Conservation and Sucession

Question 1

What is succession?

Answer 1

the process of the environmental conditions of an ecosystem changing over time

Question 2

What is primary succession?

Answer 2

succession where the first stage occurs from bare rocks, with the rocks being colonised by a pioneer species

Question 3

What is an example of where primary succession may occur?

Answer 3

new rocks formed by volcanoes / rocks exposed by sea level change

Question 4

What are 2 examples of pioneer species, state how they are adapted?

Answer 4

• marram grass; is salt tolerant, has deep roots (can get H2O and minerals)
• lichen- part fungi; breaks down/dissolves rocks to obtain nutrients/ is part alga, photosynthetic

Question 5

How does marram grass allow succession in sand dunes?

Answer 5

long roots stabilise the dune/sand
makes the conditions less hostile for new species

Question 6

Why is biodiversity in the climax community high?

Answer 6

there are more food sources available
there is a greater variety of habitats/niches

Question 7

How might an organism make the environment more suitable for new species?

Answer 7

• increase organic matter
• increase in food sources

Question 8

Why does the number of pioneer species decrease as succession occurs?

Answer 8

they are outcompeted
the conditions become less suitable (for this species)

Question 9

Give three features of a climax community

Answer 9

• abiotic factors remain fairly constant
• same species present/ stable community
• relatively stable population size (near carrying capacity)

Question 10

Suggest three reasons for conserving woodlands

Answer 10

• conserving/protecting habitats/niches
• conserving species
• reduces greenhouse effect (takes in CO2)

Question 11

Explain the advantage to a plant that colonises after 50 years (long time) of having a high rate of photosynthesis at low light intensities.

Answer 11

can survive (produce glucose) in shaded areas, when overshadowed by taller plants.

Question 12

How does conservation of grasslands involve the management of succession?

Answer 12

Grassland consists of small / annual plants which will be outcompeted by woody plants;
So these (woody plants) must be removed / have growth checked / grazed

Question 13

What factors impact the size of populations in a climax community?

Answer 13

• limited number of producers present to provide energy for the food chain
• diseases spreading and killing members of species
• nutrient (nitrates, phosphates etc) availability
• space for nests etc.
• competition for named resource (food, water, light)

Question 14

What are the 5 methods of conservation?

Answer 14

• managing succession
• seed banks
• captive breeding
• fishing quotas
• protected areas

Question 15

What are the advantages and disadvantages of seed banks?

Answer 15

+VE: Lots can be stored in small space
-VE: seeds need to be tested and upkept- expensive and time consuming

Question 16

What are the advantages and disadvantages of captive breeding?

Answer 16

+VE: animals can be reintroduced into the wild (increasing wild pop.)
-VE: breeding isn’t always successful; recreating habitats is difficult to do in captivity

Question 17

What are the disadvantages of fishing quotas?

Answer 17

• limit fishermen’s income
• difficult to manage

Question 18

What is a potential disadvantage of protected areas?

Answer 18

• often become tourist destinations- difficult to manage

Question 19

What is a potential disadvantage of managing succession?

Answer 19

fires can become out of control

Question 20

What is the definition of conservation?

Answer 20

protection and management of species and habitats in a sustainable way

Question 21

What is secondary succession?

Answer 21

succession starting from soil (not bare rocks)

Question 22

What is restricted in protected areas?

Answer 22

urban development

Question 23

How does succession occur?

Answer 23

• colonisation by pioneer species
• change environmental conditions
• less hostile/more suitable for new species
• increase in biodiversity until climax community

Question 24

How would you know if succession was taking place? (eg when looking at a graph)

Answer 24

• pioneer species (name if possible)
• change the environmental factors, making more suitable for new species - shown by increase in diversity
• a climax community is reached