2. Click to Advance

3. Objectives Students will select the correct characteristics of Sequoia trees from a list of multiple choices Students will list the elements in the ecosystem of Sequoia trees. Students will list environmental impacts affecting the Sequoia trees. Students will explain how Sequoia trees reproduce. Students will identify the location where Sequoia trees grow in the US. Click to Advance

4. About Sequoias Click to Advance

5. Yosemite National Forest Sequoia National Park Kings Canyon National Park Location of Sequoia Trees Self Advancing

6. Largest Sequoia Tree Standing Today General Sherman in Sequoia National Park 274.9 feet tall 36.5 feet diameter Click to Advance

7. Size Comparisons Self Advancing

8. Size Comparisons Self Advancing

9. Size Comparisons Self Advancing

10. Size Comparisons Click to Advance

11. Physical Characteristics Bark Reddish-brown in color Doesn’t contain resin, so it doesn’t burn easily. Helps keep moisture & nutrients inside the tree Thick and spongy - Can be over 1 foot thick Click to Advance

12. Physical Characteristics Tannin Chemical in wood of tree Helps tree resist insects and disease Prevents trees from decomposing quickly after they fall over Click to Advance

13. Physical Characteristics Fairly Small “Pine” Cones About 2” = 4” in size and contain average of 200 seeds Seeds have little “wings” to carry them on the wind. Released by heat of fire, and activity of small animals. Need mineral soil, moisture, and full sun to grow Click to Advance

14. See the Sequoia Cones “Close Up” Click to Advance

15. Physical Characteristics Shallow Root System Roots are short Roots do not grow deep into the soil Trees more likely to fall over than die Click to Advance

16. See the Sequoia Roots “Close Up” Allow 2nd picture to appear, then Click to Advance

17. Ecosystem An Ecosystem is a community of organisms together with their environment that function as a system. What is an Ecosystem? All elements of the system must be present and functioning in the right balance so that each of them can thrive. If something happens to one element, the others are affected. Click to Advance

18. Ecosystem Key components in the Sequoia ecosystem: Humans Weather elements: fire, water, snow, wind Insects & Small Animals Fungi Other plants and trees Click to Advance

19. Ecosystem Other plants and trees Compete for nutrients in the soil Compete for water Create fire hazard Prevent seeds from reaching the soil to embed, germinate, and grow Click to Advance

20. Ecosystem Other plants and trees See how the other trees and plants crowd out the Sequoia Tree? Click to Advance

21. Ecosystem Other plants and trees This is the same place after a fire has eliminated the competing trees and plants. Click to Advance

22. Insects & Small Animals Ecosystem Deer eat small plants around the trees Birds eat insects that could harm trees Squirrels feed on pine cones, breaking them open so that the seeds fall from great heights and embed in the soil. Beetles chew into the cones in the tree causing them to dry out and release their seeds so they drop and embed in the soil. Click to Advance

23. Fungi Ecosystem Feed on the bark and leaves of the trees Deplete the trees of their nutrients and water Forest fires kill the fungi, reducing the threat to the trees. Click to Advance

24. Weather: Fire, Water, Snow, Lightning, Wind Ecosystem Trees need large amounts of water to thrive. They get this from the rainfall and snowfall. High Winds can cause the tops of the trees to break off, or the entire tree can be uprooted. Lightning can hit the trees, break off parts, or start forest fires. Fires are necessary for the Sequoia trees to thrive and survive. Click to Advance

25. The Important Role Of Fire Ecosystem Prepares the seedbed (soil) Cycles nutrients in the soil: phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium. Provides conditions which favor wildlife Reduces the number of fungi, plants and trees that compete for water and nutrients Reduces fire hazard to larger trees (Sequoias) Click to Advance

26. Reproduction of Sequoia Trees Reproduction is the process by which plants and animals make offspring. What is Reproduction? All living things replace themselves Click to Advance

27. Reproduction of Sequoia Trees Heat from fire forces cones to open and release seeds OR The Process Trees produce pine cones full of seeds Squirrels or beetles feed on the cones, forcing them to open and release seeds. Seeds fall from great height, bury themselves in the soil below. Moisture, nutrients in soil and sun help seeds grow. Click to Advance

28. Reproduction of Sequoia Trees How Fire helps new trees grow. Click to Advance

29. Test Your Knowledge When you click on the correct answer, you will hear this sound: When you click on the incorrect answer, you will hear this sound: Let’s Get Started! Click to Advance

30. Test Your Knowledge Physical Characteristics Approximately how old are the oldest living Sequoia trees? Click to Advance

31. Test Your Knowledge Physical Characteristics Approximately what height are the tallest of the Sequoia trees? Click to Advance

32. Comments & Acknowledgements This slide show (including animations and movies) created by Mary Beth Maidment for EDT660 Course at National University. Photos and information gleaned from miscellaneous Web sources To conserve file size, audio narratives and assessment portions were not developed fully.