sucession Flashcards
how does succession increase biodiversity
in each stage the plant and animal communities in an area slowly change the environmental conditions making them less hostile
these changes in the environmental conditions aid the ability for new species to live in the environment
this results in an increase in the biodiversity
final stage is the climax community which is stable
define sucession
process by which an ecosystem changes over time
give 2 features of a climax community
high biodiversity
less hostile environment
complex ecosystem
what are the 2 types of sucession
primary succession
secondary succession
define primary sucession
newly formed/exposed land with no species present
(new rocky surfaces so cooling magma)
define secondary sucession
land is cleared of all plants but soil remains
(forest fire - similar to primary succession but just starts later in the process)
on a bare rock list 5 hostile abiotic conditions
- few minerals and nutrients
(no soil) - little H20
(no soil) - high light intensity
- exposure to wind
- exposure to rain
- extremes in temperature
what are the first species to colonise a rock called
pioneer species
what are pioneer species adapted to grow in
hostile abiotic conditions
give 2 examples of pioneer species and how they are adapted to live in their environment
marram grass on sand dunes - next to ocean
- deep roots to get water
- tolerate salty conditions
lichens - mixture of fungus and algae
secretes acid which erodes the rock which releases minerals
explain the process of succession (4 marks)
- colonisation by pioneer species
- pioneer species change the environmental conditions, making them less hostile for new species
e.g: form soil - process continues and at each stage the environment changes to become less hostile for new species and at each stage biodiversity increases
