Question

5 - community ecology: ecological succession
learning objective: differentiate between primary and secondary succession.
which of the following characteristics is associated with primary succession?
a.) a species establishes itself following an environmental disturbance.
b.) a plant species starts growing after a fire wipes out an existing plant species.
c.) a plant species gets established after overgrazing destroys a previous inhabiting plant species.
d.) a species establishes itself in a previously unpopulated environment.

Explanation:

Primary succession occurs in an area that has never been colonized before, like a new - formed volcanic island or a glacier - retreated area. Options a, b, and c describe secondary succession which happens after a disturbance in an already established ecosystem.

Answer:

d. A species establishes itself in a previously unpopulated environment.