Environmental Science: Earth as a Living Planet (9th Edition)

Published by Wiley
ISBN 10: 1118427327
ISBN 13: 978-1-11842-732-3

Chapter 6 - Ecosystems: Concepts and Fundamentals - Study Questions - Page 129: 1

Answer

Ecological succession, as described in the previous chapter, occurs in three successional stages--early, middle, and late succession.The early successional stage occurs when either the pioneers or remaining plant species, which have adapted to unstable conditions of the environment, rapidly grows and eventually spread their seeds widely across the area. With the increase in abundance of nutrients (nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus) from the increase in organic matter, this process will continue until the mid-successional stage. Farmers utilize this phenomenon by mimicking the conditions of the natural early successional stage. Through various farming methods, farmers ensure that sufficient amounts of sunlight, water and chemical nutrients are present in the soil, thereby enhancing the growth of crops.

Work Step by Step

Ecological succession, as described in the previous chapter, occurs in three successional stages--early, middle, and late succession.The early successional stage occurs when either the pioneers or remaining plant species, which have adapted to unstable conditions of the environment, rapidly grows and eventually spread their seeds widely across the area. With the increase in abundance of nutrients (nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus) from the increase in organic matter, this process will continue until the mid-successional stage. Farmers utilize this phenomenon by mimicking the conditions of the natural early successional stage. Through various farming methods, farmers ensure that sufficient amounts of sunlight, water and chemical nutrients are present in the soil, thereby enhancing the growth of crops.
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