Question

primary and secondary succession
the young forest of trees create a habitat for tertiary consumers. a tertiary consumer is an organism that eats secondary consumers. these tertiary consumers are larger carnivores (such as hawks, wolves, and tigers) which add even more organic material to the soil. the forest becomes older, and the taller, more mature trees begin to outcompete the smaller trees. the ecosystem is now filled with a variety of native plants and animals of all shapes and sizes. this last stage is called a climax community. a climax community is an area that has reached the final stage of succession. most ecosystems never reach climax community due to environmental disturbances (such as forest fires, floods, drought or man - made disruptions).
secondary succession
secondary succession begins with a disturbed area of land which still has soil, and even minor plant life. for example, secondary succession happens in areas where a wildfire or landslide has occurred. this process is much faster than primary succession because pioneer species do not have to break down rock to create soil, as the soil has survived the disturbance. secondary succession takes between 50 and 150 years.
when an ecosystem experiences a large - scale disturbance, the area will begin going through secondary succession. most, if not all, of the plant and animal life has been destroyed, or fled the disturbance. the area will begin to go through stages similar to primary succession. since the soil is already present, the grasses and flowers will grow back first. the soil is still deep and nutrient - rich, so the stages of succession will happen faster. bushes and shrubs return to the area, soon followed by young trees. with the growth of the plants, the animals will come back as well, and the ecosystem is on its way to achieving a climax community.
using the reading passage, answer the following questions:

1. what is ecological succession?
2. what is the difference between primary and secondary succession?
3. what is a pioneer species? what are some examples?
4. when the grass and flowers begin to grow, what organism also inhabits the area?
5. what is a primary consumer?

Explanation:

1. La sucesión ecológica es el proceso por el cual una comunidad ecológica cambia y evoluciona con el tiempo.
2. La sucesión primaria comienza en un área sin suelo, como una nueva isla volcánica, mientras que la sucesión secundaria comienza en un área con suelo existente pero perturbado, como después de un incendio forestal.
3. Una especie pionera es una especie que es una de las primeras en colonizar un área recién perturbada. Ejemplos incluyen musgo y líquenes en la sucesión primaria, y hierbas y flores en la sucesión secundaria.
4. Cuando las hierbas y flores comienzan a crecer, los animales también comienzan a inhabitar el área, especialmente insectos y pequeños roedores.
5. Un consumidor primario es un herbívoro, un animal que se alimenta de plantas.

Answer:

1. Es el proceso por el cual una comunidad ecológica cambia y evoluciona con el tiempo.
2. La primaria comienza en un área sin suelo, la secundaria en un área con suelo perturbado.
3. Es una de las primeras en colonizar un área perturbada. Musgo, líquenes (primaria); hierbas, flores (secundaria).
4. Insectos y pequeños roedores.
5. Un herbívoro, un animal que se alimenta de plantas.