Question

1. what were you able to add second to your island? ______________

why?_____________________________________________________

1. what were you able to add third to your island? ______________

why?_____________________________________________________

1. why do lichens and mosses get mostly replaced by larger plant species during successio

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1. why can’t you add trees yet?

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1. when can consumers be introduced? explain your answer.

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Explanation:

1. (Context: ecological succession simulation)

• Second addition: Small vascular plants (e.g., grasses).
• Reason: Lichens/mosses (first) break down rock into thin soil, which supports grasses.

1. (Context: ecological succession simulation)

• Third addition: Shrubs.
• Reason: Grasses build up more soil depth and nutrients, which shrubs need to grow.

1. Lichens and mosses are small, low-growing, and require minimal soil. Larger plants outcompete them: they grow taller, blocking sunlight, and have deeper roots that access more nutrients and water as soil develops.
2. Trees need a thick, nutrient-rich soil layer to support their large root systems and growth. Early succession only has thin, low-nutrient soil built by lichens, mosses, and small plants, which cannot sustain trees.
3. Consumers can be introduced after a stable producer community (grasses/shrubs) is established. Producers create a consistent food source (plant matter) and habitat, which consumers need to survive and reproduce.

Answer:

1. What were you able to add second to your island? Small vascular plants (e.g., grasses)

Why? Lichens/mosses formed thin soil for them.

1. What were you able to add third to your island? Shrubs

Why? Grasses built richer, deeper soil for shrubs.

1. Larger plants outcompete them: they block sunlight, and their deeper roots access more nutrients/water as soil develops, while lichens/mosses only thrive in minimal, early-stage soil.
2. The soil layer is still too thin and low in nutrients to support the large root systems and growth needs of trees.
3. Consumers can be introduced once a stable community of producers (like grasses and shrubs) is established. This is because producers provide the necessary food source and habitat structure that consumers rely on for survival.