WorksheetsRestoration Ecology and How Ecosystems Can Recover Over Time
Total questions: 21
Worksheet time: 22mins
Events that occur in four different ecosystems are shown in the chart below. Which ecosystem would most likely require the most time for ecological succession to restore it to its original state? (a)
A new island formed by volcanic action may eventually become populated with biotic communities as a result of
a decrease in the amount of organic material present
decreased levels of carbon dioxide in the area
the lack of abiotic factors in the area
the process of ecological succession
What would most likely be the predominant lifeform found in stage I?
ferns
tracheophytes
mushrooms
pioneer species
Years after the lava from an erupting volcano destroyed an area, lichens started to grow in that area. These were gradually replaced by grasses, shrubs, conifers, and finally, by a deciduous forest. In this sequence of events, the lichens functioned as
primary consumers
climax organisms
abiotic factors
pioneer organisms
Changes in an ecosystem over a long period of time are shown in the diagram below. These changes will most likely lead to a
stable ecosystem that can last for many years
loss of heterotrophs that cannot be recovered
long-term rise in environmental temperatures
forest consisting of only producers and decomposers
If the ecosystem is not altered, which stage would be the most stable?
grass
shrub
pine forest
hardwood forest
Scientists have studied the return of plant life on Mount St. Helens ever since the volcano erupted in 1980. Wildflowers began colonizing the area, followed by shrubs and small trees. Scientists predict that it will likely take hundreds of years before the area returns to a forest dominated by fir and hemlock trees. These changes are an example of
humans degrading an ecosystem by removing wildflowers
the loss of genetic variation in a plant species
the growth of a forest through ecological succession
the biological evolution of wildflowers, shrubs, and trees
The graph shows the masses of different types of plants found in an area of the Adirondack Mountains after a forest fire occurred. The mass of plants shown in the graph refers to the mass of a number of
populations
decomposers
ecosystems
communities
Which statement describes an event in this process?
Community B modifies the environment, making it suitable for community C.
Community D modifies the environment, making it suitable for community C.
Community E will develop into community A, if the environment remains stable.
Community A organisms will develop directly into community D organisms.
Over a long period of time, the stages represented in the diagram below were each present in a particular ecosystem. After a forest fire, what is the most likely order in which these stages appeared?
D --> C --> A --> B
B --> D --> C --> A
A --> B --> C --> D
B --> C --> D --> A
Which statement best describes the diagram?
Community A is the most stable community.
Community B replaced community C after a period of 100 years.
Community C developed into community A after a period of 75 years.
Community D modified the environment, making it more suitable for community E.
The diagram represents a biological process taking place in an area of New York State unaffected by natural disasters. Which statement correctly describes a stage in this process?
The grass stage is the most stable stage and exists for thousands of years.
The shrub stage modifies the ecosystem, making it more suitable for the pine forest.
The pine forest stage has no biodiversity and the least competition.
The hardwood forest stage will be replaced by a pine forest.
The diagram represents an ecological process. Which statement is most closely related to the process shown in the diagram?
Climax communities do not develop in aquatic habitats.
Ecosystems tend to change with time until a stable system is formed.
Humans have modified the environment through the use of technology and pollution.
Succession involves changes in plant species only.
The diagram shows changes that might occur over time after a fire in a forest area. Which statement is most closely related to the events shown in the diagram?
The lack of animals in an altered ecosystem speeds natural succession.
Abrupt changes in an ecosystem only result from human activities.
Stable ecosystems never become established after a natural disaster.
An abrupt environmental change can cause a long-term gradual change in an ecosystem.
Which is a characteristic of pioneer organisms?
They cannot survive under conditions of direct sunlight.
They are always the last organisms to inhabit an environment.
They modify their environment, making it favorable for the next community.
They have no effect on other organisms in their environment.
What are the pioneer organisms in the locations listed below?
oak, hickory and palm trees
grasses and lichens
shrubs and palm trees
mosses and shrubs
Which process is represented in the diagram below?
energy flow
biological evolution
cellular communication
ecological succession
Changes in an ecosystem over a long period of time are shown in the diagram. These changes will most likely lead to a
stable ecosystem that can last for many years
loss of heterotrophs that cannot be recovered
long-term rise in environmental temperatures
forest consisting of only producers and decomposers
Which statement best describes one of the stages represented in the diagram below?
The mature forest will most likely be stable over a long period of time.
If all the weeds and grasses are destroyed, the number of carnivores will increase.
As the population of the shrubs increases, it will be held in check by the mature forest community.
The young forest community will invade and take over the mature forest community.
Which of the following catastrophic events is likely to lead to secondary succession?
landslide
volcanic eruption
landslide & volcanic eruption
tsunami
landslide & tsunami
Of the choices in the dropdown menu, (a) is most likely to lead to deflected succession. (HINT: The concept of deflected succession is discussed in one of the last questions of the POGIL packet)
