Woody plant encroachment

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/woody-plant-encroachment

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?N/A (This is an ecological process, not a species)
2. What is the primary habitats?Grasslands, savannas, woodlands, and arid/semi-arid rangelands globally
3. Why do shrubs and small trees grow more in grasslands?Shrubs grow more when grasses are eaten by animals or when fires that usually clear them stop happening. Higher carbon dioxide, warmer weather, and less rain can also help them grow faster.
4. How does overgrazing by livestock help plants take over?When livestock eat grasses, they leave the ground open for shrubs to start growing. The animals also move the seeds of woody plants around, helping them spread.

Regime shift: A fundamental and abrupt change in the structure and function of an ecosystem.
Ecosystem services: The benefits that humans receive from natural ecosystems, such as clean air, water, and food.
Carbon sequestration: The process by which carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere and stored in solid or liquid form.