4.3 Succession Answer Key

Question: What is ecological succession?

Answer: The series of predictable changes that occurs in a community over time

Question: What is primary succession?

Answer: A succession that occurs on surfaces were no soil exists

Question: When a disturbance changes a community without removing the soil, what type of succession follows?

Answer: Secondary succession

Question: Describe the process of succession in an ecosystem

Answer: While older inhabitants die out, new organisms move in

Question: Why does secondary succession typically proceed faster that primary succession?

Answer: The soil is already in place, so a larger range of plant species can colonize the area

Question: What are the two kinds of disturbances that change ecosystems?

Answer: Natural and human disturbances

Question: What are two factors that contribute to the development of a climax community?

Answer: Secondary succession and ecosystems