Chapter 5: Changing Ecosystems Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
1
Q

What is ecological succession?

A

The progressive change of communities over time

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is primary succession?

A

The colonisation of plants in a barren place.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What causes primary succession?

A

Volcanic eruptions, cyclones, earthquakes and tsunamis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What are the stages of primary succession?

A

Nudation and pioneer plant

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is a pioneer plant?

A

A plant capable of invading a bare site

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Why are pioneer plants good?

A

They are capable of surviving in low nutrient soils, fixate nitrogen, rapid germination of seeds and survive extreme conditions. This makes them extremely good colonisers

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is r-selected species?

A

Pioneer plants, they show J-curve growth

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is secondary succession?

A

Disturbed communities which get recolonised

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is climax communities?

A

The end of succession where the community becomes stable

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is k-selected species?

A

A slow growing, long-lived species typical of those in a climax community

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Does all succession reach climax?

A

No, a multitude of conditions can cause the growth to become stable and ecosystem persist

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What are palaeontologist?

A

People who study the science of life that existed

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is Pangaea?

A

The supercontinent consisting of all of Earth’s masses

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

How do biotic features help us understand changed in ecosystems over time?

A

They can compare present biotic features to fossil records.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

How does human activity impact biodiversity on the magnitude, duration and speed of an ecological change?

A

Urbanisation, habitat destruction, land and soil degradation, salinity and monoculture practices

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly