Chapter 18

Contrast the characteristics of early and late successional species.

What is a chronosequence and how does it help in ecological study?

Defoliation of oak trees by gypsy moth larvae caused the death of extensive forest stands in the Blue Ridge Mountains of central Virginia. The recovery of these forest communities after defoliation includes the growth of existing trees and shrubs that have escaped defoliation, as well as colonization of the site by tree species outside the community. Is this an example of primary or secondary succession? Why?

(a) Describe the general model of plant succession proposed by Connell and Slatycr. (b) How do autogenic (biotic) changes promote the growth of shade- tolerant species and affect shade-intolerant species during succession?

Classification of plant species into three primary life history strategies $(R,C,\text{ and }S)$ proposed by the plant ecologist Philip Grime was discussed in Chapter 10 Section $10.13.$ Which of these three plant strategies is most likely to characterize the colonization of a newly disturbed site (early successional species)? Which of the three plant strategies is most likely to characterize later successional species?

Why is the ability to tolerate low resource availability often associated with plant species that dominate during the later stages of succession?

In Section $17.7,$ we discussed the difference between size-symmetrical and size-asymmetrical compctition for resources. How might the nature of these two types of competition shift during the process of plant succession?