Succession And Conservation Flashcards
What are the 2 types of succession?
Primary succession and secondary succession.
What is primary succession?
Primary succession happens on newly formed land, where there is no organic material to start with.
What is secondary succession?
Secondary succession happens on land which has been cleared of all plants but there is still soil.
How does primary succession occur?
Succession starts when a species colonise a new land surface. Seeds can be blown in by the wind and they start to grow. The first species to colonise are called the pioneer species. There are hostile conditions, so only the pioneer species can grow as they are specialised to live there. The pioneer species die and microorganism a decompose the organic material to from soil. The conditions become less hostile so new organisms can grow. These die and get decomposed which adds organic material. Therefore the soil becomes deeper and larger plants can grow.
What happens when different plants and animals that are better adapted to the improved conditions move into an area?
The plants and animals with the better adaptations out compete the other plants and animals and they become the dominant species.
What happens when the ecosystem becomes more complex?
In succession, as an ecosystem becomes more complex new species move into an area alongside the existing species. So the species diversity increases.
What is the climax community?
The final stage of succession is called the climax community. It is when the ecosystem is supporting the largest and most complex community of plants and animals it can.
What is conservation?
Conservation is the protection and management of ecosystems.
What does conservation involve?
Conservation involves preventing succession to perverse an ecosystem in its current seral stage.
Why is conservation important?
Conservation can protect species which are resources which humans need, e.g. Food. Also, species should be conserved because it is the right thing to do. Some species and habitats are attractive for people to look at so it is important to conserve them for future generations. Conserving species and habitats can prevent climate change. Conserving species prevents the disruption of food chains.
What is relocation?
Relocation is when a population of a species is moved to a new location because they are under threat, e.g. From hunting.
How does relocation help a species to survive?
Relocation moves the species to an area where it is not at risk, e.g. From hunting, so it is more likely to survive
Why can relocation cause problems?
Relocation can cause problems because there may be native species in that habitat and they may be out competed by the relocated species. Therefore the native species may become endangered.
How can a habitat be conserved by using a protected area?
Protected area such as national parks protects habitats and the species living there by restricting urban development, industrial development and farming. Also the protected area can be managed, e.g. By coppicing (cutting down trees in a way which allows them to grow back).
What are the problems of using protected areas to conserve habitats?
Protected area such as national parks are visited by tourists. This makes conflict between the need to conserve habitats and the need to allow people to visit.
