How an ecosystem rebuilds after a change

Grade 7 Science Worksheet - Challenge Me

NameDate

Circle the best answer.

  1. An oak and hickory forest has been growing back for about 150 years after a fire. What has it most likely become, Ari?

    • A pioneer stage
    • A grassland of annual plants
    • A climax community
    • Bare rock
  2. In a climax forest, the number of oak trees goes up and down a little each decade. What does that show, Bo?

    • Succession has started over
    • The counts must be wrong
    • Its balance is steady but still shifts
    • The forest is turning into rock
  3. A storm knocks down part of a climax forest, but the soil stays. What happens in that part next, Esme?

    • Lichens must cover it first
    • It stays bare for good
    • It stays a climax forest, unchanged
    • Secondary succession starts again
  4. From 40 to 80 years after the field was left alone, how did tree cover change, Jun?

    • Down 20 (40% to 20%)
    • Up 70 (0% to 70%)
    • Up 30 (20% to 50%)
    • Up 50 (20% to 70%)
  5. In which 20-year span did tree cover rise the most, Kira?

    Use the picture in question 4.

    • From year 80 to year 100
    • From year 20 to year 40
    • From year 40 to year 60
    • From year 0 to year 20
  6. When does tree cover first become larger than grasses and shrubs added together, Luz?

    Use the picture in question 4.

    • Year 60
    • Year 80
    • Year 40
    • Year 100
  7. A new lava flow covers the edge of an old forest. What grows first on that new rock, Milo?

    • Lichens and mosses
    • Oak and hickory trees
    • Shrubs from the old forest
    • Grasses from the old soil
  8. A field left alone 10 years ago now has grasses and young shrubs. What will most likely spread over the next 50 years, Noah?

    • More shrubs, then trees
    • Just the same grasses
    • Lichens and mosses on bare rock
    • Fewer plants of each type
  9. Ren says a lava flow gives secondary succession because it clears away plants. Agree or disagree?

    • Agree: lava adds soil right away
    • Disagree: new lava has no soil, so it is primary
    • Disagree: plants can't grow on lava
    • Agree: any clearing gives secondary
  10. Tala says primary succession is faster than secondary because it starts fresh. Agree or disagree?

    • Agree: bare rock is easier for plants
    • Agree: lava already holds soil
    • Disagree: it must build soil first, so it is slower
    • Disagree: both take one year
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How an ecosystem rebuilds after a change

Answer Key - Grade 7 Science Worksheet - Challenge Me

Circle the best answer.

  1. An oak and hickory forest has been growing back for about 150 years after a fire. What has it most likely become, Ari?

    • A pioneer stage
    • A grassland of annual plants
    • A climax community
    • Bare rock
  2. In a climax forest, the number of oak trees goes up and down a little each decade. What does that show, Bo?

    • Succession has started over
    • The counts must be wrong
    • Its balance is steady but still shifts
    • The forest is turning into rock
  3. A storm knocks down part of a climax forest, but the soil stays. What happens in that part next, Esme?

    • Lichens must cover it first
    • It stays bare for good
    • It stays a climax forest, unchanged
    • Secondary succession starts again
  4. From 40 to 80 years after the field was left alone, how did tree cover change, Jun?

    • Down 20 (40% to 20%)
    • Up 70 (0% to 70%)
    • Up 30 (20% to 50%)
    • Up 50 (20% to 70%)
  5. In which 20-year span did tree cover rise the most, Kira?

    Use the picture in question 4.

    • From year 80 to year 100
    • From year 20 to year 40
    • From year 40 to year 60
    • From year 0 to year 20
  6. When does tree cover first become larger than grasses and shrubs added together, Luz?

    Use the picture in question 4.

    • Year 60
    • Year 80
    • Year 40
    • Year 100
  7. A new lava flow covers the edge of an old forest. What grows first on that new rock, Milo?

    • Lichens and mosses
    • Oak and hickory trees
    • Shrubs from the old forest
    • Grasses from the old soil
  8. A field left alone 10 years ago now has grasses and young shrubs. What will most likely spread over the next 50 years, Noah?

    • More shrubs, then trees
    • Just the same grasses
    • Lichens and mosses on bare rock
    • Fewer plants of each type
  9. Ren says a lava flow gives secondary succession because it clears away plants. Agree or disagree?

    • Agree: lava adds soil right away
    • Disagree: new lava has no soil, so it is primary
    • Disagree: plants can't grow on lava
    • Agree: any clearing gives secondary
  10. Tala says primary succession is faster than secondary because it starts fresh. Agree or disagree?

    • Agree: bare rock is easier for plants
    • Agree: lava already holds soil
    • Disagree: it must build soil first, so it is slower
    • Disagree: both take one year