Ecological Succession - Primary and Secondary - Unsolved Practice Set
Chapter: Ecosystem | Topic: Ecological Succession Primary and Secondary
ECOLOGICAL SUCCESSION - PRIMARY AND SECONDARY - UNSOLVED PRACTICE SET
Topic: Ecological Succession Primary and Secondary
Multiple Choice Questions
Q1. Ecological succession refers to:
- A sudden, one-time change in species composition
- The gradual and sequential change in species composition of a community in a given area over time
- A process that only occurs in aquatic ecosystems
- The complete destruction of an ecosystem with no recovery
Q2. Primary succession begins in an area that is:
- Previously vegetated but recently disturbed
- Completely bare, lifeless, and previously unoccupied by any living organisms (such as bare rock)
- Densely forested with mature vegetation
- An urban city environment
Q3. Secondary succession typically begins in an area that:
- Has never previously supported any life
- Was previously vegetated but has been disturbed, such as by fire, flood, or agricultural abandonment
- Is a completely barren, newly formed volcanic rock
- Exists only underwater
Q4. The first species to colonise a bare, lifeless area during primary succession are called:
- Climax species
- Pioneer species
- Keystone species
- Decomposer species
Q5. The relatively stable, long-lasting community that eventually develops at the end of a successional sequence is called the:
- Pioneer community
- Climax community
- Intermediate community
- Detritus community
Short Answer Questions
Q6. Define ecological succession, in your own words.
Q7. Differentiate between primary succession and secondary succession, giving one example of a starting environment for each.
Q8. What are pioneer species, and why are they well adapted to colonise bare or disturbed habitats?
Q9. What is a climax community, and how does it typically compare in stability to earlier successional stages?
Long Answer Questions
Q10. Discuss primary succession, describing how a community gradually develops on a completely bare substrate, such as a rock surface, over time.
Q11. Discuss secondary succession, explaining how it differs from primary succession and why it generally proceeds more quickly toward a climax community.
APPLICATION / ANALYSIS
Q12. After a forest fire completely destroys the vegetation in a particular area, but leaves the soil largely intact with seeds and root systems still present, ecologists predict that the area will recover relatively quickly compared to a completely new volcanic island. Explain, using your understanding of succession, why secondary succession generally occurs faster than primary succession.
Q13. A newly formed sand dune along a coastline is gradually colonised first by hardy grasses, followed later by shrubs, and eventually by trees, over many decades. Identify the type of succession occurring in this scenario, and explain the general pattern of species replacement you would expect to see over time.