Lesson 9:

Invasive Species / Ecological Succession

Learning Target

Students will be able to...

explain how a disturbance causes an ecosystem to change over time and how ecological succession can restore biodiversity.

Success Criteria

Standard

HS-LS2-6: Evaluate the claims, evidence, and reasoning that the complex interactions in ecosystems maintain relatively consistent numbers and types of organisms in stable conditions, but changing conditions may result in a new ecosystem.

Reminders

Ecology End of Unit Exam on Thursday, October 8th

Tutoring today from 2:45-3:45 pm virtually

Click Here for Link

Activity One

Warm-Up

(5 min)

Which statement best describes biodiversity?

(1) The variety of living things in an area
(2) The amount of water available in an ecosystem
(3) The number of predators living in an ecosystem
(4) The amount of energy moving through a food chain

Why is an ecosystem with high biodiversity usually better able to withstand change?

(1) Different species can help keep the ecosystem functioning if one species decreases
(2) Every species in the ecosystem performs exactly the same role
(3) High biodiversity prevents diseases and droughts from occurring
(4) High biodiversity means organisms no longer compete for resources

A monoculture farm may be strongly affected by a disease because most of the farm contains the same type of crop.

(1) True
(2) False

Why are beavers considered a keystone species?

(1) Their dams change the environment and create living space for many other organisms
(2) They are the most numerous species in every ecosystem where they live
(3) They eat nearly every other species in their ecosystem
(4) They prevent all environmental changes from occurring

Which of the following is part of an organism’s ecological niche?

(1) Where the organism lives
(2) The scientific name humans give the organism
(3) The color used to represent the organism in a diagram
(4) The number assigned to the organism in a food web

Activity Two

Two Truths and a Misconception

(5 min)

Invasive species: An invasive species is a plant or animal that moves into a new place where it doesn’t naturally belong. It spreads quickly and harms/competes with the native plants and animals that already live there. It has no natural predator to keep its population in check.

Directions

Step #1) Read all three statements below carefully.

Step #2) Choose the statement you think is the misconception. Remember, a misconception is an idea that sounds like it could be true but is actually incorrect.

Step #3) Explain why you think it is incorrect. Use what you know about invasive species in your explanation.

Step #4) Correct the misconception by rewriting it so that it becomes scientifically accurate.

Statements

Invasive species can spread quickly because they may have few natural predators in their new ecosystem.
Invasive species can reduce biodiversity by competing with native species for resources.
Any species that moves into a new ecosystem is considered an invasive species.

Activity Three

TNT x 3

(10 min)

Round 1: Turn & Talk with your groups about these images and the question:

The images show a timeline.

Explain what happened to the biodiversity from image one through eight?

Round 2: Extend the conversation with a 2nd Turn & Talk response to that image using one or more of the following terms:

Explain what happened to the biodiversity in the forest from image one through eight?

Round 3: Turn & Talk for a 3rd time creating a series of three statements using the following set of conjunctions:

“Because… But… So…”

Explain what happened to the biodiversity from image one through eight?

Example: Mr. Pinho is tired BECAUSE he was up late making an awesome lesson for his students, BUT it's ok since they appreciate him SO it was worth it.