Ecology: Succession and Community Change

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Questions and Answers

What is the term for the process by which the species composition of a community changes over time?

Chronosequence

Succession (correct)

Pioneer species

Seral stage

What type of species are usually the first to arrive at a disturbed site?

Direct observation species

Climax community

Pioneer species (correct)

Seral species

What is the final stage of community change during succession?

Chronosequence

Climax community (correct)

Pioneer species

Seral stage

What method can scientists use to observe succession when direct observation is not possible?

Chronosequence Signup and view all the answers

What can be examined to look back in time at the composition of communities?

Lake and pond sediments Signup and view all the answers

What type of succession occurs in habitats that are initially devoid of plants and organic soil?

Primary succession Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for a sequence of communities that exist over time at a given location?

Chronosequence Signup and view all the answers

What is produced by flowering plants and can be used to study succession?

Pollen grains Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for each stage of community change during succession?

Seral stage Signup and view all the answers

Why are pioneer species able to arrive quickly at disturbed sites?

Because they are able to disperse long distances Signup and view all the answers

In a wetland, which species is likely to colonise first?

Cattails Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary mechanism of succession in a stream?

Organism migration from less disturbed sites Signup and view all the answers

What is the typical pattern of species richness during succession?

Rapid increase followed by a plateau and a small decline Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary difference between early and late succession species?

Trade-offs between growth, dispersal, and competitive ability Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for when one species increases the probability of another species becoming established?

Facilitation Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for when the arrival of species at a site affects the colonization of other species?

Priority effect Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary mechanism of succession in a lake or pond?

Slow transformation with brief episodes of rapid change Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for a climax community that is not persistent due to frequent disturbances?

Transient climax community Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for a successional stage that persists due to periodic fires?

Fire-maintained climax community Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for when grazers preferentially consume the most palatable plants, leaving behind less palatable species?

Grazer-maintained climax community Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Understanding Succession

Succession is the process of change in species composition over time in a community.
Seral stages are the stages of community change during succession.
Pioneer species are the first to arrive at a site, can disperse long distances, and arrive quickly at disturbed sites.

Types of Succession

Primary succession: development of communities in habitats devoid of plants and organic soil, such as sand dunes, lava flows, and bare rock.
Early colonizers produce organic matter in primary succession.
Secondary succession: development of communities in disturbed habitats with organic soil, but no plants.

Analysis of Succession

Chronosequence: a sequence of communities at a given location over time, used to study succession.
Pollen records can be used to look back in time and examine changes in species composition.
Long-term studies of single sites can provide insight into succession.
Combination of methods is the best approach to analyzing succession.

Changes in Communities

Changes in plant communities can change animal habitats, leading to changes in the animal community.
Streams undergo rapid succession due to the ability of organisms to move downstream from less disturbed sites.
Most models of pond/lake succession suggest slow transformation, but research suggests rapid changes can occur.

Mechanisms of Succession

Facilitation: one species increases the probability of a second species becoming established.
Inhibition: one species decreases the probability of a second species becoming established.
Priority effect: the arrival of species affects the colonization of other species.
Tolerance: the probability of a species becoming established depends on dispersal activity and ability to persist.

Community Characteristics

Climax communities are the final stage of succession and are typically composed of dominant organisms in a biome.
Transient climax communities occur when a site is frequently disturbed.
Climax communities can vary in composition along environmental gradients.
Small-scale disturbances can allow growth of non-climax species.
Fire-maintained climax community: a successional stage that persists due to periodic fires.
Grazer-maintained climax community: a successional stage that persists due to intense grazing.

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Description

This quiz covers the process of succession, seral stages, pioneer species, and climax community in ecology, understanding how species composition changes over time.