Ecological Succession and Climate Zones

What is a community?

• A group of populations sharing a geographic area

• A population that lives in several geographic areas

• Everything, living and nonliving, in a small area

• A group of predators spread over a wide area

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

An ecosystem  is

• one distinct population within a small area. 

• only the nonliving factors in a geographic area. 

• just the living organisms within a geographic area. 

• a community and all the abiotic factors affecting it.

Which of these describes ecological succession?

• The stability of an ecosystem over time

• Changes that occur in an ecosystem when one community replaces another

• The loss of all living organisms within a geographic area, leaving only abiotic factors

• When one species takes over an entire ecosystem, driving everything else out

Which of these are possible causes of ecological succession?

• An area is populated with species that change little over time

• fires, floods, or volcanos

• The climate is very stable over a long period of time

• The soil composition remains constant for at least 30 years

Which of these is a characteristic of primary succession?

• It starts with existing soil. 

• It starts with just bare rock. 

• It occurs rapidly. 

• It starts with a climax community.

Which of these organisms are typically found in the pioneer stage of succession?

• deciduous trees and mammals

• grasses and shrubs

• lichens

• coniferous trees

Which of these is a characteristic of the intermediate stage of ecological succession?

• Bare rocks with no soil

• Soil that can support grasses, shrubs, and small trees

• Deep rich soil that supports large trees

• Very little change happening

The climate zone labeled A is the ___________ zone.

• Tropical

• Subtropical

• Temperate

• Subpolar

• Polar

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Which of the following is characteristic of the mature stage of ecological succession?

• Shallow soil with few nutrients

• Mostly animals, with very few plant species

• Deep rich soil that can support large trees

• Lots of plants, but very few types of animals

Which of these it true of a climax community?

• It is changing rapidly

• Has very few changes taking place

• It has mostly plants, with very few animals

• It has mostly animals, with very few plant species

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4