Biology STAAR Ecological Succession

Primary succession is an ecological process that occurs in an environment in response to

• the destruction of existing vegetation.
• erosion and weathering of rock.
• a  change exposing bare rock.
• significant moisture in a short time.

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Lichens are important to the creation of an ecosystem due to the fact that they create soil by

• becoming tall
• collecting water
• reproducing asexually
• weather rock

The first trees that are able to replace grasses in succession have an advantage over the grasses in that these pioneer trees

• are not eaten by grazing herbivores
• have a lower population density
• provide shade for grasses and shrubs
• only grow in a specific nutrient rich soil

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Throughout the process of succession, how do population density and species diversity change?

• both density and diversity increase
• density increases while diversity decreases
• density decreases while diversity increases
• density and diversity remain in equilibrium

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The process of secondary succession can begin

• after an ecosystem disturbance
• before the soil has been established
• once new land has been created
• when plants begin reproducing

As succession progresses, animal species diversity increases due to the fact that

• less soil is being created
• food choices increase
• precipitation rates stabilize
• temperatures moderate

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After a volcanic eruption, lava covers the land. What is the order that plants grow to repopulate the area?

• Lichens → Shrubs → Grasses → Trees
• Shrubs → Trees → Grasses → Lichens
• Grasses → Lichens → Shrubs → Trees
• Lichens → Grasses → Shrubs → Trees

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As an ecosystem transitions from a grassland to a forest, grasses will begin to

• adapt to life in the forest
• be replaced by other plants
• multiply to establish dominance
• relocate to a nearby grassland

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In a pond, which of the following changes would most likely result in terrestrial succession?

• An increase in water plants growing in the pond.
• A decrease in the number of decomposers in the pond.
• An increased rate of deposition of sediments into the pond.
• A decreased oxygen content kills large fish in the pond.

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Trees are the final (climax) stage of ecological succession because they

• require rich soil created by shrubs
• only need limited amounts of sunlight
• reproduce at a very fast rate
• depend on animals to disperse their seeds