LESSON NOTE FOR 3RD TERM 2023

DATE: ………………………………… WK 2
SUBJECT: Biology
TOPIC: Habitat (Aquatic habitat)
CLASS: s s 2
PERIOD: 3rd and 8th
DURATION: 80 mins
PREVIOUS KNOWLEDGE: Students have been taught Respiratory System
BEHAVIOURAL OBJECTIVES: At the end of the lesson, Students should be able to;
 State the major zones of marine habitat

 state the three kinds of aquatic habitats.

 Define habitat
REPERENCE BOOK:
I. Essential biology for senior secondary schools by M.C MICHAEL. Tonad
publishers Pg 260 to 268.
II. Google
CONTENT
HABITAT (AQUATIC HABITAT)
Habitat is a place where organisms (plants, microorganisms and animals) are naturally
found e. g. the habitat of tadpole is the bottom of fresh water ponds or streams
There are three main types of habitats, namely; aquatic habitat (in or around water),
terrestrial habitat (in or on land) and arboreal habitat (in or on trees)
There are three kinds of aquatic habitat;
I. marine/salt water habitat e.g., ocean, seas
II. brackish water habitat (where salt and fresh water mix) e.g., delta, lagoon, bay
III. Fresh water habitat (contain little or no salt) e.g., lakes, rivers, streams

MARINE HABITATS
Characteristics of marine habitats are as follow:
1. The marine habitats constitute the largest habitat in the biosphere (70% of the
earth’s area)
2. They do not undergo sudden or rapid changes in physical factors such as
temperature, PH and specific gravity. Hence, they show the greatest stability of
all habitats.
3. Chemical composition: - marine water consists of many kinds of dissolved ions
including Na+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Pb43-, I-, NO3- e. t. c.
4. Hydrogen (H+) concentration (PH): - salt water is alkaline in nature with PH of
about 8.0 – 9.0 near the surface.
5. Salinity (salt concentration of water). The seawater has a high salinity. The
average salinity of seawater is 35 parts per thousand.
6. Density of marine water is high. It is about 1.028 while that of fresh water is 1.0.
This allows many organisms to float in it.
7. The temperature of the sea changes less quickly than that of the land. However,
the temperature falls with increase in the depth of the sea.
8. Oxygen concentration is highest at the surface where the atmospheric oxygen
dissolved in water. The concentration of oxygen decreases with depth.
9. Waves are temporary movement of surface water of the sea which occurs in any
direction. They are caused by wind blowing against the surface of water. They
also bring about the mixing of seawater. Waves can also beat against the shore
and sometime caused it to be eroded.
10. Tides are alternate rise and fall of the surface of the sea at least twice daily.
Tides are caused by water distribution resulting from the combined gravitational
pull of the earth by the sun and moon.
MAJOR ZONES OF MARINE HABITAT
HORIZONTAL ZONE
1. Supratidal or splash zone is the exposed zone with occasional moisture being
the area where water splashes when waves break at the shore.
2. Intertidal or neritic zone is the planktonic zone which is exposed at low tide or
covered by water at high tide. This zone has high photosynthetic activities
because of abundant sun shine. Water temperature fluctuates.
3. Subtidal or littoral zone is about 200m deep, constantly under water, with
abundant sunlight and nutrient.
4. Benthic zone is about 500m deep with low light penetration and low nutrients.
The water is dark, cold and with little oxygen. Hence, it is unfavorable for life.
5. Abyssal or pelagic zone is about 7000m deep with low light penetration, low
temperature and high pressure. The low light leads to low photosynthetic
activities. Hence food production is primarily by chemosynthesis.
6. Hadal or aphotic zone is the deepest, over 7000m deep. This forms the floor or
the bed of the ocean. No light penetration or photosynthesis
VERTICAL ZONE
Based on light penetration or depth, the marine habitat can be zoned into three;
1. Euphotic zone is the area in direct contact with sun shine. Hence, there is
enough light penetration for photosynthesis. Therefore producers, consumers
and decomposer are all present.
 2. Disphotic zone is a region of dim light. Light penetrates the water with low too
intensity for photosynthesis to take place. Consumers and decomposers are
found in this zone.
3. Aphotic zone is the bottom or bed of the seas and oceans. It is characterized by
cold dark water without light penetration and very few living organisms.

DISTRIBUTION OF ORGANISMS AND ADAPTATION TO MARINE HABITAT

 Organisms of the splash zone include periwinkles; crustaceans e.g. ghost crab,
seaweeds and sargassum (algae).
 Those of intertidal zone include starfish, sea anemones, sponges, sea urchin,
annelids, Mollusca and barnacles.
 In the subtidal zone are snails, crabs, lobsters and crayfish.
 The benthic zone is unfavourable for life. The producers are absent, only few
saprophytic animals are present.
 The neritic zone house plankton (microscopic floating organisms e.g., diatom,
algae, protozoa, crustacean and worms) and nekton (e.g., fishes, crabs, prawns
and whales).
 Oceanic water house sharks, croaker, sea cat fish, mackerel, bonga fish etc.
ADAPTATION OF ANIMALS TO MARINE HABITAT
Animals including barnacles, fishes, crustaceans e.t.c. found surviving in marine habitat
do so with the following adaptive features;
 Barnacles have
i. protection mantle for attachment to rock shore and water retention
ii. Cilia for feeding. Iii. Shell that prevents dessication (drying up)
 Fishes possess
i. reduced or no kidney to retain urea in their body to cope with high salinity e.g.
cartilaginous fishes like shark, dogfish etc.
ii. Salt secreting glands in their gills or eyes for maintaining osmoregulation (salt
balance) e.g. bony fishes like tilapia, herring etc.
iii. Tube feet which enable them to hold on to rock shores and hard shell to
prevent desiccation e.g. starfish, whales.
  Whale has
i. fins for stability in water
ii. An organ in front of the nostril for detecting pressure changes in water.
Iii. A thick layer of dermal fat insulation or food reservoir.
 Shrimps possess powerful claws for holding food or prey.
 Periwinkles possess lungs for breathing and foot for attachment.
 Crabs burrow fast into the mud to protect them against predators, strong waves
or hide.
ADAPTATION OF PLANTS TO MARINE HABITAT
Plants such as seaweeds, algae, sesuvium and diatoms are naturally found in marine
habitat with the following adaptive features;
 Seaweeds have i. hold–fast for attachment. ii. mucillagenous cover to prevent
desiccation. iii. Divided leaves or floating devices for buoyancy.
 Algae (e.g sargassum) have i. chlorophyll for photosynthesis. ii. Small size or
large surface area for floating in water.
 Planktons (e.g. diatoms) possess; i. air space in their tissues ii. Rhizoid for
attachment to rocks iii. Air bladder for buoyancy (floating).
Examples of food chain in a marine habitat include
i. Diatom → crabs → tilapia
ii. Diatom →zooplankton → tilapia →shark
PRESENTATION:
STEP 1: The Teacher revises the last lesson then link it with the new lesson
STEP 11: The Teacher introduces the lesson by explaining Habitat
STEP 111: The Teacher explains marine habitat
STEP IV: The teacher gives zone of marine habitat with examples
STEP V: The Teacher mention and explain adaptation of plants and animals to
marine habitat
EVALUATION: The Teacher evaluates thus;
• What is a fresh water habitat?
ASSIGNMENT:
• Give two examples of food chain in marine habitats

2ND PERIOD
TOPIC: Habitat
SUB – TOPIC: Estuarine habitats (Brackish water habitats)
OBJECTIVES: At the of the lesson, the students should be able to;

 List characteristics of estuarine

 State characteristics of freshwater habitats

 Differentiate between lotic and lentic fresh water habitats

CONTENT
ESTUARINE HABITATS (BRACKISH WATER HABITATS)
An estuary is a body of water formed at the coast where fresh water flowing towards
the sea mixes with sea (salt water) flowing inland. Estuarine habitats include deltas,
lagoons and bays.
CHARACTERISTICS OF ESTUARINES
1. The salinity fluctuates.
2. The specific gravity is less than that of the sea.
3. They have high turbidity due to frequent disturbances. Hence rate of
photosynthesis and respiration by organisms reduces.
4. The water is shallow.
5. They have low diversity of species compared to marine habitat.
6. They have high level of nutrients
7. They have low oxygen content; hence anaerobic activities are common.
PLANTS DISTRIBUTION AND ADAPTATION IN ESTUARINES
Plants found in estuaries include planktons, algae, red and white mangrove and they
have the following adaptive features;
 Planktons (diatoms) have; i. air spaces in their tissues ii. Rhizoid for the
attachment to rock shores iii. Air bladder for buoyancy
 Algae have: i. chlorophyll for photosynthesis ii. small size or large surface area
for floating in water
 Red mangrove has; i. stilt roots with rootlets that have air-spaces for air
conduction to the root tissues and support to prevent washing away of the plant
by the tide ii. Seeds which germinate while they are still on the parent plant, thus
preventing the carrying away of the seedlings by water current.
 White mangrove has pneumatophores (breathing roots) for gaseous exchange.
ANIMALS DISTRIBUTION AND ADAPTATION
Animals including mosquitoes, crustaceans, Mollusca, worms, fishes etc. found in
estuaries survive possessing the following features;
 Mosquito larvae and pupae possess breathing trumpets for gaseous exchange
 Crustaceans and water snails burrow into the mud against predators, strong
waves or tides.
 Worms have strong protective and impermeable covering against high salinity.
  Mudskippers have fins for crawling on land and swimming in water.
 Fishes have fins for movement and swimming bladder for buoyancy.
FOOD CHAIN IN ESTUARINE HABITATS
1. Detritus → worms → snails → birds
2. Diatoms → shrimps →fishes
3. Diatoms → small fish → sharks → man

FRESH WATER HABITATS

This is a body of water formed mainly from inland waters and it contain very low or no
salt. Fresh water is of two types based on its mobility;
a) Lotic fresh waters: - These are running waters flowing continuously in a specific
direction e.g. rivers, springs, streams
b) Lentic fresh waters: - These are stagnant waters which do not flow e.g. lakes,
ponds, puddles, swamps and dams
CHARACTERISTICS OF FRESH WATER HABITATS
1. It contains little or no salt. Salinity is 5 parts per thousand i.e. 0.5%.
2. It is small in size.
3. Oxygen concentration is high, being available in all parts of the water body,
especially at the surface.
4. The water is shallow, hence sunlight penetrate to the bottom.
5. The temperature varies with seasons and depth.
6. It has seasonal variation; decreasing or drying up in dry season and increasing in
rainy season
7. Water currents affect distribution of organisms, salts and gases, especially in
lotic fresh waters
PLANTS DISTRIBUTION AND ADAPTATION IN FRESH WATER
Plants of fresh water include water lily, spirogyra, water lettuce, water weeds e.t.c. and
they have the following adaptive features;
 Water lily has i. air bladder ii. Expanded tips and light weight which keep it afloat.
 Spirogyra has mucillagenous cover for protection
 Water lettuce has hairs in leaves to trap air and keep it afloat
 Water weed (elodea) has a long and flexible petiole for swinging with water
currents.
ANIMALS DISTRIBUTION AND ADAPTATION
Animals of fresh water habitats include protozoa, duck, pondskatters, hydra, fishes e.t.c.
their adaptive features include;
 Protozoa have contractile vacuole for osmoregulation in water.
 Duck has webbed feet for locomotion and serrated beak for sieving food in water
into its mouth.
 Hydra has slippery surface, hooks and suckers for attachment to water particles.
 Pondskatters has long legs for skating on water surface
  Fishes have swim bladders for buoyancy and gills for respiration
FOOD CHAIN IN FRESH WATER HABITATS
1. Diatoms → fish fry →tilapia
2. Spirogyra → tad poles → carps → king fish
3. Algae → mosquito larva → small fish
PRESENTATION:
STEP 1: The Teacher revises the last lesson then link it with the new lesson
STEP 11: The Teacher introduces the lesson by explaining estuarine habitat and
its characteristics
STEP 111: The Teacher gives plant and animal distribution in estuarine habitat
STEP 1V: The Teacher explain explains fresh water and types
STEP V: The Teacher gives food chain in fresh water habitat
EVALUATION: The Teacher evaluates thus;
1. State five characteristics of freshwater habitats
2. With three examples each describe plants and animals adaptation to freshwater
habitats
ASSIGNMENT:
1. In a tabular form, state five differences between fresh water and a marine habitat

LESSON NOTE FOR 3RD TERM 2023

DATE: ………………………………… WK 3
SUBJECT: Biology
TOPIC: Terrestrial Habitat
CLASS: s s 2
PERIOD: 3rd and 8th
DURATION: 80 mins
PREVIOUS KNOWLEDGE: Students have been taught Aquatic habitat
BEHAVIOURAL OBJECTIVES: At the end of the lesson, Students should be able to;
 Define terrestrial habitats
 Recognize types of marshes
 Recognize the adaptations of organisms in marsh habitat
REPERENCE BOOK:
1. Essential biology for senior secondary schools by M.C MICHAEL. Tonad
publishers Pg 260 to 268.
II. Google
CONTENT
TERRESTRIAL HABITATS
 Organisms of the land are called terrestrial organisms. They include plants and
animals that are found living on the ground and under the ground.
Basically, terrestrial habitat is subdivided into four main parts, namely;
I. Marsh
II. Forest
III. grassland/ savanna
IV. arid land/ desert

MARSH
Marsh is a low land, flooded in rainy season and usually waterlogged because of
poor drainage. The vegetation is predominantly of grasses and shrubs. When trees
grow in a marsh, it is called a swamp. Marsh is a transition between the aquatic habitat
and terrestrial habitat.

FORMATION OF A MARSH
Marshes develop as a result of water overflowing its banks to accumulate on the
adjoining coastal or low land area such as flood plains of rivers. This can be enhanced
with extensive rainfall.
When ponds and lakes are filled up with soil and organic debris of plants, marshes can
also be formed. Marshes formation is therefore a gradual process. Marshes can either
be fresh water or salt water marshes.

CHARACTERISTICS OF A MARSH
1. A marsh is lowland.
2. It is always flooded, wet and waterlogged.
3. It sometimes has pool of standing water.
4. It has a high relative humidity
5. Its water sometimes contain much decaying organisms
6. The water has a foul smell

ORGANISMS OF THE MARSH

There are various plants and animals in this habitat. The plants include algae,
grasses, water lettuce, water lilies, white and red mangrove, raphia palms e.t.c.
Animals found in the marsh include mangrove crabs, lagoon crabs, hermit
crabs, mud-skippers, fishes, frogs, snakes, crocodiles, mammal e.t.c.
Adaptive features of organisms of the marsh include
a. They must be able to tolerate the salinity of the soil or water
b. They have to tolerate low oxygen concentration in the soil or water
Plants of fresh water marsh have other adaptive features similar to those of fresh water
habitat. Likewise the plants of salt water marsh.
Saprophytic organisms (e.g. bacteria) which live on dead organic matter in marshes
have to adapt to anaerobic condition.
FOOD CHAINS IN MARSHES
1. Flowering plants → insects → frogs → crocodiles
2. Humus → earthworms → frogs → snakes
PRESENTATION:
STEP 1: The Teacher revises the last lesson then link it with the new lesson
STEP 11: The Teacher introduces the lesson by explaining terrestrial habitat and its
division
STEP 111: The Teacher explain marsh and its formation
STEP 1V: The Teacher state the characteristics of marsh
STEP V: The Teacher gives food chain in marshes
EVALUATION: The Teacher evaluates thus;
 What are terrestrial organisms
 State four characteristics of a marsh
ASSIGNMENT:
 List four types of terrestrial habitats
 List four plants and animals found in the marsh

2ND PERIOD
TOPIC: Habitat
SUB – TOPIC: Forest Habitats
OBJECTIVES: At the of the lesson, the students should be able to;
 Describe a forest habitat using its characteristics
 State four characteristics of a grassland
 Describe the desert
CONTENT
FOREST HABITATS
A forest is a community of plants in which trees species are dominant. There are
different kinds of forest whose distribution is determined mainly by climatic factors
such as temperature, rainfall and at times by soil elevation and man’s activities such as
farming, lumbering, bush burning, construction of roads and building.
The major type of forest in Nigeria is the rain forest
CHARACTERISTICS OF A FOREST
1. The forest is rich in epiphytes and climbers
2. The interior of the forest has high humidity, low light intensity and damp floor.
3. Presence of tall trees with canopies and existing in layers (stratified).
4. Trees are mesophytes with broad leaves.
5. The trees have buttress roots to support their heavy weight and height.
6. The trees have thin barks for gaseous exchange and transpiration.
PLANTS DISTRIBUTION AND ADAPTATION
Forest plants (trees) include African walnut, mahogany, teak, obeche, iroko, oil palm,
ferns (pteridophytes), bryophytes (mosses and liverwort), epiphytes (orchid), fungi and
mistletoe e.t.c. these plants adapt to life in the forest in the following ways;
 Possession of strong tap root systems and buttress roots.
 Possession of tall unbranched trunks
 Possession of broad leaves
 Epiphytes have mechanism (the aerial roots) storing water and absorbing
moisture from air while growing on tree branches.
 Mistletoe (plant parasite) develops root system that can penetrate the stem of a
plant withdrawing manufactured food directly from phloem vessels of the host
plant.
ANIMALS DISTRIBUTION AND ADAPTATION
Most forest animals are arboreal (living on trees) and these include bats, monkeys,
snakes, squirrels, birds, tree frogs, chameleons. Some live in the soil e.g. earthworms
and beetles while others live among the litters on the ground e.g. millipedes, ants, snails.
These animals adapt to the forest in the following ways
I. Monkeys have prehensile tails and long limbs for climbing and jumping.
II. Bats modify their limbs into wings for flight
III. Green snakes have protective colouration to camouflage
IV. Chameleon has prehensile tail and opposable digits for grasping as well as
protective colouration to camouflage
V. Apes moves in groups for protection, with high sense of sight
VI. Earthworms and snails have water permeable cuticle to reduce water loss and
prevent desiccation.
VII. Birds have powerful wings for flight
FOOD CHAINS IN A FOREST
1. Green plants → grasshoppers → toads →hawks
2. Green plants → monkeys → lions

GRASSLAND [SAVANNA]
This is a plant community in which grass species are dominant, but trees and shrubs
may be present.

CHARACTERISTICS OF GRASSLAND
1. Temperature is usually high and sunshine is intense.
2. The relative humidity is low and rainfall scanty (60 – 150cm annual rainfall).
3. Abundant grassland with few short trees sparsely distributed
4. Bush fire is frequent and trees are fire resistant
5. Deciduous plants (plants that shed their leaves in dry seasons) are present.
6. Plants possess underground stems and deep roots to search out for water
7. Trees have modified leaves for adaptation to the environment

TYPES OF SAVANNA
Basically, there are four major types of savanna in Nigeria, namely;
a. Southern guinea savanna
b. Northern guinea savanna
c. Sudan savanna
d. Sahel savanna
Southern guinea savanna is the largest biome in Nigeria
PLANTS DISTRIBUTION AND ADAPTATION IN GRASSLANDS
The grassland plants include acacia, elephant grass, guinea grass, spear grass, palms,
baobab trees e.t.c. their adaptive features include
I. Trees have thick corky barks to resist severe fire
II. Grasses with underground stems to escape fire and drought
III. Leaves with waxy surface in addition to cuticle covering to reduce transpiration
IV. Reduced or small leaves to reduce transpiration
V. Presence of curly leaves to conserve water
VI. Leaves fall (deciduous) in drying season to conserve water
Baobab trees have broad and succulent leaves to conserve water
ANIMALS DISTRIBUTION AND ADAPTATION IN A FOREST
Animals found in the forest include antelopes, elephants, giraffes, zebras, goats, cattle,
grasshoppers, lizards, birds, lions, tigers, leopards, rats, snakes, grass cutters,
kangaroos e.t.c. They adapt to this habitat in the following ways
I. Termites lived-in air-conditioned nests called anthills for cooling the animals.
II. Rats burrow into the soil to avoid excessive heat and fire
III. Zebras and giraffes can camouflage using their colours.
IV. Lions, tigers and leopards have powerful claws and teeth for attacking animals.
V. Kangaroos have long legs to help them escape from danger and also have
pocket of flesh to shield their young ones from hot weather and attack.
VI. Elephants and lion move in groups or herds to achieve strength in number

FOOD CHAINS IN GRASSLAND

There are several food chains due to numerous animals
1. Grass → grasshoppers→ lizards → snakes
2. Grass → grasshoppers → toads → birds
3. Grass → zebras → lions

ARID LANDS [DESERTS]

These are areas of very low rainfall and high evaporation rate. They are the driest
habitats, receiving less than 25cm annual rainfall. Arid lands are of two types;
I. Hot deserts e.g. Sahara desert (North Africa), Kalahari desert (South Africa)
II. Cold deserts e.g. desert in North America

CHARACTERISTICS OF A DESERT
1. Water is very scarce
2. Temperature is very high by the day and very low by the night
3. Vegetation is very scanty
4. The soils are sandy or rocky
5. Strong winds occur frequently and sunshine very intense
6. Presence of drought resistance plants (xerophytes)

PLANTS DISTRIBUTION AND ADAPTATION IN DESERTS

Deserts plants include thorny bushes, cacti, scattered dwarf acacia, date palm, wiring
grasses, baobab trees and euphorbia species. They adapt to this habitat in the following
ways;
I. Plants have thin leaves to reduce transpiration
II. Cacti leafless have thorns to reduce transpiration and thick succulent stem to
store water
III. Acacia (drought resistant) has deep roots which absorb underground water
IV. Baobab tree has waxy leaves which can be hairy or needle shaped to reduce the
rate of transpiration
V. Wiring grass has narrow and slender leaves to reduce transpiration.

ANIMAL DISTRIBUTION AND ADAPTATION IN DSERTS

The deserts animals include camel, rodents, lizards, snakes, zebras, desert tortoise,
grasshoppers, wasps, ants e.t.c. They survive in the following ways;
I. Most desert animals excrete solid wastes to conserve water.
II. Kangaroos, rats remain in burrows during the day to avoid excessive heat
III. Reptiles have scales to reduce water loss
IV. Camels can survive several days without drinking water. They can withstand a
wide range of body temperature up to 40oc.
V. Locusts have water-proof bodies and impervious cuticles

FOOD CHAINS IN ARID LANDS

1. Plants → desert rats → snakes
2. Plants → ants → scorpions → snakes
PRESENTATION:
STEP 1: The Teacher revises the last lesson then link it with the new lesson
STEP 11: The Teacher introduces the lesson by explaining forest habitat
STEP 111: The Teacher list and explain types of forest habitat
 STEP 1V: The Teacher gives plants and animals in forest habitat
STEP V: The Teacher gives food chain in forest habitat
EVALUATION: The Teacher evaluates thus;
• State four characteristics of a grassland
• List 4 plants and 4 animals of the grassland and explain how each adapt to this
habitat
ASSIGNMENT:
• List types of forest habitats
• List four plants and animals found in the forest

LESSON NOTE FOR 3RD TERM 2023

DATE: ………………………………… WK 4
SUBJECT: Biology
TOPIC: Ecological Succession
CLASS: s s 2
PERIOD: 3rd and 8th
DURATION: 80 mins
PREVIOUS KNOWLEDGE: Students have been taught Aquatic habitat
BEHAVIOURAL OBJECTIVES: At the end of the lesson, Students should be able to;
 Define pioneer community
 State the characteristics of succession
 Explain ecological succession
REPERENCE BOOK:
I. Essential biology for senior secondary schools by M.C MICHAEL. Tonad
publishers Pg 276 to 284.
 II. Google

CONTENT
ECOLOGICAL SUCCESSION
The orderly change in the inhabitants of an area over time is called succession. It can
also be defined as the step by step orderly and gradual replacement of communities of
organisms that leads to a climax community.
An illustration of succession is that of a pond. Rain carries sediment from surrounding
land into the pond, filling it and making it shallower. Algae that live in the pond die and
eventually fall to the bottom, adding organic materials to the sediment.
Some plants such as pond weeds grow at the bottom. These plants make up the
pioneer community. The pioneer plants are the first to inhabit the changing environment.
The roots of these underwater plants hold much silt, quickly building up the bottom
cover of the pond. As they die, their organic matter accumulates at the bottom. The
water along the edges becomes so shallow that water lilies and other floating plants
replace the pioneer plants.
The final stage of succession in a particular area is called climax community.
The species that constitute the climax community differs from biome to biome. A
climax community is also a stable community because its appearance and species
composition are stable. To become climax, the community would have gone through a
sequence of species.
TYPES OF SUCCESSION
Basically, there are two types of succession; these are
I. Primary succession
II. Secondary succession

PRIMARY SUCCESSION
This is a type of succession that begins from bare ground, bare rock or bare body of
water.
Primary succession on land may be studied on a building site where a heap of sub-soil,
stones or cement block is left over after construction. In an aquatic habitat, primary
succession may be observed in a new artificial pond.
The first in any succession are called primary colonizers and are usually
autotrophic plants. These have simple requirements for life and can withstand
exposures. By the second year of the primary succession in addition to more algae and
lichens, mosses may begin to grow. As they grow, they wear out some soil and some of
them die and decay, creating more soil for their successor.
By the third year, small herbaceous plants may be present. These in turn help to
change the habitat by overshadowing the smaller plants, causing them to die out and
dropping their leaves, and thus making the soil suitable for other organisms. As years
pass by, more species come into the habitat, while some face out. Succession of
species continues till the climax is reached. Then, bigger life forms like shrubs and trees
are found growing.

SECONDARY SUCCESSION
Secondary succession is a succession that occurs when an area has not been totally
stripped of soil and vegetation. It occurs more rapidly than primary succession because
soil has already been formed. It also occurs when a farmer abandoned old field.
Secondary succession begins from an existing community which has been interfered
with by man and other factors. Fire, drought and floods can cause secondary
succession.

CHARACTERISTICS OF SUCCESSION
 Plants form pioneer organisms being the producers
 The number of organisms is usually increased from year to year until a climax is
reached.
 Diversity of organisms species increase from year to year.
 Succession is orderly and progressive starting with microscopic green plants and
ending with big trees.
 Each generation of species alters the habitat by making more soil, and when they
die the soil becomes more fertile.
 There is competition among organisms in that the various species present
compete for the available resources such water, CO2, O2, light and space. The
plants that are more able to compete displace other.
 Changes in species composition as the fittest survive and the unfit fade out.
PRESENTATION:
STEP 1: The Teacher revises the last lesson then link it with the new lesson
STEP 11: The Teacher introduces the lesson by explaining succession
STEP 111: The Teacher list and explain types of succession
STEP 1V: The Teacher gives characteristics succession
EVALUATION: The Teacher evaluates thus;
 How is a stable community reached?
ASSIGNMENT:
 State five characteristics of ecological succession.

2ND PERIOD
TOPIC: Ecological Succession
SUB – TOPIC: Types of Succession
OBJECTIVES: At the of the lesson, the students should be able to;
 List types of succession
 Differentiate between primary and secondary succession
 State the outcome of succession
CHARACTERISTICS OF SUCCESSION
 Plants form pioneer organisms being the producers
 The number of organisms is usually increased from year to year until a climax is
reached.
 Diversity of organisms species increase from year to year.
 Succession is orderly and progressive starting with microscopic green plants and
ending with big trees.
 Each generation of species alters the habitat by making more soil, and when they
die the soil becomes more fertile.
 There is competition among organisms in that the various species present
compete for the available resources such water, CO2, O2, light and space. The
plants that are more able to compete displace other.
 Changes in species composition as the fittest survive and the unfit fade out.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SUCCESSION

PRIMARY SUCCESSION SECONDARY SUCCESSION
Starts on a bare surface Starts on already colonized surface
It is slower or takes longer time to reach It is faster or takes a shorter time to
a climax community reach a climax community
Starts with lower organisms Starts with fairly complex organisms

OUTCOME OF SUCCESSION
 Changes in the physical environment due to structural changes of the species
and the activities in the community.
 Simple organisms which start the succession are usually replaced by more
complex ones in an evolutionary trend
 Equilibrium point is attained through colonization of abandoned farmland by a
wide variety of organisms
 The final outcome of succession is the climax or stable community
PRESENTATION:
STEP 1: The Teacher revises the last lesson then link it with the new lesson
STEP 11: The Teacher introduces the lesson by explaining succession
STEP 111: The Teacher gives characteristics succession
STEP 1V: The Teacher gives differences between the types of succession
STEP V: The Teacher gives the outcome of succession
EVALUATION: The Teacher evaluates thus;
  State the outcome of succession.
ASSIGNMENT:
 State the two types of ecological succession

LESSON NOTE FOR 3RD TERM 2023

DATE: ………………………………… WK 5
SUBJECT: Biology
TOPIC: Ecology of Population
SUB TOPIC: Overcrowding
CLASS: s s 2
PERIOD: 3rd and 8th
DURATION: 80 mins
PREVIOUS KNOWLEDGE: Students have been taught Aquatic habitat
BEHAVIOURAL OBJECTIVES: At the end of the lesson, Students should be able to;
 State effects of overcrowding.
 Define overcrowding
 List adaptive features to survive overcrowding
REPERENCE BOOK:
I. Essential biology for senior secondary schools by M.C MICHAEL. Tonad
publishers Pg 279 to 284.
II. Google

CONTENT
OVERCROWDING
This is a situation in which a population increases beyond a point called the carrying
capacity where the resources (e.g., food and space) are not enough to support all the
individuals in the population. Therefore, overcrowding reduces the food and space
available for individual
species in the population.
FACTORS CAUSING OVERCROWDING
1. Natality: An increase in the rate at which a particular species gives birth in a
restricted area results in overcrowding.
2. Increase in food supply
3. Decrease in mortality: Overcrowding results when the rate of death of organisms
in a habitat is lower than the rate of birth.
4. Immigration: Inflow of individuals into a habitat increases the population which
later causes overcrowding.
5. Lack of dispersal of fruits or seeds of plants.
6. Social habits of animals like termites, ants and bees lead to their multiplication in
the colony.
7. Inadequate space
EFFECTS OF OVERCROWDING
1. Shortage of food since the available food in the habitat in the habitat is rapidly
eaten up due to overcrowding.
2. Shortage of space due to increasing population of species.
3. Competition occurs as the organisms struggle for scarce resources e.g. food,
space. The stronger ones get the resources while the weaker ones are deprived
i.e. survival of the fittest.
4. Anti-social behaviours like fighting or cannibalism can result from the stress of
overcrowding.
5. Easy spread of diseases e.g. tuberculosis in human (air-borne).
6. Preying or feeding on each other when food is in short supply.
7. Death of organisms as weaker organisms in overcrowding area easily dies off
 due to lack of food and space.
ADAPTATION TO AVOID OVERCROWDING
1. TERRITORIAL BEHAVIOUR
Animals like mammals, lizards, birds etc establish territories which they are
possessive of. They fight for and defend the territories against any intruders. A
successful claim of the territory ensures sufficient food, space mating partners and
parental care for the organisms.
2. SWARMING
This is exhibited by some social animals such as termite and bees when some of
them move out from an old colony to a new one. Hence, overcrowding is avoided.
3. EMIGRATION
This is the outward movement of animals out of their locality to another place of
settlement. This prevents overcrowding.
4. DISPERSAL OF SEEDS AND FRUITS
This could be by water, wind, animals, insects and explosive mechanism. The seeds
and fruits are carried far away from the parent plants. Hence, overcrowding is
prevented.
5. FORMATION OF CANOPIES
This is an attribute of forest trees. This helps the plants to trap enough sunlight and
also prevent the shorter plants below from getting the light. The lower plants
eventually die off and overcrowding is avoided.
6. PRODUCTION OF CHEMICALS
Roots of some plants produce chemicals which prevent the growth of other plants
close to them. Therefore, overcrowding is avoided.
PRESENTATION:
STEP 1: The Teacher revises the last lesson then link it with the new lesson
STEP 11: The Teacher introduces the lesson by explaining Overcrowding
STEP 111: The Teacher gives factors causing overcrowding
STEP 1V: The Teacher states the effects of overcrowding
STEP V: The Teacher list and explain adaptation to survive overcrowding
EVALUATION: The Teacher evaluates thus;
 State five effects of overcrowding.
ASSIGNMENT:
State the two types of ecological succession
2ND PERIOD
TOPIC: Ecology of Population
SUB – TOPIC: Food shortage
OBJECTIVES: At the of the lesson, the students should be able to;
 State causes of food shortage
 Outline factors that cause food shortage.
  State five ways of improving crop yield.

CONTENT
FOOD SHORTAGE

In a well-established habitat, population sizes of various species are adjusted to the

quantity of food that is available in the habitat. Factors that can decrease the food
supply to the habitat thereby causing food shortage.
CAUSES OF FOOD SHORTAGE
 Natural disaster like flood, drought
 Diseases of plants and animals
 Pests such as locust, grasshoppers, weevils
 Lack of or inadequate storage facilities
 Bush burning which destroys soil organisms reduces soil fertility and exposed
the soil to erosion.
 War: during wartime, attention is not given to food production and this leads
to food shortage
 Poor harvesting: poor harvesting or low yield of crops and animals due to
problem or the other can result in food shortage.
All these result in poor yield and eventual food shortage

EFFECT OF FOOD SHORTAGE ON POPULATION SIZE

I. Competition: - Scarcity of food leads to struggling among organisms for any
available food. This results in the survival of the fittest. This can result in fighting
and cannibalism (animals feeding on themselves e.g. man)
II. Emigration: - Animals also move from an area of food shortage to where
sufficient food is available.
III. Decrease in the rate of reproduction: - Many human beings and marriage due to
lack of or inadequate food supply may engage in family planning to reduce the
number of children to be catered for.
IV. Scarcity of a particular type of food: This may create population problems
especially for herbivores and carnivores which feed directly or indirectly on
producers. Absence of producers may lead to the death of these group of
organisms.

PRESENTATION:
STEP 1: The Teacher revises the last lesson then link it with the new lesson
STEP 11: The Teacher introduces the lesson by explaining shortage of food
STEP 111: The Teacher gives factors causes of shortage of food
STEP 1V: The Teacher states the effects of food shortage on population size