ecosystem dynamics - changes in ecosystem

Question 1

ecological succession

Answer 1

process of change in community composition and structure

Question 2

climax community

Answer 2

stable, established ecosystem at the final stage of succession

Question 3

primary succession

Answer 3

when a pioneer species colonises an uninhabited site. begins with a new area with no life, no soil, pioneer plants, lower productivity, and low biodiversity for a long time. an example being glacial retreat

Question 4

secondary succession

Answer 4

occurs when an invasive weed enters a natural environment. an example being stinking passionflower being invasive in the kimberly & pilbara areas

Question 5

natural disturbances

Answer 5

prominent changes that can cause succession, including fire, erupting volcanos, flooding & tsunamis

Question 6

fire

Answer 6

can have varied effect on ecosystems, intensity depends on weather & fuel load. rate of spread is impacted by wind speed, moisture, vegetation height etc etc

Question 7

negative effects of fire

Answer 7

loss of vegetation, reduction of leaf litter, an increase in animal suffering and a decrease in numbers

Question 8

benefits of fire

Answer 8

removes slow-growing but dominant trees & shrubs, returns nutrients to the soil, leads to biotic changes

Question 9

benefits of smoke

Answer 9

germination of species, more uniform & earlier germination, more robust seedlings

Question 10

fire regimes

Answer 10

can cause long-term changes. determined by season, intensity and frequency. natural fires in low intensity & frequency benefit the wildlife the most