Chapter 6 Flashcards
Pangea
The super continent consisting of all the Earth’s land masses
Laurasia
The northern supercontinent formed after Pangea broke up includes North America, Europe, Asia
Gondwana
The southern super continent that drifted to form Antarctica, India, Africa.
Endemic
Species that is native to a particular geographic area
Succession
A process of change in community composition and structure usually towards the establishment of a stable ecosystem
Primary Succession
When succession begins in a virtually lifeless area where the soil has not yet formed
Nudation
The development of baren sites with no organisms inhabiting the affected area
Pioneer plant
Plants that colonize a newly forming community
Secondary Succession
Process of change in an ecosystem when a previously established community is taken over by a new group of organisms
Climax Community
The stable community present at the final stage of succession
Prescribed burning
The process of planning and applying fire to a predetermined area
Fire regime
The season, intensity and frequency of fire in a given area
Tsunami
A series of waves in a water body caused by the displacement of large volumes of water as a result of underwater seismic activity
