changes in natural communities

Question 1

what is a sere community?

Answer 1

an intermediate community found in ecological succession in an ecosystem advancing towards its climax community

Question 2

what is primary succession?

Answer 2

the colonisation of plants in a barren place

Question 3

what are pioneer species?

Answer 3

• tolerant of extreme conditions
• are able to photosynthesise
• have rapid spore or seed germination
• use wind pollution and/ or dispersal of spores or seeds
• have the ability to fix nitrogen from the air
• are opportunists or r-strategists that disperse rapidly, have a large number of offspring and short life cycle.

Question 4

what are microenvironmenst?

Answer 4

an area with a general habitat with specialised environmental conditions

Question 5

what are a dominant species?

Answer 5

the most common species in a community

Question 6

what is a climax community?

Answer 6

a more or less stable plant community

Question 7

what is a primary forest?

Answer 7

• climax forest formed as a result of primary succession

Question 8

what are secondary succession?

Answer 8

the reconciliation of disturbed plant species

Question 9

disclimax community

Answer 9

final community formed after succession as a result of degrading environmental factors

Question 10

what is desertification

Answer 10

formation of desert conditions usually resulting from overgrazing or susceptible areas