Question

question 8 of 18 in 1988, wildfires swept through nearly 800,000 acres of yellowstone national park. the fire killed many of the trees and shrubs, leaving vast swaths of land without vegetation. this left the burned area open for new plant colonization. forest fires also release large amounts of nutrients to the soil. within a few years, fire - stimulated species of plants, such as fireweed, experienced exponential growth in the burned area. which of the following environmental factors likely led to the exponential growth seen in fireweed after the yellowstone wildfires? increase in sunlight increase in predation from insects increase in habitat decrease in competition from other plants increase in nutrients

Explanation:

• Increase in sunlight: The fire killed many trees and shrubs, so less vegetation means more sunlight reaches the ground, benefiting fireweed.
• Increase in habitat: The burned area with no vegetation is new habitat for fireweed to colonize.
• Decrease in competition from other plants: Most other plants were killed by the fire, so fireweed has less competition for resources.
• Increase in nutrients: The fire released large amounts of nutrients to the soil, which supports fireweed's growth.
• Increase in predation from insects is incorrect because more predation would likely limit growth, not cause exponential growth.

Answer:

• increase in sunlight
• increase in habitat
• decrease in competition from other plants
• increase in nutrients