Ecological Succession

Multiple Choice

What is ecological succession?

• A slow change in an environment
• A change that takes days in an environment
• No change
• Abiotic change

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best describes ecological succession?

• A rapid change in the types of species in an area due to human intervention

• A natural, gradual change in the types of species that live in an area over time

• The extinction of all species in an ecosystem

• The introduction of invasive species into a new area

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best describes primary succession?

• The gradual growth of an ecosystem in an area lacking soil over a long period of time.

• The regrowth of a forest after a fire.

• The process of soil erosion by wind.

• The rapid growth of plants in a nutrient-rich area.

Multiple Choice

A pioneer species is...

• a large organism
• the first organisms to adapt to a new environment 
• The best organism 
• Abiotic organisms 

Multiple Select

Which of the following are examples of places where primary succession can begin?

• Sides of volcanoes

• Landslides

• Flooding

• Abandoned farmland

Multiple Choice

What is the next stage in primary succession after mosses and ferns grow in the new soil?

• Grasses, wildflowers, and small animals begin to take over.

• Lichens start to grow on rocks.

• Shrubs and trees immediately appear.

• The area remains barren.

Multiple Choice

Which is the correct order in primary succession?

• Rocks, Lichens & Mosses, Bushes & Shrubs, Trees
• Lichens & Mosses, Rocks, Trees, Bushes & Shrubs 
• Trees, Bushes and Shrubs, Lichens & Mosses, Lichens & Mosses
• Rocks, Grass, Trees, Bushes & Shrubs

Multiple Choice

Why does primary succession take longer to reach climax community?

• Because trees do not perform photosyntheses.
• Because climax community is in a forrest.
• Because primary succession already has soil
• Because primary succession does not have soil

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best describes the main difference between primary succession and secondary succession?

• Primary succession starts on bare rock or land without soil, while secondary succession starts on land with existing soil.

• Primary succession occurs after a forest fire, while secondary succession occurs on new volcanic islands.

• Primary succession happens faster than secondary succession.

• Secondary succession does not lead to a climax community.

Hotspot

Select what kind of succession the following example represents:

A volcano erupts in the middle of the ocean. As the lava flows into the ocean, new rock is formed.

Hotspot

Select what kind of succession the following example represents:

Wildfires will burn most vegetation and kill animals unable to flee the area. The nutrients are returned to the ground in the form of ash. Since the area has nutrient-rich soil, it can be recovered very quickly.

Match

Match the following

• An ecosystem must start over from scratch. The soil is completely destroyed, and it takes longer for the ecosystem to rebuild.

• An ecosystem experiences a pause in growth due to a catastrophic event, the ecosystem takes awhile to rebuild.

• For example: a volcanic eruption

• For example: a wild fire.

Primary Succession

Secondary Succession

Primary Succession

Secondary Succession

• Primary Succession

• Secondary Succession

• Primary Succession

• Secondary Succession

Hotspot

Which of these events will result in secondary succession?

Multiple Choice

A large tree forest is an example of ...

• a small community
• a abiotic community
• a climax community
• a pioneer species 

Multiple Choice

Climax communities are always large forests. (Hint; think of a desert environment) 

• True 
• False