Succession

Question 1

PLANT SUCCESSION

Answer 1

colonisation of a habitat by different plant communities over a period of time

Question 2

PRIMARY SUCCESSION

Answer 2

barren substratum
first plants to colonise
growth death decomposition leads to build up of litter
as substratum develops plants get bigger
soil rich in nutrients to support climax community

Question 3

CLIMAX COMMUNITY

Answer 3

An ecological community in which populations of plants or animals remain stable and exist in balance with each other and their environment

Question 4

SECONDARY SUCCESSION

Answer 4

begins when a habitat has previously been colonised by plants
habitat would have some organic matter/soil
reaches climax faster

Question 5

PIONEER SPECIES

Answer 5

hardy plants
prefer higher light levels
wind tolerant
can survive dry exposed conditions

Question 6

CLIMAX SPECIES

Answer 6

Bigger trees with more nutrient requirements
some prefer sun most others prefer shade
not adapted to exposed dry habitats

Question 7

FOREST TIERED STRUCTURE

Answer 7

forest floor
understory
sub canopy
canopy
emergent

Question 8

FOREST FLOOR

Answer 8

plants that grow on ground, on the litter. eg: ferns, tree seedlings

Question 9

UNDERSTORY

Answer 9

shrubs and small trees, 3-5m in height. eg: coprosma,

kawakawa, pigeon wood, mahoe

Question 10

SUB-CANOPY

Answer 10

small trees, 10-15m in height, eg: mamaku, ponga, kamahi, nikau

Question 11

CANOPY

Answer 11

large trees, mostly angiosperms (broadleaf spp.), 20-25m in height,
eg: tawa, rewarewa, pukatea, hinau; the canopy results in shade on the forest
floor

Question 12

EMERGENT

Answer 12

tall trees which emerge through the canopy layer, usually conifers,
30-40m in height, eg: kauri, rimu, totara; emergent kahikatea (New Zealand’s tallest tree) can grow up to 60m in height