Examining the Stages of Ecological Succession Worksheet Questions

Drag and rearrange the letters of the ponds to put them in order from youngest (at the top) to oldest (at the bottom).

1. Pond A
2. Pond C
3. Pond D
4. Pond B

Black bass and bluegill make their nests on sandy bottoms. In which pond(s) would you find them?

What will happen to the black bass and bluegill as the floor of the ponds fills with organic debris? (Hint: Think about their nests!)

Define chara.

Golden shiner and mud minnows lay their eggs on chara. In which pond would you find them?

Some amphibians and crayfish can handle periods of dryness by burying themselves in mud. In which pond(s) would they survive?

Dragonfly nymphs spend their early stages clinging to submerged plants. then, they climb to the surface, shed their skins and fly away as dragonflies. Which pond(s) is best suited for dragonflies?

In which pond will gill breathing snails be replaced by lung breathing snails that climb to the surface to breathe?

Some mussels require a sandy bottom in order to maintain an upright position. In which ponds will they die out?