Ecological Succession Flashcards
7 cards from real Ecology practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Ecological Succession flashcards as text
Which type of succession begins on a substrate that has never previously supported life, such as bare rock after a volcanic eruption?
Answer: Primary succession
Primary succession occurs on substrates with no prior soil or biological community, such as newly exposed rock after a lava flow.
Which organisms are typically the first to colonize bare rock during primary succession?
Answer: Pioneer species such as lichens
Pioneer species like lichens are the first colonizers of bare rock because they can tolerate harsh, nutrient-poor conditions and help break down rock into soil.
Secondary succession differs from primary succession primarily because secondary succession:
Answer: Begins on a substrate that already has soil
Secondary succession occurs in areas where a community has been disturbed but soil and a seed bank remain, allowing recovery to proceed faster than primary succession.
What is a climax community in the context of ecological succession?
Answer: A stable, self-perpetuating community that represents the endpoint of succession
A climax community is a relatively stable community that replaces itself over time and represents the endpoint of successional change under a given set of environmental conditions.
The process by which each successional community modifies the environment and makes it more suitable for the next community is called:
Answer: Facilitation
Facilitation occurs when early successional species alter environmental conditions in ways that make the habitat more suitable for later species to establish.
During old-field succession in the eastern United States, which sequence correctly represents the typical order of community change?
Answer: Annual weeds → perennial grasses → shrubs → forest
Old-field succession typically proceeds from annual weeds to perennial grasses to shrubs to forest, reflecting increasing competitive ability for resources over time.
Which of the following is an example of secondary succession?
Answer: Plant regrowth in a forest after a wildfire
Regrowth after a wildfire is secondary succession because soil and seeds remain, allowing the community to recover more quickly than if starting from bare rock.