Source: Dynamic Stage of a Forest, Mgerzon, Wikimedia Commons
The image below shows the progression of how a forest develops.
Source: Dynamic Stage of a Forest, Mgerzon, Wikimedia Commons
Watch the video below to see how an ecosystem recovered after a fire.
Source: Succession After Fire, YouTube
Let's pretend that lightning strikes a forest during a dry season causing a fire. Hundreds of acres of the trees are destroyed. Which statement and picture best illustrates what would happen next? Click in the explanation box to see if you are correct. |
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Statement |
Picture |
Explanation |
| The forest would become barren since there would be no one to plant more trees. |  |
Interactive popup. Assistance may be required.
Sorry. Nature replenishes a forest by spreading seeds through wind and water. It isn't necessary for people to replant a forest. However people can speed up the process by planting and watering small trees.
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| Over many years, the forest would re-grow starting with small bushes and small trees. |  |
Interactive popup. Assistance may be required.
Correct. A forest begins to re-grow with underbrush and bushes which are eventually replaced by small trees and then larger trees.
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| Since there are no trees for shade, the climate would change causing the average temperature to rise. |  |
Interactive popup. Assistance may be required.
Oops. The lack of shade would not change the overall temperature of the area.
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| The ashes from the forest fire would slow the growth of new plants so the new forest would be different than the old forest. |  |
Interactive popup. Assistance may be required.
No. The ashes would not prevent new trees from growing to replace the trees lost in the forest fire.
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