a2 ecology

Question 1

primary succession

Answer 1

starts in newly formed habitats where there has never been a community before.
This colonisation may occur on bare rock

Question 2

Pioneer species

Answer 2

the first organisms to colonise bare rock

Question 3

pioneer species superpower

Answer 3

only species that can deal with extremes of temperature, lack of soil, water and nutrients

Question 4

stages from colonisation to climax community

Answer 4

-pioneer species have colonise bare rock (newly formed habitat)
-pioneers start to break up rock surface
-lets organic material accumulate with broken rock to form beginnings of soil
-changes conditiions in habitat enough so its suitable for other species. wind blown moss spores start growing.
-moss builds up organic matter in soil which can hold water
-soil development enables seeds of small shallow root plants that come to habitat to germinate and survive
-as conditions in habitat improve taller larger plants colonise
-compete/ replace existing community
-community usually dominated by trees reached and this climax community doesnt change unless habitat conditions change

Question 5

secondary succession

Answer 5

on bare soil where an existing community has been cleared, where plants start to grow in this destroyed area eg- forest fire