Succession & Biodiversity

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What is succession in ecology?

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The process by which ecosystems change and develop over time, involving a series of stages leading to a stable community.

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What is biodiversity?

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The variety of life in a particular habitat or ecosystem, including the number of different species, genetic diversity, and ecosystem diversity.

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What is an invasive species?

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A non-native (not naturally found) species added to an area that can disrupt local ecosystems.

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What is carrying capacity?

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The maximum number of individuals of a species that an environment can support sustainably.

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What is the difference between primary and secondary succession?

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Primary succession occurs in lifeless areas where soil has not yet formed, while secondary succession occurs in areas where a disturbance has destroyed an existing ecosystem but soil remains.

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What is a keystone species?

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A species that plays a critical role in maintaining the structure of an ecological community, affecting many other organisms.

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What is logistical growth?

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A model of population growth that describes how a population grows rapidly at first and then slows as it approaches the carrying capacity of its environment.

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What is exponential growth?

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A model of population growth where the population increases at a constant rate, leading to a rapid increase over time.

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What are limiting factors?

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Environmental conditions that restrict the growth, abundance, or distribution of a population within an ecosystem.

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What is a climax community?

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A stable and mature ecological community that has reached the final stage of succession.