D: Biology = Changes in Living Systems 2.1 Primary Succession Flashcards
What is primary succession?
The process of changing an environment from an area of bare rock and few species to a complex community
Primary succession involves the gradual replacement of species and the development of a more complex ecosystem over time.
What happens when molten rock reaches the surface?
It is called lava
Molten rock can rise through cracks in the Earth’s outer crust and emerges as lava when it reaches the surface.
What is the temperature range of molten rock?
Between 800°C and 1000°C
This high temperature allows lava flows to destroy nearly everything in their path.
What happens when lava encounters a body of water?
The water may start to boil suddenly, resulting in an explosive splatter of extremely hot material
The rapid heating of water by lava can create dangerous explosive reactions.
What are the names of the two active volcanoes in Volcanoes National Park?
Mauna Loa and Kilauea
These volcanoes regularly erupt and are popular tourist destinations.
How does the lava flow in Volcanoes National Park?
The eruptions are rarely violent, and the lava produced flows slowly
This slow flow allows tourists to safely approach the lava.
What occurs when molten rock reaches the Pacific Ocean shore?
It transfers its thermal energy upon contacting the water, producing steam and new rock
This process contributes to the growth of Hawaii’s Big Island.
What is formed from solidified lava?
New rock
Solidified lava creates new landforms that can support life.
How are seeds and spores introduced to new rock formed from lava?
Carried by wind, insects, or on the feet and bodies of birds
These organisms facilitate the process of primary succession by germinating on new substrates.
Fill in the blank: The continual eruption of these volcanoes causes Hawaii’s Big Island to get ______.
bigger
The addition of new rock from lava flows contributes to the island’s expansion.
True or False: Primary succession can begin with the germination of seeds and spores on new rock.
True
The arrival of plant life is a key indicator of primary succession starting.
What is primary succession?
Primary succession occurs in places where soil has been removed or where it never existed
Examples include bare land such as cooled lava, sand dunes, and mountain slopes.
Why is primary succession a slow process?
Few plants can grow on bare rock without soil, little water, or protection from the sun and wind.
What are pioneer species?
Pioneer species are tough plants that first invade or colonize new territory
Examples include lichens and ferns.
Give examples of pioneer species.
- Lichens
- Ferns
- Mosses
- Some bacteria
What role do pioneer species play in succession?
They change the original habitat, paving the way for more complex organisms.
How do bacteria and lichens contribute to soil formation?
They produce acids that break down rock, releasing minerals and trapping water.
What is humus?
Humus is the organic component of soil created from the decomposed bodies of organisms.
Fill in the blank: ______ are simple and hardy plants that first invade or colonize barren ground.
[pioneer species]
What is one function of mosses in primary succession?
Mosses can grow in the sparse soil made by lichens and trap dust and water against the rock.
What happens to the dead bodies of lichens and mosses during succession?
They add material to the soil when they decay, contributing to humus.
What is produced by pioneer species that allows grasses to grow?
Humus-rich soil
What role do grass roots play in soil stability?
Bind and protect the soil
What happens to moss as taller grass plants grow?
Mosses die off
What is the result of grasses succeeding lichen and moss communities?
Formation of a meadow
In northern Alberta’s boreal forest succession, what follows grasses?
Broad-leaved shrubs
What type of trees succeed broad-leaved shrubs?
Deciduous trees
What is the final stage of succession called?
Climax community
How long can it take to reach a climax community from bare rock?
Thousands of years
What happens to a climax community after it is established?
Remains stable until an ecosystem disturbance
Do different climates have different species in their climax communities?
Yes
What is the climax community in Alberta’s southern prairies?
Grasses
In Arizona’s Sonoran Desert, what plant needs to begin growing in the shade of a shrub?
Saguaro cactus
Fill in the blank: The stable community that results from the process of succession is called a _______.
Climax community
True or False: The process of succession can lead to a variety of climax communities depending on the climate.
True
What is aquatic succession?
Succession that occurs in aquatic ecosystems
It involves the gradual process of change in species composition and ecosystem structure in water bodies.
What is a basin in the context of aquatic succession?
A ground depression where water collects, often poor in nutrients
Basins can be formed by natural events like meteorite impacts or by human activities like digging dugouts.
What organisms first colonize a lifeless dugout?
Algae
Algae provide food for other organisms that follow in the succession process.
How do frogs, salamanders, and insects contribute to aquatic succession?
They lay their eggs in the dugout
This adds to the biodiversity and complexity of the ecosystem.
What role do birds play in the colonization of a dugout?
They can carry seeds and fish eggs attached to their body parts
This introduces new species into the aquatic environment.
What contributes to the formation of aquatic soil in a dugout?
Sediment from run-off and decomposing bodies of organisms
Aquatic soil provides stability for plant growth in the ecosystem.
What happens to a dugout over time as sediment accumulates?
It becomes smaller in diameter and shallower
This gradual change is part of the succession process.
What types of plants begin to grow along the water’s edge during succession?
Cattails and reeds
These plants signify the transition from an aquatic to a marshy environment.
Fill in the blank: The transition from an aquatic ecosystem to a _______ ecosystem begins as vegetation increases.
terrestrial
This transformation is marked by the growth of plants from surrounding terrestrial ecosystems.
What is a marshy bog?
An area where increased vegetation occurs, transitioning from aquatic to terrestrial
It represents a critical stage in aquatic succession.
What is primary succession?
Primary succession is the process that occurs in places where soil has been removed or never existed.
What is the climax community in primary succession?
A stable community reached after a series of ecological changes.
What is the role of pioneer species in primary succession?
Pioneer species are the first group of hardy species to grow in an area and are crucial for soil creation.
How long can primary succession take to reach a climax community?
It can take thousands of years.
True or False: Primary succession only occurs on land.
False
Fill in the blank: The first group of hardy species to grow or live in an area is called a _______.
[pioneer species]
What happens to the community during primary succession?
One community succeeds another until a stable climax community is reached.
What type of ecosystems also experience primary succession?
Aquatic ecosystems.
What is a distinctive feature of primary succession in aquatic ecosystems?
It produces its own distinctive climax community.
