succession Flashcards
explain the meaning of primary succession
starts with uncolonised area
pioneer species arrive
progresses to climax community
what is a climax community
final equillibrium stage
what are the features of climax community species
they are strongly influences by other organisms
cant tolerate great fluctuations in environment
species which are found in the end point community
have a specialised niche- epiphyte
what is an epiphyte
plant which grows on another plant for physical support
what island displayed succesion first
island of surtsey
what happened at the island of surtsey
created by a volcanic eruption in 1960 which created bare rock
pioneer species- algae and lichen begin to live on the bare rock
erosion and dead organic matter produced more soil for larger plants to grow which succeeded algae and lichen
succession kept occurring until climax community
what is a pioneer community
first community of organisms which occurs in a previously ecological barren area
describe how sand dunes show all the stages of succession
sand just above the high water mark is at beginning of succession,
where as sand much further away already has own climax community.
explain the role of pioneer plants in succession on a sand dune
stabilise the environment, changes soil ph, fixes nitrogen
give examples of deflected succession caused by humans
herbicides
burning
mowing
fertiliser
during succession how does biomass change
increases as plants are larger as succession occurs and they are smaller at earlier stages
