Question
The first student claims this demonstrates secondary succession. The second student disagrees and states this is primary succession.
Which student is correct and why?
Question 2 options:
The second student is correct because grasses are considered a pioneer species that are only found with primary succession.
The second student is correct because primary succession always ends with a hardwood, deciduous forest community.
The first student is correct because secondary succession always results in a hardwood, deciduous forest in all areas of the world.
The first student is correct because the beginning is a bare field which would have soil, and having soil present is a characteristic of secondary succession.
Which student is correct and why?
Question 2 options:
The second student is correct because grasses are considered a pioneer species that are only found with primary succession.
The second student is correct because primary succession always ends with a hardwood, deciduous forest community.
The first student is correct because secondary succession always results in a hardwood, deciduous forest in all areas of the world.
The first student is correct because the beginning is a bare field which would have soil, and having soil present is a characteristic of secondary succession.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The correct answer is:
**The first student is correct because the beginning is a bare field which would have soil, and having soil present is a characteristic of secondary succession.**
In primary succession, the process begins on bare rock or in an area where no soil exists, such as after a volcanic eruption or glacial retreat. In contrast, secondary succession occurs in areas where a disturbance has destroyed an existing ecosystem but left the soil intact, such as after a fire or agricultural abandonment. Since the scenario mentions a "bare field" that already has soil, it suggests a secondary succession process. Therefore, the first student's claim aligns with the characteristics of secondary succession.
**The first student is correct because the beginning is a bare field which would have soil, and having soil present is a characteristic of secondary succession.**
In primary succession, the process begins on bare rock or in an area where no soil exists, such as after a volcanic eruption or glacial retreat. In contrast, secondary succession occurs in areas where a disturbance has destroyed an existing ecosystem but left the soil intact, such as after a fire or agricultural abandonment. Since the scenario mentions a "bare field" that already has soil, it suggests a secondary succession process. Therefore, the first student's claim aligns with the characteristics of secondary succession.