Invasive species are a problem when...

There are no limiting factors for the species

Limiting factors are present for the species

After a volcanic eruption, lava covers the land. What is the order that plants grow to repopulate the area?

Lichens → Grasses → Shrubs → Trees

Lichens → Shrubs → Grasses → Trees

Lichens → tree → shrubs→Grasses

Grasses → Lichens → Shrubs → Trees

What is the most important function of pioneer species?

To create soil and add nutrients to the environment

What is an example of an area that is likely to undergo primary succession?

Glaciers melt and leave exposed rock

Plants die from drought and decompose

Land is bulldozed and soil remains

5.4 Community Stability

Quiz

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Science

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5th - 12th Grade

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Practice Problem

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Medium

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NGSS

MS-LS2-4, MS-LS2-3, MS-LS2-2

Standards-aligned

MARY NAGLE

Used 46+ times

FREE Resource

About this resource

This quiz comprehensively covers ecological succession and community stability concepts appropriate for high school biology students, specifically grades 9-12. The questions assess students' understanding of fundamental ecological principles including equilibrium in biological communities, the distinction between primary and secondary succession, pioneer species and their role in ecosystem recovery, climax communities, and the impact of invasive species on native ecosystems. Students need to grasp the sequential nature of ecological change, understand how different disturbances affect ecosystem recovery patterns, and recognize the factors that influence community stability over time. The quiz requires students to analyze cause-and-effect relationships in ecological systems, interpret visual representations of succession stages, and apply their knowledge to predict outcomes following various environmental disturbances such as volcanic eruptions, forest fires, and glacial retreat. Created by Mary Nagle, a Science teacher in the US who teaches grades 5-12. This assessment serves as an excellent tool for formative evaluation of student understanding before moving into more complex ecological interactions and population dynamics. Teachers can effectively use this quiz as a chapter review, homework assignment, or warm-up activity to gauge student comprehension of succession concepts. The varied question formats, including scenario-based problems and image analysis, make it particularly valuable for differentiating instruction and accommodating diverse learning styles. This quiz aligns with Next Generation Science Standards MS-LS2-4 and HS-LS2-2, which focus on understanding how ecosystems respond to changes in environmental conditions and analyzing the role of biodiversity in maintaining ecosystem stability and resilience.

5.4 Community Stability

27 questions

When a community is stable and balanced it is in...

A predictable series of change overtime in a community is...

Which one is NOT a type of succession?

Which succession happens when a series of disturbances occurs but some of the original vegetation (plants) and soil still remains?

Which succession occurs when there are a series of disturbances where NO vegetation (plants) or original soil remains

Which one of these does NOT cause a primary succession?

What is a species that comes in after a primary succession and colonizes (restarts) the community?

Which type of succession grows back faster because some of the vegetation (plants) and soil still remains?

What is it called when a community completes the succession process (grows back)?

After a succession, is it guaranteed that the community will get back to a climax community (grow back)?

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