IB ESS SL 2.5.5 Primary Succession Question Bank

a. Primary succession / succession on bare rock / lithosere;
b. Physical factors (temperature, precipitation, freeze-thaw weathering) weather/erode bare rock (creating the mineral/abiotic component/soil base);
c. Plants/seeds/early colonizing species/pioneer species are brought in by wind/animals/birds;
d. Early colonising/pioneer species/r-selected/r-strategist/r-species become established/spread rapidly;
e. Early colonising/pioneer species/leguminous/plants add organic matter/nutrient content/improve soil quality (as they decompose);
f. Root systems of early colonizers help to stabilize the soil layer/reduce erosion;
g. As soil depth increases, more plants can survive/percent cover vegetation increases;

Note to examiners: Do not credit responses that refer to climax communities.