Question

from the first species to colonize after a severe flood event to the last. use the figure below to view the different stages of vegetative growth during succession.

• straw - colored flat sedge: a grass - like plant that easily establishes in open, wet habitats but is a poor competitor and only lives a year
• black willow: a shrubby tree of river floodplains that stabilizes the soil of riverbanks and islands
• rose mallow: a native hibiscus, a flowering shrub of wetlands
• calico aster: a flower of the daisy family that regrows each year
• swamp oak: a long - lived oak species that thrives in wetlands of river floodplains

start by choosing the first item in the sequence and clicking, dragging, or using your keyboard to select it.
straw - colored flat sedge rose mallow swamp oak black willow calico aster*

Explanation:

In ecological succession, pioneer species are the first to colonize a disturbed area. The straw - colored flat sedge is described as easily establishing in open, wet habitats (like after a flood) and is a short - lived (annual) plant, which are characteristics of pioneer species. Then, as the environment becomes more stable (due to soil stabilization by early colonizers), shrubs like the black willow (which helps with soil stabilization) can establish. The rose mallow (a wetland shrub) would come next as the habitat becomes more suitable for a greater variety of shrubs. The calico aster (a perennial herb) can then establish as the community becomes more diverse. Finally, the swamp oak (a long - lived tree) represents a more mature stage in the succession, similar to the climax community concept (although the given climax in the figure is black oak, but in the context of the provided plant list, the swamp oak is the most long - lived tree - like species among them).

Answer:

1. straw - colored flat sedge
2. black willow
3. rose mallow
4. calico aster
5. swamp oak