Secondary Succession Management

Question 0

In the absence of management, grassland on chalk will

Answer 0

Revert back to woodland because of secondary succession.

Question 1

Secondary succession can be prevented by

Answer 1

Simple management techniques, such as scrub bashing, grazing stock and mowing the lawn.

Question 2

Rabbits can impact on a

Answer 2

Variety of early successional habitats.

Question 3

Rabbits eat preferred plants whilst avoiding others, this can result in a

Answer 3

Change in community composition, from a change in heather-dominated to a grass-dominated community for example.

Question 4

Rabbits create gaps in the

Answer 4

Vegetation where annual plants can grow.

Question 5

Rabbits, in creating conditions for early successional plants can

Answer 5

Slow down or even stop succession, resulting in a deflected climax.

Question 6

Rabbits, at low densities, tend to reduce the

Answer 6

Height and quantity of the vegetation to a low level.

Question 7

Tree seedlings, which dominate in later successional stages, will be killed by

Answer 7

Rabbits, if their growing points are not close to the ground.

Question 8

In a deflected climax community, no single plant species is able to dominate, therefore the

Answer 8

Number of plant species per unit area may be very high; possibly 30-40 in 1m^2.

Question 9

Rabbits are good for management of chalk grasslands, creating conditions suitable for a

Answer 9

High number of plant species and for favouring the growth of early successional plant species which otherwise might be quite rare.