Succession Flashcards
Define succession.
A predictable, directional change in plant communities following disturbance, ending with a stable climax community.
It is considered a linear process and is one of the key processes in ecology.
What is lithosere succession?
Succession on a rocky substrate.
What are some characteristics involved in lithosere succession that species will have to overcome?
No soil,
Nutrient poor,
No rooting mechanism,
Exposed.
State some characteristics of pioneer species.
Stress tolerant,
They change the current environment by adding biomass which creates a rooting medium,
Lichens etc.
What are some later stage pioneer species?
Herbs and grasses,
Windblown seeds,
These start to form soil upon decomposition.
What succeeds environmental conditions as a successional factor?
Competition replaces environmental conditions as the most important factor in succession as soil forms and species become more diverse.
State the 3 species stages of succession.
Pioneer species,
Intermediate species,
Climax communities.
Describe disturbance (in ecological terms).
Disturbance is an event that disrupts an ecosystem,
It interrupts and promotes succession,
Can vary on scale, frequency and intensity,
It can be exogenous or endogenous.
How does disturbance affect climax communities?
It disrupts climax communities which is why successional change is constantly occurring, and the biosphere is not one big stable climax community.
Describe secondary succession.
It occurs following disturbance,
It differs from primary succession as soil and propagules (buds, suckers, spores) are already present,
Secondary succession is determined in part by the history of an area,
It occurs much quicker than primary succession.
Define plagioclimax.
A stage of succession which has been interrupted and upheld at an artificial endpoint (managed woodlands, meadows etc.).
What is Grime’s life strategy model?
A theory that describes the life strategy of plants. This helps us understand why plants grow In certain areas and relate this to stages of succession.
