ECOLOGY
ORGANISMS AND THE ENVIRONMENT
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Question
[CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
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Ecological Succession helps maintain equilibrium in an ecosystem.
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Ecological succession prevents ecosystems from ever reaching equilibrium.
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There is no relationship between ecological succession and equilibrium.
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Ecological succession and equilibrium are the same thing.
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Detailed explanation-1: -In some environments, succession reaches a climax, which produces a stable community dominated by a small number of prominent species. This state of equilibrium, called the climax community, is thought to result when the web of biotic interactions becomes so intricate that no other species can be admitted.
Detailed explanation-2: -When a community eventually reaches the last stage of succession, what is typically referred to as a climax community, the composition of the community is stable. Thus, any small disturbances will be counterbalanced. The system is at a relative equilibrium.
Detailed explanation-3: -Communities with a stable structure are said to be at equilibrium. Following a disturbance, the community may or may not return to the equilibrium state. Succession describes the sequential appearance and disappearance of species in a community over time.
Detailed explanation-4: -During the processes of ecological succession, both biomass productivity and biodiversity increase. This means that there are more organisms with greater species diversity at each stage of succession than in the previous stage.
Detailed explanation-5: -Ecological succession is the process by which the mix of species and habitat in an area changes over time. Gradually, these communities replace one another until a “climax community”-like a mature forest-is reached, or until a disturbance, like a fire, occurs. Ecological succession is a fundamental concept in ecology.