl)

📝 Activity 2: What If...?

a) What would happen if all the kererū disappeared?

b) What would happen if all the fungi and decomposers disappeared?

c) Why is it important to protect ALL parts of an ecosystem, not just the "cute" animals?

📝 Activity 3: Being a Kaitiaki

What are three ways YOU could help protect forest ecosystems?

1.

2.

3.

📚 Key Kupu

Ngahere

Forest, bush

Pūnaha hauropi

Ecosystem

Hononga

Connection, relationship

Kaitiaki

Guardian, protector

👩‍🏫 Teacher Notes

Curriculum: NZC Level 3-4 Living World — Ecology; Life processes

Field Trip Ideas: Local bush walk, ZEALANDIA, regional park with native bush

Extension: Compare NZ forest to rainforest/temperate forest ecosystems; Research one species in depth; Create a terrarium model ecosystem.