Flashcard on Ecology Factors & Succession

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What is primary succession?

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Primary succession is the process of ecological change that occurs in an area where no soil exists, starting with bare rock and leading to the establishment of a biological community, often beginning with pioneer species like lichens and mosses.

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What are pioneer species?

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Pioneer species are the first organisms to colonize previously uninhabited or disturbed environments, such as lichens and mosses in primary succession.

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What does biotic mean?

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Biotic refers to living components of an ecosystem, including plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms.

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What does abiotic mean?

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Abiotic refers to nonliving components of an ecosystem, such as air, water, soil, and temperature.

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What are biotic factors?

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Biotic factors are all the living organisms in an ecosystem that interact with each other, such as plants, animals, and bacteria.

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What are abiotic factors?

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Abiotic factors are the nonliving physical and chemical elements in an ecosystem, including sunlight, water, temperature, and minerals.

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What is secondary succession?

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Secondary succession is the process of ecological change that occurs in an area where a disturbance has destroyed an existing community but left the soil intact, allowing for faster recovery compared to primary succession.

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Give an example of a biotic factor in an ecosystem.

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An example of a biotic factor is a population of deer in a forest.

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Give an example of an abiotic factor in an ecosystem.

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An example of an abiotic factor is the amount of rainfall in a region.

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What role do lichens play in primary succession?

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Lichens are pioneer species that help break down bare rock into soil, facilitating the growth of other plants.