1. Environmental Science Do Now 10-9-17
Do Now: Take your Do Now sheet out, your notes on invasive species.
Define pioneer species.
Fill in the blanks. Lichen is a symbiotic organism made of ___ & ___.
What type of organism holds the newly formed soil in place once lichens make the soil?
Explain why primary succession takes longer to occur than secondary succession.
Based on the video I showed the class on Mt. St. Helens’ volcanic eruption, what type of succession did this catastrophic event cause? Justify your answer with descriptions of the damage and the types of organisms that re-colonized the area.

2. Environmental Science Do Now 10-9-17 KEY
Pioneer species are strong species which are the first to colonize previously disrupted or damaged ecosystems, beginning a chain of ecological succession that ultimately leads to a more biodiverse ecosystem.
Lichen is a symbiotic organism made of fungi & algae.
Moss holds the newly formed soil in place once lichens make the soil.
Primary succession takes longer to occur than secondary succession because soil has to be created first before living things can grow in this ecosystem, which takes time.
Based on the video I showed the class on Mt. St. Helens’ volcanic eruption, what type of succession did this catastrophic event cause? Your answer can be primary or secondary depending on your evidence. Primary succession took place at the foot of Mt. St. Helens where all of the soil had been lost; however, secondary succession took place farther away from the volcano where there was residual soil.

3. Objective
Students will know how ecosystems evolve over time (ecological succession) by taking notes, performing a close reading, completing an ecological succession lab and poster project.
Mastery: 770 points or better on ecological succession poster project

4. Engage – Aquatic Succession
Student will watch a YouTube video called “Lake and Pond Succession”
Source:

5. Explore
Students will read the article on Ecological Succession and will annotate the article

6. Ecological succession
Aquatic Ecological Succession
Ecological succession

7. Aquatic Ecological Succession
Succession occurs in both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.
The study of a pond can reveal several stages in aquatic succession. A new manmade or young pond is lacking plants and has little or no organic sediment.
Eventually insect larvae, plankton, and larger aquatic organisms, which eat the plankton, colonize the pond.

8. Stages of Aquatic  Terrestrial Succession3 1 2 4 5 6

9. Aquatic Ecological Succession
Slowly an organic layer of detritus (partially decomposed plants and organisms) forms on the pond bottom.
Submerged plants can then grow, using the organic layer to anchor their roots. Floating plants invade and eventually shade out the submerged plants.
The plants provide a habitat for larger organisms like beetles and amphibians. More sediment forms on the pond bottom as the plants and animals die and add to the detritus.

10. Stages of Aquatic  Terrestrial Succession3 1 2 4 5 6

11. Aquatic Ecological Succession
As the sediments build up, the water level decreases. Emergent plants like cattails and sedges begin to grow, and as they die, add nutrients to the sediment layer.
The emergent plant stage of pond succession is known as a marsh. As the soil builds up, grasses begin to replace the emergent plants.
Eventually, the water level is so low that bushes and trees begin to grow, and terrestrial succession may now take over.

12. Stages of Aquatic  Terrestrial Succession3 1 2 4 5 6

13. Aquatic Ecological Succession
This aging process of a water body is termed eutrophication.
Eutrophication can occur naturally as organic matter accumulates. Human activities that add nutrients (fertilizer) and sediment to a body of water may increase the rate of eutrophication causing algal bloom.

14. Stages of Aquatic  Terrestrial Succession3 1 2 4 5 6

15. Extension Activities Ecological Succession Lab
Ecological Succession (Primary and Secondary Succession) Seral Posters

16. Evaluation
Ecological Succession Seral Poster Project (Worth 1100 points)
Goal: 770 points or better
SKILL MASTERY LEVELS:
90 – 100% ( points): SKILLS EXCEPTIONALLY MASTERED
80 – 89% ( points): SKILLS WELL MASTERED
70 – 79%( points) : SKILLS ADEQUATELY MASTERED
60 – 69% ( points): SKILLS BASICALLY MASTERED
<60% (<660 points): SKILLS NOT MASTERE