Succession

Question 1

Succession is…

Answer 1

the long term change in the composition of a community

Question 2

succession occurring on a previously ________ substrate is called a _______.

Answer 2

uncolonized

primary succession

Question 3

Secondary succession occurs…

Answer 3

in places where a previous community has been destroyed (eg after forest fires)

Question 4

which one is faster? primary or secondary succession

why?

Answer 4

secondary

the presence of soil and a seed bank

Question 5

Succession happens when…

Answer 5

species change the habitat they have colonized and make it more suitable for new species.

Question 6

example of succession

Answer 6

lichens and mosses are typical pioneer species

Question 7

the final stage of succession is the…

Answer 7

climax community

Question 8

What are the changes during succession?

The biomass ____ because of the increasing amount of _______.
When the system approaches its ______, the ____ of increase in _____ of the plants is ________ by its own ______. The system comes into ________ and reaches peak ______ at channeling the energy of the sun into the _______ of the community.

Answer 8

Increases
Increases
Net product productivity
Climax
Rate
Net product productivity 
Consumed
Heterotrophs
Equilibrium
Efficiency
Food webs

Question 9

What are the seral stages

Answer 9

Primary sere -> Secondary sere -> … -> nth sere -> Climax

Question 10

In the early stages of succession, ________ is low due to the initial conditions and __________ of producers.

Answer 10

Gross productivity

Low density

Question 11

The proportion of energy lost through __________ is relatively ____, so net productivity is ______.

Answer 11

Community respiration
Low
High

Question 12

As succession progresses, _____ become better _____ and more _______ and can support a greater diversity of _______.

Answer 12

Soils
Structured
Fertile
Producers

Question 13

What stabilize an ecosystem as it reaches climax population?

Answer 13

Gross primary productivity
Net primary productivity
Diversity

Question 14

Interrupted succession is known as

Answer 14

Plagioclimax

Question 15

What are the features of a climax community

Answer 15

• Greater biomasss
• Higher levels of species diversity
• More favorable soil conditions
• Better soil structure
• Taller and long-living plant species
• greater habitat diversity

Question 16

In the early stages of succession ______ is low as the proportion of ____ lost through community ______ is also low.

Answer 16

Gross productivity
Energy
Respiration

Question 17

In the early stages of succession ________ is high as the system is ____ and _____ is ________.

Answer 17

Net productivity
Growing
Biomass
Accumulating

Question 18

In the later stages of succession ________ is high whilst ______ reaches ____ and the __________ approaches 1.

Answer 18

Gross productivity
net productivity
Zero
Production:respiration

Question 19

When p:r is greater than 1…

Answer 19

Biomass accumulates

Question 20

When p:r is less than 1…

Answer 20

Biomass reduces

Question 21

When p:r = 1

Answer 21

A community in steady state equilibrium results

Question 22

A climax community is a community of _______ that is more or less _____ and is in ______ with natural _______ conditions such as _______.

Answer 22

Organisms
Stable
Equilibrium
environmental
Climate

Question 23

zonation is the

Answer 23

arrangement or patterning of plant communities and or ecosystems into bands in response to change

Question 24

Examples of ecological succession

Answer 24

• successive communities displace each other through competition
• changes in organisms = changes in abiotic environment (soil, microclimate)

Question 25

Pioneer communities are the first ______ to ______ a new environment. (Think of characteristics of r-strategists)

Answer 25

Organisms

Colonize

Question 26

Factors of a climax community include…

Answer 26

• Characteristics are determined by climate and soil (rainforests, mature woodlands)
• reached equilibrium/relatively stable