Chapter 9. Chapter 9: Community Ecology

How do ecosystems change...?

Interactive Study Guide
false
true

Guiding Question 9.5

How do ecosystems change over time through ecological succession? How can we use this knowledge to assist in ecosystem restoration?

Why You Should Care

The concept of ecological succession was one of the first hypotheses developed by modern ecologists, and it is still a major focus of research. Succession is predictable and can take a long time, even centuries, to reach a stable community. Understanding the predictable sequence of succession for different ecosystems is important because it allows researchers to assess the impact of a disruption. Understanding succession also gives researchers an idea of how to recreate a stable ("climax") community when restoring ecosystems.

Question Test Your Vocabulary

Choose the correct term for each of the following definitions:

Term Definition
3EGQ8pK8Nl5sTJE91YeQFmIvHDy0jC5jE+pybNetEIv8/ESn091vf8u1YYTClumdCP+P1VXdXBbdlD4Z2GTggp3UDUZCMyIWRbSR6LjZ02RWebu+MlR0ZBnrhnPFYl/og1L5e1jGNA4SYdzUtq+E1R2KoKGfVcSAcw5H9zvF398F5BCS+ZwAVuQvZjNIUGiJ The end stage of ecological succession in which the conditions created by the climax species are suitable for the plants that created them so they can persist as long as their environment remains unchanged.
OlzG6I8kT0aANddBgY0+4JYoyjNUf7bv2LVEHlrQgSmcM54SpNjRXfi/y1ZzxhMuLTkH11O2WY93jJCODOOoUNVulel6byc/DDZ+yGanT3bDM0Go7urcg7lWPU5oI7GQb3+poE555um/Ffv9Yz9zdE3XLWMWIn8yadl+dpGTpsUg4aLrm7cEGuIsimwU4QL6 Progressive replacement of plant (and then animal) species in a community over time due to the changing conditions that the plants themselves create (more soil, shade, etc.).
CzNgOpYFHPpOLgpR+VVz6s0EpcwC69qlkgk0hdoBjRS9dLlhQwHjtffXvQm6NzzoJW6dj96GGWMPeMfWNug+IWt/34fCik8ETca48PiHH4pN6JIUCmv7uqJ5uFCAVKSIOsCUhY/qbVRNNyPB01YPwa13mYn6kXRu64VnIeJVSHCF9tR1qbAYe9FOlPU12wmr The science that deals with the repair of damaged or disturbed ecosystems.
ZmtN8c3v8EKLkeCF+6AvDHcZMkRO4dsay9KgN69lnzwgxGThoMAH+8Li7QO7Y+pj4LEekmbvAuvS0BIbtwe/L/Xlg381an0uDVA+yjeV35y1tyk3FLO9+kTmzEJ21ScuWf7lE4+82jRgX7Qa0yaTBYo3Sqz9PFJcyu0JJsuTIrSYB1ZBKaa7Q76SgvNhD0KA Ecological succession that occurs in an area where no ecosystem existed before (e.g., on bare rock with no soil).
VOE8bvLetJ15LEDmQM7qorh9HJ1B/77QJ/e2+5WE9vWSzU9blsNs/54T2QPIysbTcnFqyfrAtXyK/9agHrea4+U5dX2oGvRl1Ipkyp72I4mYm/bYQoUY34XnIWtdf8cLA8evr9sZxTesfl9qo8ffQZY8aVGbEsGy/cStKCsz73km3yjmrmrhqWzdeunDofIi Species that move into an area at later stages of ecological succession.
hXIkwnOD44m1SGP/QuHzdRWIITHEQWjcYDh8XdtAhkphlOAoSAWZOjPC6Kg81IxGLFrpXeLZgMYId3cn7EA+gg+pQxHWQtf7KRb3FVaLx4vx+RoYXZflkb657oI5SgDC/Z1YhV1jYIOlCBgnnfqt5V63VQd6rfNLlllCDvgZhhXj8OGZAjekrubdHiu/FXMc Ecological succession that occurs in an ecosystem that has been disturbed; occurs more quickly than primary succession because soil is present.
yLoczpK4GN+131RRZeEQeC3hWdfp6VPdk9znFyzlIa2fmYEXb1WIqRWhrVzMpb2b/InBp5Dq2FYwk8oVfsQubBeM1HSYHvjCvdMvgKSlLeFt8R9RFI0d9i9ebUVVOnxInSxsi2em6Xa19e6HF18iMXEsgCxT3EpZmAl9xDMSFohpWI1Af1xTC8AKMalgiaE5 Plant species that move into an area during early stages of succession; these are often r-species and may be annuals, species that live one year, leave behind seeds, and then die.
999
Try again.
Correct.
Incorrect.
Infographic 9.8

Question 9.1

In the forests of eastern North America, a driving force behind successional change is the kMO0yYA7LnBbdyrSP7ZTJzgLRIA5JI8M1JT2sK5OLJ8eHRhyLt5Iy+RfkrI0pbz7fi/BPT3jVGimMIMLR5+mVLQYRu0=, whereas in the Everglades, it is the q68abkFB50MtjnH7ViNZ7zf/d4gSmrCmCKhaRDbTcDBovsJyhtKi4KmmiCqqT9SKeVWmE2//UaFNUq0etxPDlapaV/M=.

999
Try again.
Correct.
Incorrect.

Question 9.2

In the Everglades, the identity of plant species dominant at a given stage is largely determined by their gZgrjKbGc7dh/IkSGtKDOw6zBQUS4jjdgP0fSK9qx/aV8YNBqwsPOh2dDd7k6soZ, whereas in eastern forests, it is determined by their VB599hw7qHxjXL1Fo2i8vRFA9TBJ4iGs1YPvvHGxVf9oXoEWe1VwDYzfc4+U80DC.

999
Try again.
Correct.
Incorrect.

Question 9.3

YNQVTFbpw9poYzYxW0A4ok1Zj29v5Azyc7eQoF0cSnnp6XkAVt8M44D9p6AW7sMTpqhuwHs//pTbokmCqJM9BfqTUzaVKNPHcvyV+fGnFgq+os/TpC1+aSIzFRErG9Jzw7IqYfWvVmBmpmYzxlmBJ45zp8Eb18HwNj5nN1zSuIgqr2r3r+lnsuC9knbgP4KzYJfHsXTc8LucC/ESw2Ck7wnUTJNedHufcY8ywiJLFfRFkUxQl+8wCIg1gIbHC5DNbAYRdAU332Gy3j6H7htPyYvTu7ckODz9TgIC1PRZBZtKdbnhb66vKCiOA1xTmc3AjicRaLoEL5pGLWCT5UB9jBVKn0L0OM1h10zDXr5fErqgMIwagUYotM0reHyGBRQIBa9eCtHDLzn2N0cDLaI1PNHDfPE=
Yes, if beech and sugar maple are the climax tree species, they must be shade tolerant since shade tolerance of trees is the main driver in North American ecological succession.

Question 9.4

b1ykc5yzeR82h81o6/yjRYKKiULDHsXG9jFpvpI96ZwedazPVpTtYKy1XUDQTux/anD+Xq7ScxC0AKzkl6Z0BjdRBAkP9A41v6a7uwXNEAAHaRh5pi0lS0hkgIXOXLwsNuLqw+ZlJNJSw2uF0NXleWIU36qqCuF9JtOo7vO3YXHp8oCrKhmAfdJ/DYofJ9k+vGKO/H4jY68e0E0mF+sNQP1xCYjjIkD01LsP/lhDeFsM+VR7KmIh3xMdYXJX9bCr83xTfphBqX4=
In the Everglades, frequent flooding, severe storms, and animal action (such as gator-hole excavation) are frequent and prevent large areas from reaching the hammock-forest stage. Although eastern forests can be knocked back to earlier stages by fire or tree falls, this isn’t as common, and the overwhelming trend is for the forest to shift to the stable hardwood stage.

Question

Short-Answer Questions

Imagine that you are a staff member of the Department of Environmental Protection for the state of Florida, and your job is to travel to small towns and hold meetings in which you explain the finer points of the CERP. You need to explain why certain traditionally undesirable things are indeed desirable.

m6LNwNXUT1eprQurn2RLQnBqXtSj75N1StZ+tMc1hVc78serteRz+ZWajXnQsi24/YEL8so4UpZTlFo+ 7YiIecOu5SZbCRV7PesrDsETk0EC1y5mbb4iJV920/cfazhZzmO9p6ZIRT/zlD56uY+g2xp3cgHjP5Fes57vAT19AYAPzAzI5AKRm47ULPu1PtCn0LttVYOWvcED9lYh I7bRORriUkYB+REHdcBQenrcSM+188Ew4W9Age+taW4lO1cID7rHsd9oLWG300X3tlOHYV+iek9rGzo2JoWf15Vl2lwCPUTFLAc+dlA3IDlD9Ny0
1) You should discuss the importance of keystone species.

2) You should discuss the importance of water flowing through the wetlands before draining.

3) Fertilizer run-off pollutes water supplies by over-fertilizing potentially toxic algae.