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Ecological Succession Worksheet
Name __________________________________ Date ________ Period _______
Succession, a series of environmental changes, occurs in all ecosystems. The stages that
any ecosystem passes through are predictable. In this activity, you will place the stages of
succession of two ecosystems into sequence. You will also describe changes in an ecosystem and
make predictions about changes that will take place from one stage of succession to another.
The evolution of a body of water from a lake to a marsh can last for thousands of years.
The process cannot be observed directly. Instead, a method can be used to find the links of
stages and then to put them together to develop a complete story.
The water level of Lake Michigan was once 18 meters higher than it is today. As the
water level fell, land was exposed. Many small lakes or ponds were left behind where there
were depressions in the land. Below are illustrations and descriptions of four ponds as they
exist today. Use the illustrations and descriptions to answer the questions about the ponds.
Pond A:
Cattails, bulrushes, and water lilies grow in the pond. These plants have their roots in the
bottom of the pond, but they can reach above the surface of the water. This pond is an ideal
habitat for the animals that must climb to the surface for oxygen. Aquatic insect larvae are
