Succession Review



Succession Review Name ______________________________________

7th Grade Environmental Science

Mrs. Krempa Date & Section _______________________________

Try and not use your notes to answer the following questions. This is a great chance to see what you need to study for!

1. Define primary succession. Include an example where primary succession could happen.

Primary succession is succession that happens in an originally lifeless habitat. Retreating glaciers or lava fields are good examples of where primary succession could happen.

2. List the steps of primary succession in order. Explain each step in detail, and include the types of

organisms that grow in each step.

Step #1 - Bare rock or volcanic eruption– no soil or life

Step #2 - Lichen – lichen breaks down the rock to form a thin layer of soil.

Step #3 - Moss - mosses can grow on a very thin layer of soil, almost bare rock.

Step #4 - Grasses - As the moss and lichen die, they create deeper and more fertile soil.

Grasses can now grow.

Step #5 - Shrubs - As the grasses die, they create deeper and more fertile soil.

Small, non-woody shrubs grow like raspberries and multiflora rose.

Step #6 - Softwood trees – As shrubs die, more soil is added. Softwood trees with shallow

roots like pine and cedar now grow with larger woody type shrubs.

Step #7 - Hardwood trees - More soil is added and hardwoods with deeper roots like Oak,

Hickory and Maple can grow creating a “mature community” or “climax community”. This community is diverse and stable, not many new things will grow.

3. What is lichen? How does it help to make soil?

Lichen is a fungus and algae living in a mutualistic relationship. Lichen uses an acid to

chemically break the rock down to make soil.

4. Define secondary succession. List and explain an example.

Secondary succession is the series of changes that occur in an area where the ecosystem has been disturbed. A forest fire, an old farm field and other human activity are good examples of where secondary succession could take place.

5. Define Island Succession. Include what type of succession, what organisms are there and how they get

there, why “new” islands are a good place to be and how & why different species can eventually evolve.

Island succession is succession that takes place on a newly formed island. Island succession is

another form of primary succession – most islands are volcanic! Birds are the first (pioneer species) to get to an island, and other organisms can fly, wash in with the tide or be blown there by the wind. New Islands are great places to be because there are very few predators, many open niches and large food supply. Species can evolve to fit any open niche very easily.

6. Define climax community.

The community that is the end stage of succession. Large hardwood trees and other organisms grow. The community is stable (doesn’t really change) and diverse (lots of different organisms).

8. Explain pioneer species and list an example.

Pioneer species are the first species to grow in an area. Lichen as mosses are pioneer species in primary succession.

9. Explain what deciduous means and list an example.

Deciduous trees lose their leaves during one season of the year. They are considered “hardwood” trees. Oak, Hickory, Maple, Walnut.

10. Explain what conifer means and list an example.

Conifers are trees that produce seeds in cones. Also considered “evergreen” since they do not lose their leaves. Another name is “softwood” trees. Leaves are “needles”. Pine, Cedar.

11. Place the following steps of Aquatic succession in order. Many plants fish & other organisms at edges

(sides) only, fertile meadow, open water with few plants, marsh.

Step #1 open water with few plants

Step #2 many plants, fish and other organisms at edges only

Step #3 marsh

Step #4 fertile meadow

Matching!

1. C

2. F

3. K

4. D

5. L

6. D

7. K

8. F

9. K

10. A, K

11. K

12. H

13. J

14. H

15. I

16. L,A,D

17. I

18. A,K

19. E

20. I

21. L

22. H

23. K

24. J

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