Ecological Succession Worksheet
Explore the processes of primary and secondary ecological succession, pioneer species, climax communities, and the factors influencing ecosystem change.
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Ecological Succession Worksheet
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Read each question carefully and provide thoughtful answers. Use complete sentences where appropriate.
1. Which type of succession begins in an area with no remnants of an older community, such as bare rock after a volcanic eruption?
Primary succession
Secondary succession
Climax succession
Ecological collapse
2. What are the first species to colonize a barren environment called?
Climax species
Keystone species
Pioneer species
Indicator species
3. The stable, mature community that results from ecological succession is called a .
4. Secondary succession occurs in areas where a disturbance has removed existing vegetation but has not removed the .
5. Lichens and mosses are examples of pioneer species in primary succession.
True
False
6. A forest fire is an example of a disturbance that leads to primary succession.
True
False
7. Briefly describe the main difference between primary and secondary succession.
8. Observe the diagram below showing different stages of ecological succession. Identify and describe what is happening in Stage 1 and Stage 4.
Stage 1:
Stage 4: