Ecological Succession

What event 250 million years ago nearly wiped out all organisms on the planet?

• The Permian-Triassic Extinction Event

• The Cretaceous-Paleogene Extinction Event

• The Ice Age

• The Jurassic Period

In your own words, define 'Ecological Succession'.

What type of succession occurs after a major disturbance like an asteroid hit?

• Quaternary succession

• Primary succession

• Tertiary succession

• Secondary succession

Which organisms often colonize lifeless areas first during primary succession?

• Birds

• Mammals

• Insects

• Prokaryotes or protists

What replaced the dense forests of gymnosperms after the Permian-Triassic extinction?

• Savannas

• Deciduous forests

• Lycophytes

• Rainforests

Explain why primary succession needs to occur in order for biodiversity to occur again in the future? (hint: soil).

What is a climax community?

• A community with low biodiversity

• A community at the beginning of succession

• A community that no longer changes

• A community that changes frequently

What does the Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis suggest?

• Only severe disturbances benefit ecosystems

• Intermediate disturbances are ideal for biodiversity

• No disturbances are good for ecosystems

• Disturbances have no effect on ecosystems

Why did the lack of intermediate disturbances lead to catastrophic fires?

• Because of global warming

• Because ecosystems hadn't been allowed to burn periodically

• Because of an increase in animal populations

• Because trees became too tall

Who said 'the only constant is change'?

• Plato

• Socrates

• Heraclitus

• Aristotle