Alder

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/alder

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name?Alnus
2. What is the key feature?Symbiotic nitrogen fixation via root nodule actinobacteria (Frankia), leading to soil enrichment
3. What is an alder tree?An alder is a fast-growing tree that lives in wet places like riverbanks and forests. It has a smooth bark and leaves that fall in spring.
4. Why do alder trees help the soil?Alder roots hold special bacteria that turn air nitrogen into food for the tree. When the tree leaves fall, this food is released into the soil, making it richer for other plants.

Ecological Succession: The process by which the structure of a biological community evolves over time.
Symbiosis: A close and long-term interaction between two different biological species.
Actinobacteria: A phylum of Gram-positive bacteria, many of which are known for their filamentous growth and role in decomposition and nitrogen fixation.
Riparian Zone: A vegetated area near a river, stream, or lake that influences the biological and ecological processes within that corridor.