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Life processes in the biosphere > Ecological succesion > Flashcards

Ecological succesion Flashcards

1
Q

What is a sere

A

The sequence of stages in ecological succession during which an uncolonised habitat develops into the climax community

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2
Q

What is secondary succession

A

Ecological succession that takes place in an area where the existing climax community has been disturbed or destroyed.

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3
Q

What is primary succession

A

Changes in an ecosystem over time when the starting point was nothing (no soil just bare rock, sand or water)

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4
Q

What are the three types of seres

A
  • Hydrosere
  • Lithosere
  • Psammosere
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5
Q

What are pioneer species

A

One of the first species to colonise an area at the start of ecological succession. They are usually well adapted to extreme abiotic factors.

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6
Q

What is a hydrosere

A

Succession where the first stage or sere is freshwater

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7
Q

What is a lithosere

A

Succession where the first stage or sere is bare rock

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8
Q

What is a psammosere

A

Succession where the first stage or sere is on sand

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9
Q

What is a plagioclimax

A

Community maintained by human activity where succession/ the climax community was deflected or stopped

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10
Q

What is deflected succession

A

Natural ecological succession is stopped by human actions. Long-term continuation of the actions that deflect succession will create a plagioclimax.

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11
Q

What is a climax community

A

The relatively stable community of species present at the end of ecological succession.
The species that make up the community are controlled by the climate, so it is often called the climatic climax community

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12
Q

What is the main difference between primary and secondary succession

A

Primary succession occurs in an environment without previous life. Secondary succession occurs in an area that had previously been inhabited but experienced a disturbance, such as a wildfire or human activities such as grazing livestock or coppicing

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13
Q

During the succession process what increases over time

A
  • Biodiversity
  • Soil depth
  • Complexity (plants develop)
  • Plants become taller (supported by deeper soil = deeper roots)
  • Shade
  • Decay and decomposition
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14
Q

What are 6 plagioclimaxes in the UK

A
  • Lowland heath
  • Upland moor
  • Chalk grassland
  • Hay meadows
  • Water meadows
  • Coppiced woodland
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15
Q

What is the management practice in lowland heath

A
  • Burn it (controlled burning)
  • Grazing
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16
Q

What is the management practice in upland moor

A
  • Burn it (controlled burning)
  • Grazing
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17
Q

What is the management practice in chalk grassland

A

Grazing

18
Q

What is the management practice in hay meadows

A

Mowing / harvesting the hay

19
Q

What is the management practice in water meadows

A

Grazing

20
Q

What is the management practice in coppiced woodland

A

Coppicing (cut trees down to a stump at intervals every 10 years)

21
Q

How do early colonisers change abiotic conditions to enable more and more species to thrive

A

Early colonisers (pioneer species) go through the cycle of death and decay which helps with the production of soil and makes the habitat suitable for new species to thrive

22
Q

How does lithosere develop

A

Developed by a cliff fall, glacier retreat or a volcanic eruption

23
Q

What are the abiotic conditions usually like before succession of a lithosere

A

Abiotic conditions are usually harsh and unsuitable.
- Extreme temperatures
- Limited water availability
- No soil

24
Q

What happens in stage 1 of primary succession of a lithosere

A

The ground surface consists of ash and bare rock and pioneer species usually lichen and moss colonise.

25
Q

What happens in stage 2 of primary succession in a lithosere

A

Conditions improve as DOM and rock fragments accumulate which allows mosses to colonise and a thin layer of soil to build up

26
Q

What happens in stage 3 of primary succession in a lithosere

A

Grasses and ferns colonise and the layer of soil increases which allows for larger plants to grow. Development of soil makes plant nutrients more available

27
Q

What happens in stage 4 of primary succession in a lithosere

A

Once pollinating insects are established flowering plants are able to grow. The soil is deep enough for trees to colonise usually by wind blown seeds e.g. birch trees

28
Q

What are the abiotic conditions usually like after succession of a lithosere

A

The conditions are less extreme and more stable

29
Q

What is a sand dune

A

Sand dunes are depositional landforms that form on coastal environments

30
Q

What are the abiotic conditions usually like before succession of a psammosere

A
  • Plant nutrients are not readily available
  • Drainage is rapid = poor water supply
31
Q

What happens in stage 1 of primary succession of a Psammosere

A

Pioneer species such as sea rocket colonise an area of sand and helps to create the structure of embryonic sand dunes and couch grass grows

32
Q

What happens in stage 2 of primary succession of a Psammosere

A

Marram grass begins to grow which helps stabilise the sand dunes creating yellow dunes allowing the sand dunes to grow and become colonised by other species.

33
Q

What happens in stage 3 of primary succession of a Psammosere

A

Fixed dunes have more vegetation grow such as red fescue

34
Q

What happens in stage 4 of primary succession of a Psammosere

A

Scrub stage brambles start to grow

35
Q

What happens in stage 5 of primary succession of a Psammosere

A

Oak trees start to grow creating woodlands

36
Q

What are the abiotic conditions usually like after succession of a psammosere

A
  • Nutrient supplies increase
  • Organic matter builds up
  • Water availability increases
37
Q

What happens in stage 1of primary succession of a hydrosere

A

An area of fresh water is colonised by single-celled algae from soil. Birds and flying insects drop spores and seeds

38
Q

What happens in stage 2 of primary succession of a hydrosere

A

Fresh water edges are colonised by rooting plants, water is too deep for rooting plants.
More plants = more food = more animals

39
Q

What happens in stage 3 of primary succession of a hydrosere

A

Plants grow and die and DOM accumulates and the water becomes shallow allowing emergent plants to grow above the water creating shade. Submerged plants die from lack of sunlight

40
Q

What happens in stage 4 of primary succession of a hydrosere

A

Sediment fills the water & aquatic animals migrate. Soil accumulates + develops to support plants + trees

41
Q

What happens in stage 5 of primary succession of a hydrosere

A

Soil becomes drier allowing oak trees to colonise creating a denser canopy providing shade which inhibits smaller plant growth

Life processes in the biosphere (4 decks)

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