Level 2: Ecological Succession

Match the following

• Primary succession

• 
• climax community

• 
• pioneer species

• 
• secondary sucession

• 
• abiotic factor

• 

Answer explanation

___ are the first organisms to colonize an area and begin the process of ecological succession.

• foundational organisms

• introductory organisms

• primary organisms

• pioneer species

What is the main difference between primary and secondary ecological succession?

• Primary begins WITHOUT soil; Secondary begins WITH soil

• Primary is the first state and secondary is the second stage

• Primary builds plant community; secondary builds animal community.

• Primary begins WITH soil; Secondary begins WITHOUT soil

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

After a volcanic eruption, volcanic rock is present (but no soil). Which of the following states the most likely order of succession that would be seen?

• Lichens → Shrubs → Grasses → Trees

• Lichens → tree → shrubs→Grasses

• Grasses → Lichens → Shrubs → Trees

• Lichens → Grasses → Shrubs → Trees

Primary or secondary ecological succession?

• 
• 

What is the order of succession shown in this figure?

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