Question

During succession, inhibition:
A) May prevent the achievement of a climax community.
B) Is evidence for the equilibrium theory of succession.
C) May interfere with the successful colonization of other species.
D) May involve changes in soil pH or accelerated accumulation of humus.

Answer 1

Hint: Early successional species actually slow down the growth of subsequent successional species and slow down the expansion of already-existing colonising species.

Complete Step by Step Answer:
The process by which a region's species and habitat mix evolve over time is called ecological succession. These communities then slowly replace one another until a "climax community" is attained, like a mature forest, or a disruption like a fire occurs. The two main categories of ecological succession are regarded as Primary succession and secondary succession. When a new piece of land is first exposed, the primary succession is said to occur. This succession happens for instance when lava is solidified and then forms new rocks. In the initial succession, organisms have to start over. First, lichens may cling to rocks, followed by a few small plants capable of surviving without much soil. These go by the name pioneer species. Larger plants start to colonise the region as a result of the decomposition of those plants, which gradually helps to create soil. Once sufficient soil has accumulated and adequate nutrients are accessible, a climax community, such as a forest, is created. In the event that the site is disturbed after this, secondary succession takes place.

When a climax community gets affected by any kind of disturbance, then, a new succession called a secondary succession occurs. The succession cycle is restarted, but not to the start because the soil and nutrients are still there. Joseph Connell and Ralph Slatyer in their 1977 work, advanced our understanding of successional dynamics and suggested three primary models for successional evolution. These are the facilitation, tolerance, and inhibition model. According to the inhibition model, one species prevents the occurrence of another by indirect ways like competition for resources or direct methods like predation. In some inhibitory models, the timing of a species' establishment affects which species eventually becomes dominant. The priority effect is a phenomenon that indicates that earlier-establishing species are more likely to become dominant species, which is a theory that describes this phenomenon. For instance, following a forest fire that destroys all the adult trees in certain terrain, grasses may develop, then shrubs and other tree species, until ultimately the pre-fire community is once more present. During succession, inhibition may interfere with the successful colonization of other species.
Therefore, option C) May interfere with the successful colonization of other species is correct.


Note: To answer this question, it is essential to understand the three models of succession.