Ecological Succession

Front

Which type of environment experiences the least change in species over time? Options: An ecosystem with only pioneer species, An ecosystem that is in primary succession, An ecosystem that is in secondary succession, An ecosystem with a climax community.

Back

An ecosystem with a climax community

Front

Which plant characteristics are common to pioneer species?

Back

plants with roots that act as wedges to slowly break apart rocks

Front

A hurricane hits a coastal prairie and destroys the habitat. Years later, there is an appearance of small plants with rapidly spreading roots on newly formed coastal sand dunes. This vegetation describes -

Back

secondary succession

Front

What is the relationship between ecological succession and equilibrium in an ecosystem?

Back

Ecological succession helps maintain equilibrium in an ecosystem

Front

The diagram shows an ecosystem during different stages of ecological succession. In which order will these stages occur, from earliest to latest?

Options:

4, 2, 1, 3

,

1, 2, 3, 4

,

3, 1, 4, 2

,

2, 4, 3, 1

Back

4, 2, 1, 3

Front

Which kinds of plants are most likely to be the first to grow in a pasture after a fire? Options: trees, grasses, ferns, mosses.

Back

grasses

Front

What most likely caused the change of species in the Texas ecosystem shown in the image? Options: development of a parking lot, passing through of a glacier, preservation of a habitat, occurrence of a forest fire.

Back

occurrence of a forest fire

Front

Lava from an underwater volcano piles up over many years, forming a new island. To show that succession is occurring on the island, it would be MOST helpful for a scientist to measure changes in:

• average temperature
• day length
• annual precipitation
• soil depth

Back

soil depth

Front

A non-native plant is introduced into a diverse, mature ecosystem in equilibrium. Assuming that the non-native plant has no natural enemies and that it thrives in the ecosystem, how will it affect the community?

Back

The number of native species will decrease

Front

Which of these types of environments is MOST LIKELY to experience the arrival of a pioneer species?

• an old growth forest
• an undisturbed prairie
• an established mountain lake
• a newly formed volcanic island

Back

a newly formed volcanic island