Succession and climatic climax Flashcards

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1
Q

What does the composition of vegetation rely upon?

A

Natural factors:
Climate, relief and soils.
Human factors:
Clearance, fires and livestock grazing.

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2
Q

What is a plant succession?

A

Plants become more complex over time.

‘The change in a plant community through time’.

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3
Q

When is a climatic climax achieved?

A

Undisturbed succession - climatic climax.

Plant species live in a perfect balance with the current environmental conditions.

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4
Q

What factors affect plant growth? 4

A

Climate.
Drainage.
Geology.
Relief ect.

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5
Q

What is a primary succession?

A

Occurs on surfaces that have had no previous vegetation.
Includes lava flows, bare rock and sand dunes.
Main types: Xreoseres and Hydroseres.

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6
Q

Where is a Xerosere formed?

A

Formed on dry land.
Lithoseres - rock.
Psammoseres - sand dunes.

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7
Q

Where is a Hydrosere formed?

A

Formed in water.
Haloseres - salt water.
Hydroseres - fresh water.

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8
Q

What is a secondary succession/when does it occur?

A

After the destruction/modification of an existing plant community.
Can occur naturally e.g. fire caused by lightening/deforestation.

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9
Q

What is a sere?

A

An individual stage in a plant succession.

Invasion, colonisation, competition, domination and decline.

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10
Q

What is the first general stage of plant succession? 7 points.

A

Pioneer species - can survive harsh conditions.
Invade bare ground (dispersal/migration) = colonies of 2+ species established.
E.g. long-rooted salt-tolerant marram grass in a sand dune.
Compete for space/light/water/nutrients.
Dying - adds organic matter to soil.
Can affect microclimate and soil conditions.
Roots break up/weather the surface - aids soil formation.

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11
Q

What is the second general stage of plant succession? 7 points.

A

Improved ground by immature soil.
Other plants colonise.
Each stage has improved conditions - more species.
Organic matter improves structure/water-rendition.
Allows taller plants - more in demand of water/nutrients.
Provide shelter from wind/sun - other plants colonise.
Dominant plants - tallest.

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12
Q

What is the third general stage of plant succession?

A
Thousands of years - stability.
Dominants rule over rivals.
Species decrease.
Community becomes 'closed' - saturation point has been reached with all potential niches occupied.
CLIMATIC CLIMAX COMMUNITY.
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13
Q

What is polyclimax theory?

A

Local factors e.g. drainage/geology, can create variations in a climatic climax community.

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14
Q

What is an example of a lithosere?

A

Begins life on newly exposed rock surface.
E.g. eruption of a volcano leaves a new, bare lava surface - Surtsey 1963, Iceland.
Raised beaches e.g. west coast Scotland.

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15
Q

What is the FIRST STAGE of succession of a lithosere?

A

FIRST STAGE:
The bare rock surface - very dry - rapid runoff.
Only bacteria/algae present.

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16
Q

What is the SECOND STAGE of succession of a lithosere?

A

SECOND STAGE: lichens - withstands the water shortage. Break down the rock/reduce water levels.
E.g. Rinodina lichens.
Wind borne soil particles/organic matter collect in the depressions - soil formation.
Helps growth of foliose lichens e.g. Parmelia.
Retain more water/accumulate more soil particles - develops fine layer of soil on the rock surface.

17
Q

What is the THIRD STAGE of succession of a lithosere?

A

THIRD STAGE:
Soil/humus accumulation - moss growth - e.g. Grimmia.
More soil/organic matter accumulation - favour moisture loving mosses e.g. Hypnum (more advanced).

18
Q

What is the FOURTH STAGE of succession of a lithosere?

A

FOURTH STAGE:
Decaying mosses - herb layer.
Helps germination to seeds of hardy grasses e.g. Poa.
Decomposition of annual grasses - replacement by perennial grasses e.g. Heteropogon (lives for 2+ years).
Small animals invade.

19
Q

What is the FIFTH STAGE of succession of a lithosere?

A

FIFTH STAGE:
Further weathering/herb deaths - shrub growth - e.g. Rhus.
Larger size/deeper roots - more weathering/soil formation.

20
Q

What are the SIXTH/SEVENTH STAGES of succession of a lithosere?

A

SIXTH STAGE: fast-growing pioneer trees e.g. willow.

SEVENTH STAGE: slower-growing trees e.g. ash.
Appear in later stages - initially in shrub shade.
Temperate deciduous woodland dominants.