Overgrazing

High school (ages 12+)
Environment & Earth

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/overgrazing

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 primary drivers?High animal densities and insufficient recovery periods for vegetation
2. What is the key environmental outcomes?Accelerated soil erosion, desertification, significant biodiversity loss, and facilitation of invasive species
3. Why does overgrazing make land turn into desert?When plants are eaten away, the soil loses its roots and cover, so wind and water wash it away. Without soil, the land can become dry and desert-like.
4. How does overgrazing hurt animals that live on the land?With fewer plants, there is less food and hiding places for insects, birds, and bigger animals. This makes it harder for them to survive.

Carrying Capacity: The maximum population size of a species that an environment can sustain indefinitely, given the available resources.
Photosynthesis: The process used by plants to convert light energy into chemical energy, fueling their growth and survival.
Ecological Services: The benefits that humans receive from ecosystems, such as clean air, water, and fertile soil.