QUESTION 28 (4 marks)
Identify two differences between primary and secondary ecological succession. Refer to one example of each type of succession in your response.
QCAA guide · typeset solution
QCAA sample response and mark allocation
28 | Primary succession (e.g. after a volcanic eruption) begins with a bare site that hasn’t been colonised before, whereas in secondary succession (e.g. a forest after a fire), the environment was previously colonised, but disturbed or damaged. A second difference is that in primary succession, a pioneer community is required to make the habitat fertile, whereas in secondary succession, the habitat is fertile with soil, seeds and remnants of vegetation. | • identifies one difference between primary and secondary succession [1 mark] • identifies a second difference between primary and secondary succession [1 mark] • provides an example of primary succession [1 mark] • provides an example of secondary succession [1 mark] | Differences between primary and secondary succession may include differences in: starting environment pioneer communities length of time to climax community or other suitable responses consistent with a reasonable understanding. Examples of primary succession may include: after volcanic eruption/landslide new sand dune mining site or other suitable response consistent with a reasonable understanding. Examples of secondary succession may include: forest fire flood cyclone or other suitable response consistent with a reasonable understanding. |
QCAA sample response and marking criteria reproduced from the official guide.
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