Question

Choose the most appropriate explanation for ecological succession.

• A. The replacement of closely related species at successive altitudes up a mountain.
• B. The successive colonization of a site by certain species accompanied by the extinction of others.
• C. The synchronous ageing of a cohort of animals born at the same time.
• D. The successive links in a food chain from plants to herbivores to carnivores.

Answer 1

The correct option is B The successive colonization of a site by certain species accompanied by the extinction of others.

This tendency of an ecosystem to change from simple to complex or just change over time is termed as succession. Succession typically leads to the change in structure and species composition over time. The changed environmental conditions favour the growth of many more species while certain species can also go extinct due to the same changes.