Question

Which of the following best illustrates ecological succession?

Answer 1

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Answer:

Your answer would be B). grass grows on a sand dune, is replaced by shrubs, and then by trees

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Definition:

Ecological succession:

A change of ecosystems overtime.  This change could take many years to see a structural difference.

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Explanation:

The reason why "B). grass grows on a sand dune, is replaced by shrubs, and then by trees" would be the correct answer is because this statement perfectly describes what occurs during an ecological succession. It describes the process of how a ecological system changed into different ecosystems overtime. It says "grass grows on a sand dune, is replaced by shrubs, and then by trees." This means that the location started off as a sand dune, then grass grew over it. After that, shrubs started to form over the grass, and then will be replaced by trees. This process would be a Ecological succession. This is the reason why this answer choice would be correct.

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Why the other answer choices are incorrect:

Answer choice "a. overgrazing causes a nutrient loss from soil" is incorrect because:

This has nothing to do with a process in charge in a certain ecosystem. The answer is describing what a soil depletion. This would make this answer incorrect. This is the reason why this answer choice would be incorrect.

Answer choice "c. introduced pheasants increase, and native quail populations disappear" is incorrect because:

This has nothing to do with a process in charge in a certain ecosystem. This is describing the change in a group of things, or population. This is the reason why this answer choice would be incorrect.

Answer choice "d. decomposition in soil releases nitrogen that plants can use" is incorrect because:

This has nothing to do with a process in charge in a certain ecosystem. This is describing how soil helps feed plants to help them grow. This would be the reason why this answer choice would be incorrect.

Answer choice "e. a mouse eats seeds, and an owl eats the mouse" is incorrect because:

This has nothing to do with a process in charge in a certain ecosystem. This answer choice is describing what a food cycle is. Since an animal eats one thing, and then another animal eats that animal. This is the reason why this answer choice would be incorrect.

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Answer 2

Answer:

The best illustration of ecological succession is b. the grass growing in the sand dunes is replaced with shrubs which in turn replaced by trees.

Explanation:

Over a period of time, sand builds up into sand dunes above the height of sea level. Once the dunes are fixed, saplings of them will grow towards the sea direction. The plants growing under such harsh conditions like bare ground are called pioneer species.

Such plants are stress tolerant with tough outer layer protecting rest of the plant. These plants can grow into shrubs and in turn tress promoting the ecology to maintain and sustain. These plants after death forms an organic matter for the existing ones and develops water retaining capacity.