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WorksheetsExplorer7g: Ecological Succession
Total questions: 25
Worksheet time: 13mins
Which sequence best represents ecological succession?
Flower -> shrubs -> grass -> trees
Trees -> shrubs -> flowers -> grass
Grass -> flowers -> shrubs -> trees
Shrubs -> trees -> grass -> flowers
A tornado moves through the plains of central Texas, destroying the ecosystem. A few years later small plants such as grasses and flowers begin to appear. Which of the following best describes this situation?
Microhabitat
Primary succession
Biodiversity
Secondary succession
A farmer created a flowerbed over the summer for fall planting. He forgot about the flowerbed after becoming busy with other projects. What type of plants could the farmer expect to see growing in his flowerbed in the fall?
Bare soil
Weeds
Trees
Shrubs
Which of the following plants would most likely appear first after a wildfire?
Moss and lichens
Shrubs and trees
Weeds and grasses
Flowers and shrubs
Pioneer species are usually plants that help create an entirely new ecosystem or help an existing one rebuild after a disturbance. Which of the following functions are they most likely to perform?
Migrate during winter
Conduct photosynthesis
Fending off predators
Consume other organisms
The final stage of ecological succession is called climax community or equilibrium. The ecosystem is repopulated and has reached a point of balance. Which of the following best describes the relationship between ecological succession and equilibrium?
There is no relationship between the two
Ecological succession leads to equilibrium
Ecological succession prevents equilibrium
They both describe the same concept
A woodland area is going to be turned into a new neighborhood. What will happen to the biodiversity, or variety of life, in the woodland area after the neighborhood is constructed and humans move in?
Biodiversity will remain unchanged
Biodiversity will be entirely removed
Biodiversity of species will decrease
Biodiversity of species will increase
Africanized honeybees are a hybrid of European honeybees. Each type of bee only pollinates certain types of plants. How would an ecosystem benefit from having both types of bees?
An increase in different types of honey
A decrease in bee colony population
A decrease in pollination of plant species
An increase in pollination of plant species
Microhabitats are small habitats that exist within larger ones. How do different types of microhabitats, such as a rotting log and a coral reef, support a variety of plants and animals?
They both have the same survival conditions
They both have the same number of species
They both have different survival conditions
They both require the same adaptations
A teacher visited a forest and nearby pond. After exploring the area and rolling over a rotting log, she made some observations about the visit. Based on her findings she decided that the rotting log was a microhabitat. Which of the following observations support the teacher's claim?
Termites eating wood, mushroom growth on the log, beetles hiding in the crevices
Many rocks pressed into the soil, a nearby pool of water, some birds flying overhead
Ants cutting up leaves, squirrels running up a tree, a turtle sunning itself on a rock
Mushroom growth on a tree, a snake eating a mouse, dandelions in the breeze
Which of the following best describes an ecosystem with high biodiversity?
The ecosystem has lower variety of life
The ecosystem has many similar species
The ecosystem has greater overall stability
The ecosystem forms a smaller food web
How does biodiversity contribute to an ecosystems ability to sustain itself?
Lower biodiversity reduces competition for resources, helping native species
A greater variety of organisms allow it survive disturbances such as wildfire
Lower biodiversity reduces the spread of disease through an ecosystem
A greater variety of species allows for an increase in human population
Which of the following factors contributes most to the sustainability of an ecosystem?
Population extinction
Lower biodiversity
Population removal
Higher biodiversity
Tropical rain forests are well known for having the greatest amount of biodiversity of any land based ecosystem. Which of the following factors best describe how biodiversity contributes to the sustainability of a tropical rain forest?
Lower genetic variation, greater variety of species, many similar adaptations
Greater genetic variation, lower variety of species, many different adaptations
Lower genetic variation, lower variety of species, many similar adaptations
Greater genetic variation, greater variety of species, many different adaptations
Consider the producers of two different types of ecosystem energy pyramids: Oak Forest and Grassland.
Oak Forest
-> wildcat, hawk
-> raccoon, skunk, snake
-> deer, butterfly, mouse, squirrel, grasshopper
-> grass, oak tree, wildflower
Grassland
-> fox, owl
-> snake, small bird
-> rabbit, mouse, grasshopper
-> grass
Which of the following situations best describes which ecosystem would be more sustainable if the grass were to die out?
Oak forest because there are more producers
Grassland because there are more producers
Oak forest because there are more apex predators
Grassland because there are fewer consumers
Galveston, TX is a small island located in the Gulf of Mexico. A hurricane devastated the island through flooding and high winds. Which of the following best describes this situation?
Biodiversity
Secondary succession
Microhabitat
Primary succession
Which of the following plants would most likely appear first after an earthquake?
Moss and lichens
Shrubs and trees
Weeds and grasses
Flowers and shrubs
Honeybees typically pollinate certain types of plant species. What would be the benefit to an ecosystem with multiple species of honeybees?
An increase in different types of honey
A decrease in the bee colony populations
A decrease in pollination of plant species
An increase in pollination of plant species
How does biodiversity help an ecosystem sustain itself?
Lower biodiversity reduces competition for resources, helping native species
A greater variety of organisms allow it survive disturbances such as deforestation
Lower biodiversity reduces the spread of disease through an ecosystem
A greater variety of species allows for an increase in human population
Which of the following factors best describe an ecosystem with high biodiversity?
Greater genetic variation
Greater variety of species
Many different adaptations
All of the above (Correct answer!)
Plants are producers that make energy for an ecosystem. Which of the following would be the most sustainable ecosystem based on its producers?
A grassland ecosystem with a single producer
A oak forest ecosystem with two producers
A tropical forest ecosystem with ten producers
A pacific ocean ecosystem with eight producers
Which of the following is most likely to appear after a flood?
Moss and lichens
Shrubs and trees
Weeds and grasses
Flowers and shrubs
Which of the following factors best describe how biodiversity contributes to the sustainability of a tropical rain forest
Lower genetic variation, greater variety of species, many similar adaptations
Greater genetic variation, lower variety of species, many different adaptations
Greater genetic variation, lower variety of species, many different adaptations
Greater genetic variation, greater variety of species, many different adaptations
An oak forest has three producers and two apex predators, while a grassland has a single producer and two apex predators. Which ecosystem would be the most sustainable?
Oak forest because there are more producers
Grassland because there are more producers
Oak forest because there are more apex predators
Grassland because there are fewer consumers
What is the human effect on biodiversity of an ecosystem?
Biodiversity will remain unchanged
Biodiversity will be entirely removed
Biodiversity of species will increase
Biodiversity of species will decrease
