Ecological Succession

Which result of ecological succession leads to an increase in animal species diversity?

• Soil develops more slowly.

• Food choices increase.

• Precipitation rates stabilize.

• Temperatures drop steadily.

Which of the following types of organisms would be present during the pioneer community stage of ecological succession?

• Lichens and mosses

• Grasses and shrubs

• Small trees and wildflowers

• Tall trees and thick brush

  Which

Which of the following is a characteristic of a habitat in the earliest stages of succession?

• Relatively low biodiversity

• Mostly hardwood trees

• Thick layer of rich soil

• High density of organic matter

Primary succession is an ecological process that occurs in an environment in response to -

• the destruction of existing vegetation.

• erosion and weathering of rock.

• a change exposing bare rock.

• significant moisture in a short time.

Lichens are important to the creation of an ecosystem due to the fact that they create soil by -

• becoming tall.

• collecting water.

• reproducing asexually.

• weathering rock.

The process of secondary succession can begin –

• after an ecosystem disturbance.

• before soil has been established.

• once new land has been created.

• when plants begin reproducing.

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

• Lichens → Shrubs → Grasses → Trees

• Shrubs → Trees → Grasses → Lichens

• Grasses → Lichens → Shrubs → Trees

• Lichens → Grasses → Shrubs → Trees

As an ecosystem transitions from a grassland to a forest, grasses will begin to -

• adapt to life in the forest.

• be replaced by other plants.

• multiply to establish dominance.

• relocate to a nearby grassland.

In a pond, which of the following changes would most likely result in terrestrial succession?

• An increase in water plants growing in the pond.

• A decrease in the number of decomposers in the pond.

• An increased rate of deposition of sediments into the pond.

• A decreased oxygen content kills large fish in the pond.

Trees are the final (climax) stage of ecological succession because they -

• require rich soil created by shrubs.

• only need limited amounts of sunlight.

• reproduce at a very fast rate.

• depend on animals to disperse their seeds.