Browse by Stream
QnA
Home
QnA
Go To Your Study Dashboard

Get Answers to all your Questions

header-bg qa
  • Home
  • School
  • (a) State what is an ecological succession. (b) Write one similarity and one difference between hydrarch and xerarch sucessions. (c) Explain the mechanism of co-evolution as seen in orchid Ophrys and bee.

(a) State what is an ecological succession.

(b) Write one similarity and one difference between hydrarch and
xerarch sucessions.

(c) Explain the mechanism of co-evolution as seen in orchid Ophrys
and bee.

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Answers (1)

a) The gradual and fairly predictable change in the species composition of a given area is called ecological succession. During succession, some species colonize an area and their populations become more numerous, whereas populations of other species decline and even disappear.

There are two types of ecological succession:
1.Primary Succession: It occurs in areas that are basically lifeless such as bare rocks, glaciers and lava etc.
2.Secondary Succession: It occurs in the area which already had an established ecosystem such as forest etc. which are destroyed by natural calamities like fire, hurricane and is changed to an ecology having lesser number of species.

b) Differences-
Xerach Succession: This succession takes place in dry regions; phytoplanktons are replaced by free-floating angiosperms which further invade grasses and trees.

Hydrach Succession: This succession takes place in wet areas, Lichens are the pioneer species, which are then invaded by bryophytes.

Similarities:
In both the successions, a stable community is formed.

c) The Mediterranean orchid Ophrys employs ‘sexual deceit’ to get pollination done by a species of bee. One petal of its flower bears an uncanny resemblance to the female of the bee in size, colour and markings. The male bee is attracted to what it perceives as a female, ‘pseudocopulates’ with the flower, and during that process is dusted with pollen from the flower. When this same bee ‘pseudocopulates’ with another flower, it transfers pollen to it and thus, pollinates the flower. This is how co-evolution operates.
 

Posted by

Priyanka Kumari

View full answer

Crack CUET with india's "Best Teachers"

  • HD Video Lectures
  • Unlimited Mock Tests
  • Faculty Support
cuet_ads

Similar Questions

Trending Articles/News

anam-khan

CBSE Class 12 board exams 2025 to have 50% competency-based questions; no change in 10th
anam-khan

CBSE Class 12 board exams 2024 over; expected result date, trends of last 10 years
anam-khan

CBSE Class 12 accountancy board exam analysis 2024 out; paper rated easy, balanced

Latest Question