Ecological Succession 7.10C

What are the two types of ecological succession?

• Primary and Secondary Succession

• Pioneer and Climax Succession

• Progressive and Regressive Succession

• Continuous and Discontinuous Succession

What is the term used to describe the first organisms to live in an uninhabited area during primary succession?

• Climax species

• Keystone species

• Pioneer species

• Dominant species

Which organisms help to form soil in which plants can grow during primary succession?

• Ferns

• Grasses

• Lichens

• Insects

What happens to the soil as primary succession progresses from mosses to ferns?

• The soil becomes less fertile.

• The soil depth decreases.

• The soil deepens and may allow for the growth of shrubs and small trees.

• The soil becomes too acidic for any plants to grow.

After hundreds or even thousands of years, what is the soil condition in the final stage of primary succession?

• The soil is shallow and infertile.

• The soil is deep and fertile enough to support a forest.

• The soil is eroded and barren.

• The soil is saturated with water and unsuitable for trees.

What is secondary succession?

• The process by which a new ecosystem develops after a volcanic eruption

• The series of community changes which take place on a previously colonized, but disturbed or damaged habitat

• The development of an ecosystem in an area that has never been colonized before

• The replacement of a community by another one due to seasonal changes

What often grows first in farmland after a major disturbance like a farmer stopping to grow crops?

• Small conifer trees

• Horseweed

• Crabgrass

• Hardwoods

What is common during the second year of secondary succession?

• The growth of hardwoods

• The appearance of small conifer trees

• The seeds of new wild plants being carried by insects or birds

• The formation of a forest

How long does it take for a forest to potentially form after the beginning of secondary succession?

• About 2 years

• About 10 years

• About 50 years

• About 100 years

What trees may start growing among the weeds 5 to 15 years into secondary succession?

• Oak or maple trees

• Crabgrass

• Small conifer trees

• Horseweed