Ecological Succession Quiz

The following natural events initiate primary succession:

• floods and hurricanes

• wild fires and controlled burns

• tsunamis and tornadoes

• glacier retreat and volcanic eruptions

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NGSS.MS-LS2-4

The pioneer species most likely to be found in secondary succession is:

• lichens

• pine trees

• oak trees

• grasses

Which of the following is the most accurate example of secondary succession?

• In 1962, a volcanic eruption off the coast of Iceland resulted in a formation of a new island "Surtsey" from ocean bedrock.

• A forest fire burns down crowded understory grasses and shrubs as well as some ponderosa pine stands in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Annual plants are beginning to grow.

• Lichens and small spruce trees have established themselves in regions of Alaska where glaciers once existed but have since receded.

• Twenty years after the Mount St. Helens eruption, small trees and grasses have regrown near the top of the peak, where the eruption occurred.

In which environment would a pioneer species such as lichens be most successful?

• An old-growth deciduous forest

• A hillside that has been cleared by a forest fire

• A mountain meadow after the spring snowmelt

• The solidified lava flows of a volcanic eruption

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NGSS.MS-LS2-4

How do lichens contribute to ecological succession?

• Lichens decompose organic matter from animals and plants.

• Lichens begin to break down rock to form soil.

• Lichens are nitrogen fixing bacteria.

• Lichens convert carbohydrates into fossil fuels.

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NGSS.MS-LS2-3

Which of the following are LEAST likely to be present during the initial stages of primary succession?

• Moss

• Lichens

• Grass

• Trees

As succession progresses in a given location, which of the following is FALSE?

• Biodiversity Increases

• Biomass Decreases

• Complexity of Organisms Increases

• The area moves closer to a climax community

The data table to the right compares the percentage of sunlight reflected from various types of Earth surfaces. Which statement is best supported by the table?

• Light-colored surfaces reflect more sunlight than dark-colored surfaces.

• Rough surfaces reflect more sunlight than smooth surfaces.

• Soil surfaces reflect more sunlight than cloud surfaces.

• Vegetative surfaces reflect more sunlight than snow surfaces.

What type of air is generally associated with a maritime tropical (mT) air mass?

• cold and dry

• cold and moist

• warm and moist

• warm and dry

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

In Snellville, Georgia, a continental polar (cP) air mass often interacts with a maritime tropical (mT) air mass. Which statement correctly matches each air mass with its usual geographic source region?

• cP is from the North Atlantic Ocean and mT is from the deserts of the southwestern United States.

• cP is from northern Canada and mT is from the deserts of the southwestern United States.

• cP is from northern Canada and mT is from the Gulf of Mexico.

• cP is from the North Atlantic Ocean and mT is from the Gulf of Mexico.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

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