Ecological Amplitude and Plant Communities

Front

What is an abiotic community?

Back

A naturally occurring assemblage of plants and animals that live in the same environment, are mutually sustaining and interdependent, and are constantly fixing and dissipating energy.

Front

What are the three strata recognized in grassland communities?

Back

(a) Subterranean, (b) Floor, and (c) Herbaceous.

Front

What does the subterranean stratum in grassland communities contain?

Back

The roots of the principal vegetation and provides permanent shelter to bacteria, fungi, protozoans, nematodes, earthworms, ringworms, and several other invertebrates.

Front

What is found in the floor stratum of grassland communities?

Back

Basal parts of the vegetation, including the rhizomes of grass plants, along with insects, spiders, reptiles, and rodents.

Front

What does the herbaceous stratum of grassland communities consist of?

Back

Upper parts of grasses and herbs, including several types of insects, birds, and grazing mammals.

Front

How many vertical strata are present in a forest community?

Back

Five vertical strata.

Front

What are the five vertical strata in a forest community?

Back

(a) Overstorey stratum, (b) Understorey stratum, (c) Transgressive stratum, (d) Seedling stratum, and (e) Subterranean stratum.

Front

What characterizes the overstorey stratum in a forest?

Back

It is composed of trees that are more than forty feet in height and forms a canopy.

Front

What is the role of the understorey stratum in a forest?

Back

It extends from twenty feet in height to a short distance below the overstorey.

Front

What does the transgressive stratum in a forest consist of?

Back

It extends from four feet to twenty feet or more and comprises shorter shade-loving species.