Ecology Ecological Succession

Question 1

Which type of succession begins on a substrate that has never previously supported life, such as bare rock after a volcanic eruption?

Accepted Answer

Primary succession

Answer

Secondary succession

Answer

Allogenic succession

Answer

Cyclic succession

Question 2

Which organisms are typically the first to colonize bare rock during primary succession?

Accepted Answer

Pioneer species such as lichens

Answer

Grasses and shrubs

Answer

Shade-tolerant trees

Answer

Climax community species

Question 3

Secondary succession differs from primary succession primarily because secondary succession:

Accepted Answer

Begins on a substrate that already has soil

Answer

Takes longer to reach a climax community

Answer

Starts with no biological legacy

Answer

Only occurs in aquatic ecosystems

Question 4

What is a climax community in the context of ecological succession?

Accepted Answer

A stable, self-perpetuating community that represents the endpoint of succession

Answer

The first community to establish after a disturbance

Answer

Any community dominated by a single species

Answer

A community that forms only in tropical rainforests

Question 5

The process by which each successional community modifies the environment and makes it more suitable for the next community is called:

Accepted Answer

Facilitation

Answer

Competitive exclusion

Answer

Inhibition

Answer

Allelopathy

Question 6

During old-field succession in the eastern United States, which sequence correctly represents the typical order of community change?

Accepted Answer

Annual weeds → perennial grasses → shrubs → forest

Answer

Annual weeds → shrubs → perennial grasses → forest

Answer

Lichens → mosses → grasses → shrubs → forest

Answer

Forest → shrubs → grasses → annual weeds

Question 7

Which of the following is an example of secondary succession?

Accepted Answer

Plant regrowth in a forest after a wildfire

Answer

Life colonizing a newly formed volcanic island

Answer

Lichen establishing on a fresh lava flow

Answer

Organisms settling on a new glacier retreat