Dwarf birch

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/dwarf-birch

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?Betula nana
2. What is the reproductive modes?Exhibits both sexual reproduction (seed production) and asexual reproduction (root suckering)
3. Why is the dwarf birch called a "keystone species"?It is a keystone species because it gives food and shelter to many animals, and its roots help keep the soil from washing away.
4. How does the dwarf birch stay warm in the cold?It grows close to the ground and has a spreading shape, which reduces wind damage. Its leathery leaves keep water in, and snow on top of it provides extra insulation.

Paleoecology: The study of ancient environments and past life through fossil evidence and geological records.
Keystone Species: A species that has a disproportionately large effect on its environment relative to its abundance.
Bioindicator: An organism or biological process that indicates the health or condition of an ecosystem.
Permafrost: Ground that remains frozen for two or more consecutive years, common in polar and high-altitude regions.