2. • As the stages of succession progress, some populations
will facilitate biodiversity by developing conditions which
are more suitable for other species. On the contrary
some populations inhibit biodiversity by developing
conditions which are less suitable for other species
• As the producer diversity increases, the consumer
diversity will also increase.
3. • Three changes which would over time lead to succession are
increase in soil quality, increase in water retained in soil, and a
decrease in light availability.
• An increase in soil quality would be caused by the gaining of
organic matter. This would lead to succession by providing
more nutrients to promote plant growth.
• An increase in water retained in soil would be caused by
increased shading which would reduce the evaporation of
water from the soil. This would lead to succession by making
more water available for the plants.
• A decrease in light availability would be caused by more
shading. This would lead to succession by the increased
shading favoring a vast of shade-tolerant species.
4.
5. • Disturbance #1: A volcano erupts, covering a 10 square
kilometer portion of a mature forest with lava.
• This is an example of primary succession. A volcano
eruption would cause no soil to be present at all. The
long term effect of this would lead to the requirement of
lava being degraded by weathering to form soil.
6. • Disturbance #2: A 10 square kilometer portion of a
mature forest is clear cut.
• This is an example of secondary succession. The long
term effect of this would lead to the loss of plant life such
as tress may lead to erosion and soil loss.
7. • One biotic factor which could influence the pattern of
ecological succession is the logistic growth of a species
that feeds off of the vegetation growing.
• Another biotic which could influence the pattern of
ecological succession is competition amongst each
species.
8. • One biotic factor which would influence the pattern of
ecological succession is the temperature. A fluctuation of
temperature may lead to the down fall of some species
due to the inability to adapt.
• Another biotic factor which would influence the pattern of
ecological succession is rainfall. An increase in rainfall
may lead to the downfall of various species caused by
drown.
9. • USGS. Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (February 2,
1999). From Lava Flow To Forest: Primary Succession.
Retrieved from
http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/volcanowatch/archive/1999/99_01
_21.html
• Secondary Succession. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.countrysideinfo.co.uk/successn/second.htm
• Ecosystems and Communities. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://regentsprep.org/regents/biology/2011%20Web%20
Pages/Ecology-%20Ecosystems-
Communities%20page.htm
