Ecological Succession

Which of the following best explains the natural cause of a decrease in biomass as succession peaks in a climax community?

The canopy of forests prevents sufficient light from reaching the forest floor, thereby limiting primary productivity.

Climax Communities

final, relatively stable communities, believed by most ecologists today to be unattainable because of the fact that community change is almost always guaranteed

How would soil fertility likely change during the early years of primary succession?

gradually increase

How does biomass in a community change as succession proceeds?

increases

Ecological Succession

order of changes in the composition or structure of an ecological community over time

Pioneer Species

the first species to colonize an area at the beginning of either primary or secondary succession

Which of the following best explains the natural cause of a decrease in biomass as succession peaks in a climax community?

Humans

Which of the following is true of ecological succession?

Pioneer organisms move into new communities first.

Which of the following is an example of primary succession?

Plant development on a layer of rock deposits.

Primary Succession

involves the establishment of communities where there is no soil and no life

If a rocky island appeared out of the water from volcanic activity, what type of organism would most likely live there first?

lichens and moss

Secondary Succession

succession that occurs after a disturbance, such as fire or flood