Restoring Ecosystems / Study Guide

Restoring Ecosystems / Study Guide

Ecosystems are constantly changing. As one type of organism begins to die out, another takes its place in the ecosystem. This is called succession. Succession is the slow change of the types of organisms that live in an ecosystem over time. Succession can occur due to climate changes or changes caused by plants or animals. Ecosystems are restored, or rebuilt, through succession.

As climate changes, many areas in the world are becoming drier. Currently, 25% of the country of India is becoming more and more like a desert! As the land in these areas become drier, the plants that live there will begin to die.

Eventually, herbivores will die or move to a new habitat. Once the herbivores die or move away, the carnivores will also begin to die or move away. Plants and animals that can live in a drier climate will begin to move into the area to take over the land that was left behind by the plants and animals that could not survive in a drier climate.

Multiple Choice

_______ is the slow change of the types of organisms that live in an ecosystem over time.

• Extinction

• Succession

• Aaptation

Multiple Select

Tigers are the top predator in their ecosystem. If tigers became extinct, what could happen?

Select all that may happen.

• The population of animals that tigers eat could increase.

• Nothing in the ecosystem would change.

• A new predator could move into the ecosystem to take the place of tigers.

• The population of animals that tigers eat could decrease.

Primary Succession

the slow change of organisms in an ecosystem over time that begins with bare rock

Primary Succession

• happens on bare rock

• new ecosystems with little or no soil

Pioneer Species

• the first organisms to live in a new ecosystem during primary succession

  do not need soil to grow

• include moss and lichen

Primary Succession

• thin layer of soil builds over time

• birds leave behind seeds from other plants

• plants that do not need much soil begin to grow

Climax Community:

• when an ecosystem becomes stable and only minor changes occur

• soil builds from decaying plants and animals

• takes thousands of years

Multiple Choice

________ occurs when slow changes take place in an ecosystem that is made up of bare rock.

• primary succession

• endangered

• climax community

• succession

• adaptation

Multiple Choice

The first organisms that live in this ecosystem are __________.

• primary succession

• endangered

• pioneer species

• succession

• adaptation

Multiple Choice

Eventually the ecosystem will reach a point where only minor changes occur. When this has happened, it has reached its __________.

• climax community

• endangered

• pioneer species

• succession

• adaptation

Multiple Select

Hawaii is a set of islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Hawaii started as volcanic rocks that became islands. Today, there are many types of trees, flowers, and other plants on these islands. Hawaii's ecosystem is an example of:

• a climax community

• primary succession

• a pioneer species

• extinction

Secondary succession is the quick change of organisms in an ecosystem that helps rebuild damage. When a dramatic event such as a forest fire occurs, all of the organisms in an area can be destroyed. When this happens, the soil is still present. This means that secondary succession occurs faster than primary succession.

Secondary succession is faster because it does not require thousands of years for the soil to build up from decaying plant and animal life. the soil is already present.

Secondary succession occurs at a faster rate because the soil still has seeds and roots from some of the plants that lived there before the dramatic event. If the dramatic event was a forest fire, ashes from burned trees add nutrients to the soil. This means that pioneer species return at a faster right during secondary succession. Small, hardy plants, like shrubs, are more likely to be pioneer species during secondary succession.

Animals are also more likely to return to these ecosystems than go to ecosystems are are developed through primary succession because they are already familiar with the area. This also helps speed up the process of secondary succession. These geese are returning to the area where they lived before the fire destroyed their home. Secondary succession has begun, and plants are beginning to grow again.

Multiple Choice

Secondary succession takes longer than primary succession.

Multiple Choice

Does this description fit primary or secondary succession?

"There are seeds and roots still in the soil"

Multiple Choice

Does this description fit primary or secondary succession?

"There are only rocks"

Multiple Choice

Does this description fit primary or secondary succession?

"It takes a very long time"

Multiple Choice

Does this description fit primary or secondary succession?

"The soil is already there"

Multiple Choice

Does this description fit primary or secondary succession?

"Animals return to where they used to live sooner"

Multiple Choice

What is succession?

• the slow change of the types of organisms that live in an ecosystem over time

• a large area of land with a common climate, animals, and plants

• when an animal disappears forever

• the change of a trait or behavior to help an organism survive better in a specific ecosystem

Multiple Choice

What is primary succession?

• the first plants that live in an ecosystem

• a large area of land with a common climate, animals, and plants

• slow changes that take place in an ecosystem that is made up of bare rock

• the change of a trait or behavior to help an organism survive better in a specific ecosystem

Multiple Choice

What is a pioneer species?

• the first organisms that live in an ecosystem

• a species that is in danger of going extinct

• a species that has low numbers and could become endangered

• a large area of land with a common climate, animals, and plants

Multiple Choice

A climax community is ________.

• an animal that kills and eats other animals for energy

• an animal that is killed and eaten by a predator

• the living part of an ecosystem

• an ecosystem that has become stable and only experiences minor changes

Multiple Choice

What is secondary succession?

• an animal that is killed and eaten by a predator

• the living part of an ecosystem

• the quick change of organisms in an ecosystem that helps rebuild damage

• an animal that kills and eats other animals for energy

Multiple Select

Select all of the following that are shown in this image (click to enlarge).

• pioneer species

• primary succession

• secondary succession

• climax community

Multiple Choice

Is this a place where primary or secondary succession would occur?

Multiple Choice

Is this a place where primary or secondary succession would occur?

Multiple Choice

Is this a place where primary or secondary succession would occur?

Multiple Choice

Is this a place where primary or secondary succession would occur?

Multiple Select

What happens as ecosystems change over time?

Check all that are true.

• All of the plants and animals in the ecosystem could change.

• New types of plants and animals who have adapted to live in the changed ecosystem will begin to live there.

• An ecosystem that is completely different from the original ecosystem could develop

• No new plants or animals will live there.

Multiple Choice

A volcano has created a new peninsula on one of the Hawaiian Islands. This peninsula is beginning as bare rock. As an ecosystem develops, this will be an example of __________.

• pioneer species

• a climax community

• secondary succession

• primary succession.

Multiple Choice

Why is secondary succession a faster process than primary succession?

• There are already seeds in the soil.

• Animals are more likely to come back to an area where they already lived.

• There is already a layer of soil.

• All of these choices are correct.

Multiple Choice

What is found in an area at the beginning of primary succession?

• There are only rocks.

• There are seeds and roots.

• There is pollution.

• There is a layer of soil.

Multiple Choice

What does the second stage of this diagram show?

• climax community

• primary succession

• pioneer species

• fossils from the previous community

Multiple Choice

What is secondary succession?

• an animal that is killed and eaten by a predator

• the living part of an ecosystem

• the quick change of organisms in an ecosystem that helps rebuild damage

• an animal that kills and eats other animals for energy