SuperTeacherTools

Ecological Succession Answer Key

Play This Game


1
#1 The predictable and orderly changes that occur in nature ecological succession
#2 Broad-leaved trees are this type of wood. hardwood
#3 Evergreens and conifers are this type of wood. softwood
#4 What is the difference between primary and secondary succession. Primary succession occurs when the soil base has been completely destroyed and a new substrate is left. Secondary succession occurs after a disturbance in which the soil base is not completely destroyed. Some animals and plants may also remain.
#5 Explain how soil is formed in primary succession. Pioneer species such as lichen, moss, and weeds begin to grow on the new substrate. Lichen secrete acids that help break down the rock. Seedlings from other plants help to split the rock apart with their roots. When these plants die, they decompose and become organic matter that mixes with the broken rocks. A rich soil base then forms.
2
#1 One stage of succession sere
#2 Hardened lava and bare rock are examples of new this. substrate
#3 Explain why fires are not always considered bad. Many times the undergrowth in forests becomes too thick. Fires are a natural way of clearing out this unwanted brush. Fire also stimulates the regrowth of certain plants such as sagebrush, aspen, and willows. The intense heat opens lodgepole pine cones, releasing the seeds inside. Fires can help bring balance back into an ecosystem.
#4 Explain why the eruption of Mount Saint Helens could be an example of both primary and secondary succession. The areas that were affected by lava had to begin with a new substrate, causing primary succession to occur. The areas in which seeds and roots survived are an example of secondary succession because the soil base was not destroyed.
#5 Why is a glacial retreat so devastating to the land? What type of succession does it initiate? Glacial retreats are devastating to the land because they scour the earth and leave nothing but bare rock behind. Primary succession then begins.
3
#1 Determines how severely a disturbance affects an area. topography
#2 The study of the relationships between organisms and their environments ecology
#3 What type of succession am I? forrest fire secondary succession
#4
#5 Describe what the four stages of succession might look like after a glacial retreat. ***
4
#1 The first plants to grow in a barren land, such as lichen. pioneer species
#2 In both primary and secondary succession, plant begin to do this in the area. colonize
#3 What type of succession am I? volcano primary succession
#4 What type of animals are show up first during ecological succession? insects
#5
5
#1 Occurs after a new substrate is formed. primary succession
#2 The plant life in an area is called this. vegetation
#3 What type of succession am I? flood secondary succession
#4
#5
Final Question