Question

1. pinelands are one of the most common terrestrial ecosystems throughout florida. fire is a necessary factor for survival because it destroys other plants that compete with native pineland species. choose the term that best describes what would occur if fires were not allowed to burn in the pinelands.

a. overgrowth
b. succession
c. decomposition
d. invasive species

Explanation:

• Option a: Overgrowth implies excessive growth, but the scenario involves ecological change due to lack of fire (a disturbance). Fire prevents competing plants; without it, the ecosystem will undergo a process of change.
• Option b: Succession is the process of ecological change in a community over time. In Pinelands, fire is a natural disturbance that maintains the ecosystem. If fire is absent, the community will change as competing plants grow, leading to ecological succession (specifically, secondary succession as the ecosystem is disturbed by the lack of fire's regulatory effect).
• Option c: Decomposition is the breakdown of organic matter, not related to the effect of fire absence on plant competition.
• Option d: Invasive species are non - native species, but the question is about native plant competition and ecosystem change due to fire absence, not about non - native species introduction.

Answer:

b. Succession