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Review Succession

Total questions: 21

Worksheet time: 11mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Which type of succession is a process that brings life into a previously uninhabited area?

a)

cyclic succession

b)

seasonal succession

c)

secondary succession

d)

primary succession

2.

What type of succession is likely to occur immediately following a tsunami that caused significant soil erosion?

a)

secondary succession because all the soil was lost in the tsunami

b)

secondary succession because some soil will still be left behind after the tsunami

c)

primary succession because the tsunami killed so many organisms in this ecosystem

d)

primary succession because there were still some organisms that survived to recover the ecosystem

3.

How do mosses and lichens most contribute to succession?

a)

They are producers in the food chain.

b)

They break down rock into soil.

c)

They increase the amount of oxygen in the surrounding air.

d)

They become plants.

4.

A final, stable community in equilibrium with the environment is a

a)

pioneer species

b)

secondary succession

c)

urban village

d)

climax community

5.

A species that colonizes an uninhabited area and that starts an ecological cycle in which many other species become established is a

a)

extinct species

b)

succession species

c)

pioneer species

d)

new species

6.

What type of vegetation below would appear first in a secondary succession event?

a)

trees

b)

grasses

c)

saplings

d)

shrubs

7.

Which could be considered a positive result from a catastrophic disturbance to succession?

a)

a new disease spreading throughout a community

b)

an earthquake destroying a bridge linking two communities

c)

a fire destroying an overgrown forest allowing for new growth

d)

a local manufacturer releasing toxic contaminates into a stream

8.

The main difference between the start of primary succession and secondary succession is

a)

Primary succession has soil at the beginning and secondary succession does not

b)

Primary succession begins quickly and secondary succession begins slowly

c)

Secondary succession only has two stages and primary succession has six stages

d)

Secondary succession has soil at the beginning and primary succession does not

9.

What type of succession is old field succession?

a)

secondary succession

b)

primary succession

c)

new succession

d)

none of the other answers

10.

Surtsey is an island located south of Iceland. The island was formed by a volcanic eruption and first appeared in 1963. The table below contains descriptions if changes in the population and diversity of species on Surtsey. Which of these lists the descriptions in the correct order of ecological succession on Surtsey?

a)

I, II, IV, III

b)

IV, III, I, II

c)

III, I, II, IV

d)

II, IV, I, III

11.

Which is an example of an event that would occur before primary succession?

a)

tornado

b)

hurricane

c)

lava flow

d)

forest fire

12.

Which statement describes how the ecosystem shown is likely to change after ecological succession?

a)

The variety of fish species

will increase.

b)

The number of plants will

increase.

c)

The level of the water will increase.

d)

The elevation of the hills will increase.

13.

When Mount Saint Helens volcano erupted, the blast covered much of the surrounding area with ash. Based on the diagram, which list shows the sequence of secondary succession that followed the eruption?

a)

X, Y, Z, W

b)

Z, X, Y, W

c)

W, Y, X, Z

d)

Z, Y, W, X

14.

During primary succession, the initial formation of soil helps establish-

a)

grass

b)

mushrooms

c)

trees

d)

shrubs

15.

What is the proper sequence of the pictures shown?

a)

C,A,B,D,E

b)

B,A,C,D,E

c)

A,B,C,D,E

d)

B,A,D,C,E

16.

Primary succession occurs in an area that has not been previously occupied by a community.

a)

True

b)

False

17.

What is ecological succession?

a)

gradual change in living communities that follows a disturbance

b)

rapid change in a nonliving community

c)

a change that occurs in a community overnight

d)

how an ecosystem is changed into livable land for humans

18.

Primary Succession starts with

a)

a barren area, no soil

b)

land that was previously inhabited

c)

already has soil

d)

a clear cut piece of land

19.

Describe the rate of change during Primary succession.

a)

over long period of time

b)

over short period of time

c)

over varying periods of time

d)

over exactly 30 years

20.

All of the following are pioneer species EXCEPT

a)

lichen

b)

moss

c)

dune grass

d)

Joshua Tree

21.

Pioneer organisms are the first to grow in primary succession because they

a)

can tolerate extreme conditions

b)

cannot tolerate extreme conditions

c)

are able to grow to very large sizes

d)

need soil to grow in