D4.2 Stability and change HL Flashcards
What is biomagnification?
The process where the concentration of pollutants increases with each level of the food chain
How do microplastics affect marine ecosystems?
They disrupt marine food webs and can accumulate toxins that biomagnify up the food chain.
What are the impacts of macroplastic pollution?
They cause wildlife entanglement, ingestion, and habitat degradation.
Define ecological succession
The natural progression of changes in species composition and community structure over time
What triggers ecological succession?
Natural disturbances, human activities, and environmental changes
Describe primary succession
The process of ecological change in an area devoid of life, such as new volcanic rock or a retreating glacier
What is secondary succession?
Ecological change in an area previously colonized but disturbed, returning to an earlier development stage.
What is cyclic succession?
A repetitive sequence of ecological changes, returning to the initial or a similar starting point
Give an example of cyclic succession
Coastal chaparral ecosystems in California, characterized by dense shrubs and trees adapted to periodic fires
What is the climax community in ecological succession?
A stable and mature community that remains relatively unchanged over time
