succession Flashcards
what is primary succession
-the gradual change in plant and animal communities from colonisation by pioneer species to the climax community
what is a pioneer species
-the first organisms to colonise an area
what happens at each stage of succession
-certain species change the abiotic environment
what does the change of abiotic environment from the certain species do
changes in habitat make it more suitable for new species with different adaptations to colonise the habitat
what does this change to the environment do for the previous species
-makes the environment less suitable for the previous species as they become better competitors
what does the change in the abiotic environment result in
a less hostile environment and changing species diversity
what does succession usual proceed to from
-a climax community
-the stability and diversity of the ecosystem increases as food webs become more complex
why may climax communities not be established
-becasue of agricultural practises like grazing
what is grazing
-seedlings of plants are continually eaten preventing any succession
whats ploughing
seedlings are broken up and buried preventing germination
-use of herbicides maintains an established community
what is interspecific competition
-competition between different species
-for water, food etc
waht is intraspecific competition
-the competition within a species
-competition for resources
what type of competition is predation
interspecific
why are predator pray relationships important
-controlling population size
what factors can affect variation within a population size
-abiotic factors
-interactions between organsims
-inter and infraspecific competition
-predation
