Natural Cycles and Succession

Question 1

Define ecology

Answer 1

Study of the relationships of organism to each other and their environment

Question 2

Define populations

Answer 2

Group of individuals of the same species in the same area

Question 3

Define community

Answer 3

Organisms in a common environment

Question 4

Define ecosystem

Answer 4

All the organism in an area and the physical environment where they coexist

Question 5

Define succession:

Answer 5

Changes in the community from the initial development of vegetation to the established climax community

Question 6

Define climax community

Answer 6

Stable communities at the end of ecological succession

Question 7

Explain primary succession

Answer 7

• consists of pioneer species that don’t require soil to grow
• no competition
• soil eventually grows to accommodate other plants

Question 8

Explain secondary succession

Answer 8

• Species establish from existing seeds
• Presence of disturbances such as fire and logging

Question 9

How do plants regrow after a fire during secondary succession?

Answer 9

1. Resprouting from underground plant parts: rhizomes, roots, or meristems
2. Seeds burried in soil

Question 10

What is a plant’s role in the water cycle?

Answer 10

• Reduce run-off since evaporation from land flows through plants
• Are able to modify humidity and influence cliamte

Question 11

What is a plant’s role in the carbon cycle?

Answer 11

• Cellular respiration and photosynthesis
• [co2] drops as the northern hemisphere forests become active in the spring and summer

Question 12

What are the 2 most important ghg?

Answer 12

Water vapor is responsible for half of earth’s ghg effect and CO2 causes warming and increases evaporation. However, we need both to warm up the earth