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7 - Ecological Succession

Total questions: 20

Worksheet time: 1hrs 26mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Which of the following is the best definition of an ecosystem?

a)

All biotic and abiotic things located in a space no smaller than a forest

b)

All biotic things located within a particular space

c)

All the biotic things located in space the size of a forest

d)

All the biotic and abiotic things located within a particular area

2.

Deforestation occurs when a lumber company cuts down all the trees on 100 acres of heavily wooded land. What will happen first as the land recovers during ecological succession?

a)

Breakdown of rock into soil

b)

Appearance of weeds and grass

c)

Arrival of squirrels

d)

Growth of trees

3.

What would most likely occur after an ecosystem is disrupted by fire?

a)

The ecosystem would eventually return to its original state.

b)

The ecosystem would return to its previous state immediately.

c)

The ecosystem would evolve into a new ecosystem that is totally different from the original.

d)

The ecosystem would become an ever-changing environment with no stability.

4.

After a fire destroys a forest, the area will most likely

a)

remain bare land indefinitely

b)

develop into a desert area

c)

develop into an entirely different type of forest after hundreds of years

d)

recover through gradual changes back to a point of long-term stability

5.

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

a)

carnivore

b)

scavenger

c)

herbivore

d)

apex predator

6.

The first species to appear in an area:

a)

discovering species

b)

pioneer species

c)

new species

d)

colonizing species

7.

Primary succession begins in an area with:

a)

Bare Rock

b)

Soil

8.

Secondary succession begins in an area with:

a)

Bare Rock

b)

Soil

9.

Lichen is an example of a __________

a)

Last Species

b)

Pioneer Species

c)

Colonizing Species

10.

Which type of succession happens after a fire, tornado or another catastrophic event?

a)

Primary Succession

b)

Secondary Succession

11.

Which type of succession occurs over a period of time?

a)

primary succession

b)

secondary succession

c)

Both successions

12.

What is formed during primary succession that doesn't need to be formed during secondary succession?

a)

soil

b)

grass

c)

pioneer species

d)

lichen

13.

True or False: primary and secondary succession have the same pioneer species.

a)

True

b)

False

14.

Primary succession occurs in an area that has:

a)

soil

b)

no soil

c)

some soil

d)

none of these

15.

What is an example of an area that is likely to undergo primary succession?

a)

Glaciers melt and leave exposed rock

b)

Plants die from drought and decompose

c)

Land is bulldozed and soil remains

16.

Which of the following is the correct order of ecological succession?

a)

grass - shrubs - lichens - trees

b)

lichens - shrubs - grasses - trees

c)

lichens - grasses - shrubs - trees

d)

grasses - lichens - shrubs - trees

17.

What is the main difference between primary and secondary ecological succession?

a)

Primary begins WITHOUT soil; Secondary begins WITH soil

b)

Primary is the first state and secondary is the second stage

c)

Primary builds plant community; secondary builds animal community

d)

Primary begins WITH soil; Secondary begins WITHOUT soil

18.

What is an example of a disturbance that could bring about secondary succession?

a)

Humans cut down many trees in a small region

b)

A volcanic eruption covers a village in lava.

19.

What type of disturbance can be beneficial to ecosystems and communities?

a)

Volcanic Eruption

b)

Fire

c)

Invasive Species

d)

Flood

20.

Which is faster: Primary or Secondary Succession?

a)

Primary Succession

b)

Secondary Succession

c)

Both Take The Same Amount of Time