ecological succession

Which of the types of environments is MOST LIKELY to experience the arrival of a pioneer species?

Newly formed volcanic island

How is primary and secondary succession the same?

Occur in stages changes in ecosystem

The figure below shows the same ecosystem in Texas at two different times. Which of the following most likely caused the change of species shown in the figures?

Occurrence of a forest fire

As an ecosystem changes (undergoes ecological succession)

Older inhabitants gradually die out and new organisms move in

What is the first group of organisms to colonize an are called?

Pioneer species

What is the first species in a primary succession?

Pioneer species

Which plant characteristics are common to pioneer species?

Plants with roots that act as wedges to slowly break apart rocks

Ecological succession in an area where natural vegetation has been removed or destroyed but the soil or bottom sediment has not been destroyed describes:

Secondary succession

What is ecological succession?

Slow gradual process that ecosystems go through due to disturbance

How is primary and secondary succession different?

primary succession starts with no soil

Why does secondary succession occur faster than primary succession?

Fewer changes must occur in secondary succession

The diagram below show an ecosystem during different stages of ecological succession. In which order will these stages occur, from earliest to latest?

4,2,1,3

Which of these types of environments experiences the LEAST change in the total number and types of species over time?

An ecosystem with a climax community

Which of the following is not true: Pioneer species

Are usually large plants

A flower bed is created at a school so flowers can be planted in the fall. Over the summer it is uncared for. Which of the following could the students expect to find when they come back to school?

B

The ecosystem change in response to_________

Both natural and human disturbances

Secondary succession may be caused by

Fires, floods, human activity

The series of predictable changes that occur in a community over time is

Ecological succession

List the communities in a successional sequence of a secondary succession

Grasses, shrubs, trees

Which of the following sequences most likely represents ecological succession on a recently abandoned farm?

Grasses->flowering plants->shrubs->maple trees

Why does primary succession take longer than secondary succession?

It takes a long time for the soil to be created

What species is able to live on bare rock?

Lichens

An example of pioneer species are:

Lichens and mosses

List the communities in a successional sequence of primary succession

Lichens, mosses, grasses, shrubs, trees

Lace from an underwater volcano piles up over many years. Eventually, the pile of lava sticks up above the ocean surface, forming a new island, it would be MOST helpful for a scientists to measure changes in:

Soil depth

Pioneer species such as lichen and moss inhabit an are after a major disturbance, such as a volcanic eruption. Over time, other species are found in the disturbed area, and the number of pioneer species decreases. Why does the number of pioneer species decrease?

The area has more soil to support complex plants. The competition decreases the pioneer species role

A non-native animal is introduced in a diverse, mature ecosystem in equilibrium. Assuming that the non-native animal has no natural enemies and that it thrives in the ecosystem, how will it affect the community?

The entire ecosystem would be affected

A non-native plant is introduced into a diverse, mature ecosystem in equilibrium. Assuming that the non-native plant has no natural enemies and that it thrives in the ecosystem, how will it affect the community?

The number of native species will decrease

An ecological succession is slow and gradual

True

Primary succession may be caused by

Volcanoes, glaciers