Ecological Succession

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What is succession in an ecosystem?

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The process of change over time in an ecosystem involving pioneer, intermediate, and climax communities.

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What are the two main types of succession?

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Primary succession and secondary succession.

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What is primary succession?

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Succession that starts on bare, uncolonised ground which has never had any vegetation growing on it before or in newly formed lakes.

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What are some examples of areas where primary succession can occur?

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Sand dunes, lava flows of volcanoes, new volcanic islands, landslips, and glacial debris.

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What is secondary succession?

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The sequence of changes on disturbed land where existing vegetation has been destroyed.

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What is a sere?

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The sequence of vegetation types which occur in primary succession.

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What is a xerosere?

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Ecological succession that occurs in dry environments such as deserts, sand dunes, and rocky areas.

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What is a hydrosere?

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Ecological succession that occurs in wet environments such as lakes, ponds, and wetlands.

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What is a lithosere?

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Ecological succession that occurs on barren rock surfaces such as lava flows and glaciated areas.

Front

What role do pollen records play in studying ecological succession?

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They help reconstruct past vegetation communities by analysing different types and quantities of pollen preserved in peat layers.