Question

Grassland ecosystems in Texas have evolved to depend on periodic fires to return nutrients to the soil and encourage plant reproduction. Humans have prevented fires in many of these grassland areas, resulting in plant and animal communities with little diversity. Wildlife biologists often recommend purposefully starting fires called prescribed burns, which are monitored and controlled, in grassland ecosystems every 3 to 4 years. These biologists observe greater diversity in plant and animal life in the years following a prescribed burn. What natural processes are the biologists attempting to imitate

Answer 1

Answer:

Succession

Explanation:

The biologists were attempting to imitate succession.

Succession refers to a gradual change to the structure and species composition of a community over a period of time.

A newly colonized environment such as a bare rock forms a community is said to be in primary succession. Thereafter, the structure and composition of the community keep changing until a relatively stable community, otherwise known as climax community, is established.

Secondary succession happens when a disturbed community tries to regain its original dynamics in terms of species composition and structure. A climax community is often less diverse than a community that is still in active succession.

Hence, the biologists were attempting to imitate succession by burning/disturning a relatively stable, less diverse climax community of grassland in order to realize a more diverse community that will undergo secondary succession.

Answer 2

Answer:

Succession

Explanation: