Natural Sucession & Sand Dunes

Question 1

What is natural succession

Answer 1

Is the process by which an ecosystem forms in a lifeless terrestrial or aquatic system.
There’s two types:
Primary and Secondary sucession.

Question 2

Primary sucession

Answer 2

When an ecosystem forms on previously barren terrain or water body.
Glacial moraines Alaska.

Question 3

Secondary sucession

Answer 3

The development of an ecosystem after complete or partial destruction of previously existing communities.
Abandoned farmland.

Question 4

How can natural succession be observed.

Answer 4

Natural sucession can be observed in sand dunes.
Sand dunes form where strong winds transport sand ashore and obstacles/ plants trap the sand.
Plant communities facilitate dune building by binding sand.
As dunes grow environment changes and pioneer plant species are replaced.
Thé formation of sand dunes occur in stages.

Question 5

Name different systems of dunes

Answer 5

Embryonic dunes
Marram dunes
Fixed dunes
Machair

Question 6

Embryonic dunes

Answer 6

Youngest stage
Close to high tide mark
Unstable mound of sand rarely <1m
Hostile environment for plants : pH 8-9 high salinity

Question 7

Marram dunes

Answer 7

Occur behind embryonic dunes.
Partially stabilized hills/ ridges of sand at 15-20m high.
Vegetation cover is partial.
(Ammophila arenaria)

Question 8

Fixed dunes

Answer 8

Stabilized ridges/ hills sand.
More or less complete vegetation cover.
Exposed sand is generally <10%
(Festival rubra

Question 9

What grows on marram dunes

Answer 9

Ammophila arenaria

Question 10

What grows on fixed dunes

Answer 10

Festuca rubra