AP Environmental Science Flashcards: Ecological Succession

What this deck covers

This deck focuses on Ecological Succession, giving you a quick way to review the definitions, rules, and examples that matter most for AP Environmental Science.

How to use these flashcards

Work through these flashcards in short sessions. Try to answer each prompt before flipping the card, then revisit any cards you miss until the explanation feels automatic.

Flashcard 1: What is the role of fire in succession?

Answer: Fire can reset succession, clearing space for new growth. Fire removes vegetation, creating opportunities for new species colonization.

Flashcard 2: What is the role of mosses in succession?

Answer: Mosses help retain moisture and further soil development. Mosses create favorable microclimates for other plant establishment.

Flashcard 3: How does biodiversity change during succession?

Answer: Biodiversity generally increases as succession progresses. More species can establish as environmental conditions improve.

Flashcard 4: What is a pioneer species?

Answer: The first species to colonize barren environments in primary succession. These hardy organisms can survive harsh conditions without soil.

Flashcard 5: Identify the two main types of ecological succession.

Answer: Primary succession and secondary succession. These are distinguished by the presence or absence of existing soil.

Flashcard 6: Which succession is faster, primary or secondary?

Answer: Secondary succession. Existing soil allows plants to establish more quickly than on bare rock.

Flashcard 7: What is allogenic succession?

Answer: Succession driven by external environmental factors. External forces like climate or geology drive community changes.

Flashcard 8: What is the impact of succession on nutrient cycling?

Answer: Succession enhances nutrient cycling as ecosystems mature. Mature ecosystems develop more efficient nutrient retention and cycling.

Flashcard 9: What is the role of fire in succession?

Answer: Fire can reset succession, clearing space for new growth. Fire removes vegetation, creating opportunities for new species colonization.

Flashcard 10: What is the main difference between primary and secondary succession?

Answer: Primary starts without soil; secondary starts with existing soil. Soil presence determines which succession pathway occurs.

Flashcard 11: How do animals contribute to ecological succession?

Answer: They disperse seeds and influence plant community structure. Animals facilitate pollination, seed dispersal, and habitat modification.

Flashcard 12: How do grasses influence succession?

Answer: They stabilize soil and provide habitat for insects and small mammals. Grasses create favorable conditions for shrubs and trees to establish.

Flashcard 13: What is the outcome of successful succession?

Answer: A stable and diverse climax community. Successful succession results in maximum stability and species diversity.

Flashcard 14: What is the outcome of successful succession?

Answer: A stable and diverse climax community. Successful succession results in maximum stability and species diversity.

Flashcard 15: How does biodiversity change during succession?

Answer: Biodiversity generally increases as succession progresses. More species can establish as environmental conditions improve.

Flashcard 16: How do grasses influence succession?

Answer: They stabilize soil and provide habitat for insects and small mammals. Grasses create favorable conditions for shrubs and trees to establish.

Flashcard 17: What is ecological succession?

Answer: The process of change in species structure of an ecological community over time. This describes the natural progression from simple to complex communities.

Flashcard 18: Which community is more resilient, early or late successional?

Answer: Late successional communities are more resilient. Mature communities have more species interactions and stability mechanisms.

Flashcard 19: What is the impact of invasive species on succession?

Answer: They can disrupt or alter successional pathways. Non-native species can dominate and prevent native species establishment.

Flashcard 20: What characterizes the early stages of succession?

Answer: Dominance by pioneer species. Pioneer species are adapted to harsh, unstable conditions.

Flashcard 21: What defines secondary succession?

Answer: Succession occurring in areas where soil remains after a disturbance. Existing soil allows faster reestablishment of plant communities.

Flashcard 22: Which succession is faster, primary or secondary?

Answer: Secondary succession. Existing soil allows plants to establish more quickly than on bare rock.

Flashcard 23: What is a sere in ecological succession?

Answer: A stage in the sequence of events in ecological succession. Each sere represents a distinct phase in community development.

Flashcard 24: Identify a factor that can slow succession.

Answer: Invasive species. Non-native species can outcompete native successional species.

Flashcard 25: Identify a factor that can slow succession.

Answer: Invasive species. Non-native species can outcompete native successional species.

Flashcard 26: What is autogenic succession?

Answer: Succession driven by the organisms themselves, changing the environment. Organisms modify their environment, facilitating new species establishment.

Flashcard 27: What defines primary succession?

Answer: Succession occurring on surfaces where no soil exists. This type starts from scratch with no existing soil foundation.

Flashcard 28: What is the impact of succession on ecosystem productivity?

Answer: Productivity often increases as ecosystems mature. More biomass and photosynthesis occur as communities develop structure.

Flashcard 29: What is the significance of soil in succession?

Answer: Soil provides nutrients and a medium for plant growth. Soil development is essential for supporting diverse plant communities.

Flashcard 30: What characterizes the early stages of succession?

Answer: Dominance by pioneer species. Pioneer species are adapted to harsh, unstable conditions.

Flashcard 31: What role do lichens play in succession?

Answer: They help break down rock to form soil. Lichens secrete acids that chemically weather rock into soil particles.

Flashcard 32: What is hydrarch succession?

Answer: Succession occurring in wet areas. This type begins in aquatic or very moist terrestrial environments.

Flashcard 33: Which type of succession begins on bare rock?

Answer: Primary succession. Bare rock lacks soil, requiring the slower primary succession process.

Flashcard 34: How does human activity impact succession?

Answer: It can alter or halt natural successional processes. Human activities often interrupt or redirect natural succession.

Flashcard 35: What is the impact of succession on ecosystem productivity?

Answer: Productivity often increases as ecosystems mature. More biomass and photosynthesis occur as communities develop structure.

Flashcard 36: Identify a disturbance that leads to primary succession.

Answer: Volcanic eruption. Volcanic activity destroys all life and soil, requiring primary succession.

Flashcard 37: What is autogenic succession?

Answer: Succession driven by the organisms themselves, changing the environment. Organisms modify their environment, facilitating new species establishment.

Flashcard 38: What is allogenic succession?

Answer: Succession driven by external environmental factors. External forces like climate or geology drive community changes.

Flashcard 39: What is xerarch succession?

Answer: Succession occurring in dry areas. This type begins in terrestrial environments with limited water.

Flashcard 40: What is a climax community?

Answer: A stable, mature community that undergoes little or no change in species. This represents the endpoint of succession with stable species composition.

Flashcard 41: What causes secondary succession?

Answer: Disturbances like fire, floods, or human activities that do not destroy soil. These disturbances leave soil intact, allowing faster recovery.

Flashcard 42: What is the initial stage of primary succession?

Answer: Colonization by pioneer species like lichens on bare rock. Pioneer colonization is the first step in primary succession.

Flashcard 43: How does human activity impact succession?

Answer: It can alter or halt natural successional processes. Human activities often interrupt or redirect natural succession.

Flashcard 44: Which community is more resilient, early or late successional?

Answer: Late successional communities are more resilient. Mature communities have more species interactions and stability mechanisms.

Flashcard 45: Identify a disturbance that leads to secondary succession.

Answer: Forest fire. Fire typically leaves soil intact, enabling secondary succession.

Flashcard 46: What is the role of decomposers in succession?

Answer: Decomposers break down organic matter, enriching the soil. Decomposition adds essential nutrients for plant growth and soil development.

Flashcard 47: Which type of succession begins on bare rock?

Answer: Primary succession. Bare rock lacks soil, requiring the slower primary succession process.

Flashcard 48: What is a pioneer species?

Answer: The first species to colonize barren environments in primary succession. These hardy organisms can survive harsh conditions without soil.

Flashcard 49: What is ecological succession?

Answer: The process of change in species structure of an ecological community over time. This describes the natural progression from simple to complex communities.

Flashcard 50: What defines primary succession?

Answer: Succession occurring on surfaces where no soil exists. This type starts from scratch with no existing soil foundation.

Flashcard 51: Identify a common pioneer species in primary succession.

Answer: Lichens. Lichens are hardy symbiotic organisms that can colonize bare rock.

Flashcard 52: What is a climax community?

Answer: A stable, mature community that undergoes little or no change in species. This represents the endpoint of succession with stable species composition.

Flashcard 53: What causes secondary succession?

Answer: Disturbances like fire, floods, or human activities that do not destroy soil. These disturbances leave soil intact, allowing faster recovery.

Flashcard 54: What is the role of mosses in succession?

Answer: Mosses help retain moisture and further soil development. Mosses create favorable microclimates for other plant establishment.

Flashcard 55: What is the impact of succession on nutrient cycling?

Answer: Succession enhances nutrient cycling as ecosystems mature. Mature ecosystems develop more efficient nutrient retention and cycling.

Flashcard 56: What is the role of herbaceous plants in succession?

Answer: They stabilize soil and provide habitat for other species. Herbaceous plants improve soil structure and create microhabitats.

Flashcard 57: Identify the two main types of ecological succession.

Answer: Primary succession and secondary succession. These are distinguished by the presence or absence of existing soil.

Flashcard 58: Identify a common pioneer species in primary succession.

Answer: Lichens. Lichens are hardy symbiotic organisms that can colonize bare rock.

Flashcard 59: What is an intermediate species?

Answer: Species that appear after pioneer species but before climax communities. These transitional species prepare the environment for climax communities.

Flashcard 60: What is a sere in ecological succession?

Answer: A stage in the sequence of events in ecological succession. Each sere represents a distinct phase in community development.

Flashcard 61: What role do lichens play in succession?

Answer: They help break down rock to form soil. Lichens secrete acids that chemically weather rock into soil particles.

Flashcard 62: How do animals contribute to ecological succession?

Answer: They disperse seeds and influence plant community structure. Animals facilitate pollination, seed dispersal, and habitat modification.

Flashcard 63: What defines secondary succession?

Answer: Succession occurring in areas where soil remains after a disturbance. Existing soil allows faster reestablishment of plant communities.

Flashcard 64: What characterizes the later stages of succession?

Answer: Dominance by climax species. Climax species thrive in stable, resource-rich environments.

Flashcard 65: What is xerarch succession?

Answer: Succession occurring in dry areas. This type begins in terrestrial environments with limited water.

Flashcard 66: What is a seral community?

Answer: A temporary community in the successional sequence. Seral communities are unstable and transitional by nature.

Flashcard 67: What is hydrarch succession?

Answer: Succession occurring in wet areas. This type begins in aquatic or very moist terrestrial environments.

Flashcard 68: What is the initial stage of primary succession?

Answer: Colonization by pioneer species like lichens on bare rock. Pioneer colonization is the first step in primary succession.