STAAR Combo 3 (Ecological Succession, Plants and Food Webs

What general conclusions could an ecologist make when contrasting pioneer with climax communities?

• The biomass and biodiversity increase over time.
• The biomass and biodiversity decrease over time.
• The biomass increases over time while the biodiversity remains constant.
• The biomass increases over time while the biodiversity decreases.

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NGSS.MS-LS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Surtsey is an island located south of Iceland. The island was formed by a volcanic eruption and first appeared in 1963. The table below contains descriptions of changes in the population and diversity of species on Surtsey. Which of these lists the descriptions in the correct order of ecological succession on Surtsey?

•  I, II, IV, III
• III, I, II, IV
• IV, III, I, II 
• II, IV, I, III

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NGSS.MS-LS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

The graph shows the basic changes in a forest community after a disturbance occurred. The information shown in the graph suggests that the changes in the forest community were caused by — 

• tree-leaf replacement after a storm
• succession after a fire
•  repeated habitat destruction 
• decreased species diversity

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NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Starting on bare rock what is the usual ecological succession of organisms?

• grasses  shrubs  lichens  trees
• lichens  shrubs  grasses  trees 
• trees  shrubs  grasses  lichens
• lichens  grasses  shrubs  trees

What concept is represented in the graph below? 

• ecological succesion in a community
•  cycling of carbon and nitrogen in a forest 
• energy flow in a food chain over time
• negative human impact on the environment

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NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

The graph below shows the changes in the number of species in an ecosystem. Which event was most likely the cause of the changes in species diversity in this ecosystem?

•  A large volcanic eruption 
• A flash flood 
• A small tornado 
• A migration of locusts

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NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Which sequence shows increasing ecological levels of organization?

• organism, population, community, ecosystem 
• ecosystem, population, organism, community 
• community, ecosystem, population, organism 
• population, organism, ecosystem, community

Which statement best describes the differences in species diversity between an ecosystem beginning the process of primary succession and one beginning the process of secondary succession? 

• Species diversity is much greater in the ecosystem undergoing primary succession because that ecosystem is experiencing a longer period with a lack of competition for space.
• No differences in species diversity exist because both ecosystems initially lack living organisms. 
• Species diversity is much greater in the ecosystem undergoing primary succession because the lack of soil provides a greater area for organisms to claim niches. 
• Species diversity is greater in the ecosystem undergoing secondary succession because the soil already contains seeds and spores of various species

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NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Which order of diagrams would show primary succession in an area that had never before been occupied by living organisms? 

•  A, C, B, D
• C, A, B, D
•   D, B, C, A
• B, A, C, D

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NGSS.MS-LS2-3

A primary function of a plant root is to — 

• release carbon dioxide
• digest organic materials
• absorb water and minerals
• produce secondary growth

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NGSS.MS-LS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS2-1