University:
University of California, Berkeley
Course:
EPS C12 | The Planets
Academic year:

2024
Views:

194

Pages:

3
Author:

Macy Harrison

ECOLOGICAL SUCCESSION NAME:_________________ Questions: 1. What is primary succession? when organisms populate an area for the first time (previously was lifeless) 2. What is a pioneer species? hardy species that are first to colonize a previously disrupted area (ex. prokaryotes or non-vascular plants) 3. What are some examples of pioneer species? lycophytes (scale trees and club mosses), lichens 4. What type of seeds do these pioneer species usually have? wind born or spores 5. What is the outcome of primary succession? rebuild soils 6. What is secondary succession? process started by an event that reduces a pre-existing ecosystem to a simpler/smaller group of species, occurs on pre-existing soil 7. How long does primary succession take? 100’s to 1000’s of years (possibly millions) 8. How would a tree falling in a forest change the species of plants living in that area? make a tiny patch of forest less shaded, different microclimate, different sunlight, precipitation etc. 9. When does succession stop? Never 10. What is a climax community? predictable group of species that stay stable until next disruption 11. What does high biodiversity tell us about succession? An ecosystem is in late successional stages 12. What type of disturbances have the greatest impact on biodiversity? moderate disturbances 13. What is the intermediate disturbances hypothesis? intermediate disturbances are ideal for creating more niches, more biodiversity, more stability 14. What are the consequences of humans protecting forests from burning? ended up with catastrophic forest fires and less biodiversity Part 2: Analysis Questions: Examine the diagrams below showing primary and secondary succession and answer the following questions. 1. Describe the difference between primary and secondary succession. Primary succession starts with an area with no life, secondary succession starts after other species have established themselves and produced soil suitable to support vascular plants 2. Which process do you expect to take longer? Why? Primary succession because the plants have to recreate/create soil which requires decomposing and takes a long time. 3. Describe a small or large ecological disturbance that has occurred in your neighbourhood. (student choice) Part 3: Practice Questions: 1. 2. 3. 4. A common pioneer organism in a succession is ____lichens____. The final stable state of a succession is called the ___climax____ community. The first species in a succession is called the ___pioneer species___. Which organisms would most likely be the pioneer organisms on a newly formed volcanic island? a. conifers b. lichens c. deciduous trees d. tall grasses 5. Starting on bare rock, what is the usual ecological succession of organisms? a. lichens grasses shrubs trees b. grasses shrubs lichens trees c. lichens shrubs grasses trees d. shrubs grasses lichens trees 6. The stable stage that is established in an area as a result of the process of ecological succession is known as the: a. pioneer organism b. climax community c. biotic stage d. heterotrophic community 7. Which statement concerning the climax stage of an ecological succession is correct? a. It is the first community to inhabit an area. b. It consists entirely of plants. c. It persists until the environment changes. d. It changes rapidly.