Ecosystem Succession Patterns

1. Biomass is the amount of living material present in an environment. Biodiversity refers to the variety of living things that are present in an ecosystem. Which of the following would you expect to occur over time as ecological succession moves forward?

• increases in both biomass and biodiversity

• decreases in both biomass and biodiversity

• increases in biomass, but decreases in biodiversity

• decreases in biomass, but increases in biodiversity

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NGSS.MS-LS2-1

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2. Which of the following animal niches will be filled first as an ecosystem begins the stages of ecological succession?

• carnivore

• scavenger

• herbivore

• apex predator

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NGSS.MS-LS2-4

3. New ground begins as barren rock. This rock is covered in lichens and mosses, and eventually soil forms. Which two processes are most responsible for forming this soil at the beginning of ecological succession?

• Subduction and Deformation

• Transpiration and Precipitation

• Weathering and Decomposition

• Crystallization and Condensation

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

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4. The diagram above shows how one community of organisms replaces another until which of the following is reached?

• pioneer community

• marine biome

• ecological pyramid

• climax community

5. Lava from a volcano cools and becomes new, barren land. If this land is completely barren, then it would contain –

• only abiotic factors

• only biotic factors

• both abiotic and biotic factors

• neither abiotic or biotic factors

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NGSS.MS-LS2-4

6. The diversity of animals increases alongside plants because larger plant communities provide -

• defense from attack by parasites

• more sunlight to warm the ecosystem

• more chemical energy in the food chain

• fewer places for prey animals to hide

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7. Each drawing above represents different stages in community succession. Which of the following represents the correct order that the stages would occur during ecological succession?

• Q – S – R – T

• R – T – Q – S

• T – R – Q – S

• S – Q – T – R

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8. Which of the drawings above represents the climax community in this succession pattern?

• Q

• R

• S

• T

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NGSS.MS-LS2-4

9. Which of the drawings above represents the pioneer community in this succession pattern?

• Q

• R

• S

• T

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NGSS.MS-LS2-4

10. What ecological factors changes throughout the process of succession and allows for the formation of a forest community?

• defense from attack by parasites

• more sunlight to warm the ecosystem

• the depth of the soil

• the amount of sunlight

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NGSS.MS-LS2-1

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