7.10C Ecological succession

An environmental scientist observed the stage of primary succession in an area and recorded his observations on note cards. Which of the following sequences show the correct order of events? 

• 1, 3, 4, 2

• 1, 4, 2, 3

• 2, 3, 1, 4

• 2, 1, 4, 3

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

Deforestation occurs when a lumber company cuts down all the trees on 100 acres of heavily wooded land. What will happen first as the land recovers during ecological succession?

• Breakdown of rock into soil

• Appearance of weeds and grass

• Arrival of squirrels

• Growth of trees

What is one way secondary succession differs from primary succession?

• Secondary succession is typically quicker than primary succession.

• Secondary succession is typically slower than primary succession.

• Secondary succession only occurs in mountains, primary succession only occurs in wetlands.

• Secondary succession is the gradual change in plant species, while primary succession is the gradual change in animal species

The first species that colonize the environment at the start of succession are called?

Ecological succession can best be described as: 

• A change in weather.

• The dominant species in one particular area.

• A gradual change in plant and animal life in an ecosystem over time.

• Species that survive best when there is little or no competition in an area.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

A vegetable garden goes unattended for a few weeks. Which organism will be the first to take over the area?

• Weeds

• Moss

• Shrubs

• Trees

If the ecosystem is not altered (changed), which stage would be the most stable?

• grass

• pine forest

• shrub

• hardwood forest

Stage IV will persist (stay the same) until it is altered (changed) by ______ ?

• the growth in diameter of the trees

• a major change in a biotic & abiotic factors

• the reappearance of lichens and mosses

• seasonal dieback of vegetation

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

A glacier in Alaska has melted back a distance of 100 kilometers over the last 200 years. Four stages in this process are shown in diagrams A, B, C, and D below.  

In which order should the diagrams be placed to represent the ecological succession that has taken place in the area?

• C → D → A → B

• D → C → B → A

• C → D → B → A

• D → C → A → B

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

It occurs in areas where a community that previously existed has been destroyed by some type of natural disaster or human activity.

• Primary succession

• Secondary succession