Succession and Stability

Question 1

succession

Answer 1

the change in plant, animal and microbial communities in an area following disturbance or the creation of new substrate

Question 2

primary succession

Answer 2

occurs only on newly exposed substrate not significant modified by organism

Question 3

secondary succession

Answer 3

occurs in areas where disturbance destroys a community without destroying the soil

Question 4

when does succession usually end?

Answer 4

with a climax community whose populations remain stable until disrupted by distubrnace

Question 5

how does community change in succession?

Answer 5

changes is species composition and species diversity

Question 6

how does ecosystem change in succession?

Answer 6

increases in biomass, primary production, respiration and nutrient retention

Question 7

mechanisms of succession: facilitation model

Answer 7

many species try to colonise newly available space but only some, with certain characteristics, establish themselves

Question 8

tolerance model

Answer 8

which species tolerate the disturbance

Question 9

inhibition model

Answer 9

those that get there first, inhibit succession by other species

Question 10

stability

Answer 10

persistence in face of disturbance.

• alternative stable states
• static, quasi-steady, classic static (disturbance matters)
• perception is affects by scale of measurement
• predator/prey, carrying capacity and competition affect

Question 11

resistance

Answer 11

ability to maintain structure or function in face of disturbance
- affected by landscape level phenomena

Question 12

resilience

Answer 12

ability to bounce back after disturbance

- influenced by resource availability