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Question 1

What is succession?

Answer 1

The gradual process by which some species within an ecosystem replaces other species.

Question 2

What is primary succession?

Answer 2

The gradual succession of organisms in an area that was previously bare

Question 3

Where does primary succession occur?

Answer 3

• new lava or rock from a volcano that makes a new island or landscape
• a sandbar that arises from shifting sands in the ocean
• exposure of igneous rock surfaces by a landslide
• a meteor makes a depression that fills with rainwater or freshwater from underground streams

Question 4

What is secondary succession?

Answer 4

The gradual growth of organisms in an area after a disturbance.

Question 5

What human activities can affect the environment?

Answer 5

Ex.
- forestry
- industrial processes
- transportation
- urban development
- construction
- farming

Question 6

What are the 3 ways of controlling a species in an ecosystem?

Answer 6

• pest control
• biological control
• introduced species

Question 7

What is biological control?

Answer 7

Using a species’ own natural enemy to control pests

Question 8

What does extirpated mean?

Answer 8

For an animal to be extinct in a particular region

Question 9

What is environmental monitoring?

Answer 9

A way to check the condition - health - of an ecosystem by comparing results of investigations done at different times.

Question 10

What does monitoring help scientists understand?

Answer 10

impacts of disturbances and changes - sudden and gradual

Question 11

What are the 4 types of ecosystem monitoring?

Answer 11

1. Physical - uses satellites to track changes in the landscape over time
2. Chemical - assesses the quality of air, soil and water
3. Environmental - tracks changes in climate, temperature and weather patterns
4. Biological - tracks the changes in organisms or populations of organisms

Question 12

What does continuous ecosystem monitoring do?

Answer 12

Gives us the scientific data we need to make informed decisions about how we affect the environment over time

Question 13

When do we start environmental monitoring?

Answer 13

Usually after a disturbance or before a disturbance occurs

Question 14

What is an indicator species?

Answer 14

A species very sensitive to environmental changes

Question 15

What are the 3 things monitoring programs may be?

Answer 15

• qualitative (value or quality)
• semi-quantitative (of an amount)
• quantitative

Question 16

What does monitoring involve the use of?

Answer 16

• Indicators
• indicator species
• indicator communities (like the species in an ecosystem)

Question 17

What is baseline data?

Answer 17

Baseline Data gives scientists a starting point to compare changes in the environment.

Question 18

What is quadrant sampling?

Answer 18

a technique used to study a large area.
The quadrant is selected and the species is counted in the quadrant.
The number of quadrants in the area provides the multiplier to estimate the population of the species in the area.