Succession Flashcards
1
Q
What is succession?
A
The change in an ecosystem overtime
2
Q
What are the two types of succession?
A
- Primary
- Secondary
3
Q
What results from succession?
A
Climax community
4
Q
What is primary succession?
A
- Takes place on newly exposed or newly formed land
- Colonised by living things
5
Q
What is secondary succession?
A
- Takes place where part of an ecosystem is disturbed
- Remnants of the previous community remain
6
Q
What are pioneer species? (Primary succession)
A
- First species to colonise newly formed land
- Specialised to live in harsh conditions
- Help break down substances on land to form soil
- When they die, also form hummus
7
Q
Colonisation of new species (Primary succession)
A
- Soil from pioneer species makes land less hostile
- New species colonise this
- When they die, organic matter released into soil
8
Q
What are pioneer species? (Secondary succession)
A
- Colonise damaged land
- Area more nutrient rich than primary succession
9
Q
Colonisation by new species (Secondary succession)
A
- As pioneer species die, soil becomes more stable
- New species colonise land
- New species outcompete the old species and become dominant
10
Q
Why does succession sometimes have to be managed?
A
- Many rare and protected species can be found in grassland
- Without management, grassland would turn into shrubs and woodland
11
Q
How can we manage succession?
A
- Grazing = animals grave to prevent growth
- Burning = kills vegetation and allows secondary succession to take place
12
Q
A
