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Plant Succession
Flashcards on plant succession
28
Geography
12th Grade
09/16/2015

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Term
What is plant succession?
Definition
A change in the number and type of plant in a given area over a period of time.
Term
How long can plant succession take?
Definition
Up to 1,000 years
Term
What is a sere?
Definition
An environment in which succession takes place
Term
How many main seres are there?
Definition
4
Term
Which plant forms the pioneer community in the lithosere?
Definition
Lichen
Term
How does the presence of lichen allow other plants to colonise?
Definition
The lichen breaks down minerals in the rock to form soil, and dead lichen will provide nutrients for other plants.
Term
Where do the lichens get their nutrients?
Definition
Minerals in the rock
Term
What is decomposed plant matter called?
Definition
Humus
Term
In the lithosere, what could the climax community be composed of?
Definition
Shrubs
Term
Why do the pioneer and early coloniser species die out?
Definition
They are out-competed by later colonisers. The nutrients in the soil change over time and the later colonisers are adapted for this. They can grow taller, preventing the early colonisers getting sunlight.
Term
What factors can affect the appearance of the climax community in different ecosystems?
Definition
Altitude, humidity, temperature, latitude, ect.
Term
What is a climatic climax?
Definition
When the main factor affecting the climax community is climate.
Term
What is the climax community?
Definition
The ecological commmunity in the final stage of succession, where the plant composition remains relatively stable
Term
What are colonisers?
Definition
Plants that establish themselves in new environments, such as lichens which are colonisers of bare rock
Term
What is gross productivity?
Definition
A measure of all photosynthesis which occurs in an ecosystem
Term
Which sere is the halosere?
Definition
Salt water or salt marsh
Term
Which sere is the hydrosere?
Definition
Fresh water
Term
Which sere is the lithosere?
Definition
Bare rock
Term
What is net primary productivity?
Definition
Energy fixed in photosynthesis minus energy lost through respiration
Term
What is mono-climax theory?
Definition
A theory that recognises only one climax community, which is determined solely by the climate. The area would be covered with one uniform climax community
Term
What is a pioneer species?
Definition
The first species to colonise an ecosystem. Would usually be very hardy, such as lichen.
Term
What is poly-climax theory?
Definition
A theory which recognises multiple climax communities in an area which can be separately affected by factors such as altitude.
Term
What is primary succession?
Definition
The development of plant communities in previously uncolonised environments.
Term
What is the prisere?
Definition
The succession from bare ground to climax community
Term
Which sere is the psammosere?
Definition
Sand dunes
Term
What is secondary succession?
Definition
The development of a plant community in an area that was previously colonised but was damaged in some way, eg through a forest fire or the clearing of vegetation.
Term
What is a sere?
Definition
The environment in which plant succession takes place
Term
What is a sub climax community
Definition
When a community does not develop in the expected way, possibly due to a disturbance such as a forest fire
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