Ecological Succession and Ecosystem Changes
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Questions and Answers

What is the gradual process of change in an ecosystem over time?

Ecological Succession

What kind of succession starts as bare rock?

Primary succession

What kind of succession starts after a climax community undergoes a catastrophic change?

Secondary succession

What is a climax community?

<p>A full ecosystem that has grown after succession</p> Signup and view all the answers

Pond succession is a form of primary succession.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the plant or animal that is the first to move into a new or empty area to start an ecosystem?

<p>Pioneer species</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a catastrophic change that can trigger secondary succession?

<p>A fire</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is left after a catastrophic event during secondary succession?

<p>Soil remains</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the name for the weathering of the earth over a long period of time?

<p>Erosion</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following are examples of natural changes that can affect ecosystems?

<p>Volcanic eruptions (A), Flooding (B), Hurricanes (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following are examples of man-made changes that can affect ecosystems?

<p>Land clearing and logging (A), Burning fossil fuels (C), Water pollution (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the process water takes through the biotic and abiotic parts of the ecosystem?

<p>The water cycle</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the name for rain, snow, hail, or sleet?

<p>Precipitation</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the process where water leaves the surface of the earth to return back to the atmosphere?

<p>Evaporation</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the process where water vapor cools and turns back into a liquid, forming clouds, dew, or fog?

<p>Condensation</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the process where water from plants evaporates back into the atmosphere?

<p>Transpiration</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the process plants do to turn carbon dioxide, water, and sunlight into glucose and oxygen?

<p>Photosynthesis</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the process that plants and animals do to turn glucose and oxygen into carbon dioxide, energy, and water?

<p>Cellular respiration</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the process that decomposers do to turn dead matter into nutrients in the soil?

<p>Decomposition</p> Signup and view all the answers

What process do humans use to turn fossil fuels into energy, releasing carbon back into the atmosphere?

<p>Burning fossil fuels (combustion)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the process nitrogen takes through the biotic and abiotic parts of the ecosystem?

<p>The nitrogen cycle</p> Signup and view all the answers

Nitrogen gas (N2) is a usable form of nitrogen for living things.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the importance of nitrogen?

<p>It is a necessary element for life as it is the building blocks of DNA, RNA, and proteins.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the process of turning nitrogen from the atmosphere into ammonia in the soil?

<p>Nitrogen fixation</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the process of ammonia or nitrates being taken up by plants?

<p>Assimilation</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the process of breaking down nitrogen from dead organisms into ammonia in the soil?

<p>Ammonification</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the process of turning ammonia into nitrates, which are easier for plants to take up?

<p>Nitrification</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the process that nitrates turn into nitrogen gas?

<p>Denitrification</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is an extreme increase of nutrients in the water, usually due to runoff, that causes the water to be drained of oxygen, killing all organisms that live there?

<p>Eutrophication</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following are examples of agricultural runoff that can contribute to eutrophication?

<p>Manure (A), Fertilizers (B), Livestock runoff (C), Pesticides (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What happens in the first step of eutrophication?

<p>Fertilizer is washed away by the rain and absorbed into the soil.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What happens in the second step of eutrophication?

<p>Fertilizers are applied to the land, sometimes too much is used.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What term describes a condition of little oxygen in the water?

<p>Hypoxic</p> Signup and view all the answers

What term describes a condition of no oxygen in the water?

<p>Anoxic</p> Signup and view all the answers

What term describes areas where there are no longer any oxygen or extremely low levels of oxygen?

<p>Dead zone</p> Signup and view all the answers

What happens to carbon while composting?

<p>Breaks down organic matter and releases CO2 into the atmosphere.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What happens to nitrogen while composting?

<p>Nitrogen fixation turns N2 in the atmosphere into NH3 for plants to use.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the benefits of composting for the soil?

<p>Compost enriches the soil by breaking down organic matter, returning essential nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to the soil.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the benefits of composting for climate change?

<p>Composting diverts organic waste from landfills, reducing methane emissions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is climate change?

<p>The long-term changes of temperature and weather patterns caused by the Greenhouse Effect.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following are effects of climate change?

<p>Increase in weather events (A), Decrease in sea ice (B), Increase in sea level (C), Increase in global temperature (D), Increase ocean temperature (E)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Ecological Succession

  • Gradual change in an ecosystem over time.
  • Primary Succession: Begins on bare rock, forming a complete ecosystem.
  • Secondary Succession: Starts after a catastrophic event (e.g., fire, hurricane), with existing soil.
  • Pond Succession: A type of secondary succession, starting with soil.
  • Pioneer Species: First organisms to colonize a new area.
  • Climax Community: Final stage of succession, a fully developed ecosystem.

Ecosystem Changes & Cycles

  • Natural Changes: Events like hurricanes, flooding, and volcanic eruptions.
  • Man-Made Changes: Human activities such as land clearing, burning fossil fuels, and pollution.

Water Cycle

  • Precipitation: Water falling as rain, snow, hail, or sleet.
  • Evaporation: Water turning into vapor.
  • Condensation: Vapor cooling to liquid, forming clouds.
  • Transpiration: Water evaporating from plants.

Carbon Cycle

  • Photosynthesis: Plants use carbon dioxide, water, and sunlight to create glucose and oxygen.
  • Cellular Respiration: Plants and animals use glucose and oxygen to produce energy, releasing carbon dioxide.
  • Decomposition: Decomposers break down dead matter, releasing carbon dioxide.
  • Burning Fossil Fuels: Human activity releasing stored carbon into the atmosphere.

Nitrogen Cycle

  • Nitrogen Gas (N2): Not usable by most organisms.
  • Nitrogen Fixation: Converting atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia.
  • Ammonification: Breaking down dead organisms into ammonia.
  • Nitrification: Converting ammonia into nitrates.
  • Assimilation: Plants absorbing nitrates.
  • Denitrification: Converting nitrates back into nitrogen gas.
  • Importance of Nitrogen: Essential for creating DNA, RNA, and proteins.

Eutrophication

  • Cause: Excess nutrients (fertilizer runoff) in water.
  • Steps: Fertilizer application, transport to water bodies, excessive plant growth, shading and plant death, bacterial decomposition and oxygen depletion, hypoxic/anoxic conditions and dead zones.
  • Agricultural Runoff: Fertilizer, pesticides, manure, livestock contribute to eutrophication.

Composting

  • Carbon: Composting breaks down organic matter releasing CO2.
  • Nitrogen: Composting can involve N2 fixation.

Benefits of Composting

  • Improves soil quality by supplying vital nutrients.
  • Reduces methane emissions from landfills.

Climate Change

  • Long-term shifts in global temperature and weather patterns.
  • Effects: Decreasing sea ice, rising sea levels, increased extreme weather, rising global temperatures, warmer oceans.

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Description

Explore the concepts of ecological succession, including primary and secondary processes. Learn about the water and carbon cycles and how natural and human activities influence ecosystems. This quiz will test your understanding of these fundamental ecological principles.

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