1
what is succession?
Succession is the change in species composition of a community over time
What’s the main difference between natural and artificial succession?
Artificial involves human intervention, while natural occurs without help.
Where did Study 1 take place?
Northern Spain
Why is succession important for mined lands?
It restores ecosystems, habitats, and natural nutrient cycles.
What was the goal of the Czech Republic study on AM fungi?
To test how fungal symbiosis affects plant growth and primary succession in post-mining soils.
What is a pioneer species?
It is the first organism to move into an area in which begins the process of succession
In the Ecology Today experiment, which recovered faster: natural or artificial succession?
Artificial succession
What happened to species richness over 32 years in Study 1?
It increased early (8 to 28 species), then declined to 7–8 species.
How does climate change affect succession?
It can slow recovery, increase disturbance events, and disrupt plant growth.
Why did lab-grown fungi outperform native fungi in the study?
They colonized plant roots more efficiently, increasing nutrient uptake.
Which type of succession occurs after a forest fire?
Secondary succession
What percentage of ground coverage did artificial succession achieve after four years?
About 80%
Which soil nutrients were linked with late-stage woody species?
Nitrogen and a higher carbon-to-nitrogen (C:N) ratio.
Why is strip mining linked to primary succession rather than secondary?
Because the mining process removes all soil and organic matter, leaving behind conditions similar to those where no life previously existed.
How might global warming change the pace of future successions?
It could make recovery slower or less predictable, as extreme events happen more often.
Which process takes longer to reach a climax community?
Primary Succession
Considering the different stages of succession, which phase would have the greatest sustainability?
The climax stage of succession would have the most sustainability because it has the greatest biodiversity
What was the main conclusion of Study 1?
Human-managed succession (with soil improvements) can help coal mines reach climax communities faster.
How do early-succession plants differ from late-succession plants?
Early species grow fast and tolerate harsh conditions; late species grow slowly but are better competitors and shade-tolerant.
Why is species richness not always a perfect indicator of ecosystem health?
Species richness isn’t a perfect indicator of ecosystem health because it only counts how many species are present, not how balanced, functional, or resilient the ecosystem is.