Ecological succession Knowledge-Based Download PDF

Questions

1. 1.

   Which mechanism of ecological succession occurs when established early colonizers monopolize resources and prevent subsequent species from establishing until the resident individuals are damaged or die?

   • A) Facilitation
   • B) Inhibition
   • C) Tolerance
   • D) Commensalism
2. 2.

   Which characteristic typically distinguishes late-successional plant species from early-successional pioneer plant species?

   • A) Production of numerous small seeds adapted for wide wind dispersal
   • B) High tolerance to low light levels and slower individual growth rates
   • C) Shorter overall lifespans and rapid onset of reproductive maturity
   • D) Higher light compensation points and reliance on unshaded conditions
3. 3.

   During primary succession on bare rock, how do pioneer organisms such as lichens primarily facilitate the colonization of subsequent plant species?

   • A) By secreting organic acids that chemically weather rock substrates to initiate soil formation
   • B) By developing extensive underground root networks that mechanically shatter bedrock
   • C) By creating a dense canopy layer that shades the surface from intense sunlight
   • D) By rapidly decomposing pre-existing organic leaf litter to recycle locked nutrients
4. 4.

   Which of the following general trends typically occurs as an ecological community progresses from early pioneer stages toward a mature climax community?

   • A) Total community biomass and soil organic matter progressively decline.
   • B) Species richness and the structural complexity of the habitat increase.
   • C) Trophic webs become simplified and contain fewer specialized ecological niches.
   • D) Fast-growing pioneer species permanently inhibit colonization by larger woody plants.
5. 5.

   Which of the following events initiates secondary succession rather than primary succession in an ecosystem?

   • A) A severe wildfire burning an established forest while leaving the topsoil layer intact
   • B) The retreat of a continental glacier that exposes unweathered, barren bedrock
   • C) The emergence of a new volcanic island formed from cooled, solidified lava
   • D) A massive landslide that scours away all soil down to bare granite substrate