Succession

Question 1

What is succession ?

Answer 1

Succession is the process by which the communities of organisms colonizing an area change over time

Question 2

Describe How primary succession takes place

Answer 2

1. Primary succession starts with an empty inorganic surface ( bare rock/ sand dune)
2. The first stage is colonization by opportunists or pioneer species like algae and moss
3. Opportunists penetrate the rock surface and breaks down rocks into rock grains
4. This starts the formation of soil
5. formation of grasses and ferns
6. gradually larger plants develop and there is an increase in the diversity of animals
7. formation of a climax community

Question 3

Climax community ?

Answer 3

A self sustaining community with relatively constant biodiversity and species range

Question 4

What is the difference between primary and secondary succession ?

Answer 4

Secondary succession is the development of an ecosystem from existing soil that is clear of vegetation whereas in primary succession it starts with an empty inorganic surface. ( soil is formed later on) in secondary succession the number of plants and animals present right from the beginning are much higher

Question 5

Climatic climax community ?

Answer 5

The only climatic community

Possible in a given climate