Evolution

Succession

Maryland Content Standard

• Explain that in any particular environment, the growth and survival of organisms and species depend on the physical condition.

Objective

• Students will be able to describe ways in which changes in environmental conditions can affect the survival of individual organisms and entire species.

Essential Question

• How can changes in environmental conditions affect the survival of individual

organisms or entire species?

Warm-Up

• The photos on the bottom of page 32 in Environmental Science book are from the same area.– List all the differences in the photos – Predict what happened over time to the

Yellowstone community.– Relate your prediction to what happens in a

garden when not attended, or to a vacant lot over time.

• Primary succession is the series of changes that occur in an area where no soil or organisms exist.

Primary Succession

Secondary Succession• Secondary succession is the series of

changes that occur in an area where the ecosystem has been disturbed, but where soil and organisms still exist.

Changes inCommunities

Activities

• Guided Reading Activity/Targeted Reading Skill: Compare and Contrast– Complete Graphic Organizer– Discussion question: How do factors in

succession differ between primary and secondary succession?

Factors in Succession

PrimarySuccession

Secondary Succession

• As you read, compare and contrast primary succession and secondary succession in a table like the one below.

Possible causeVolcanic eruption Fire

Type of areaNo soil or organisms exist.

Soil and organisms exist.

Existing ecosystem?No Yes

Comparing and Contrasting

Explanation

• Scientists can predict the events that happen during succession. – Explain your thoughts on how ecologists can

tell what will happen in a particular community during a natural disaster.

– Compare figures 19 and 20– Define primary and secondary succession

• Guided Reading page

Vocabulary

• New Vocabulary

• Vocabulary Chart

Extension

• www.SciLinks.org: SciLinks– Web code: scn-0514

• http://www.navy.mil/search/print.asp?story_id=5310&VIRIN=&imagetype=0&page=1– Read Story: Little Creek Staff Out to Protect

the Bay– Complete questions

Evaluation

• Use questions in the Chapter 1: Section 4 Assessment page 35 to see the level of understanding