Question

If a wildfire destroyed all the trees in a forest, what might happen to the ecosystem? Select all that apply.

A. New types of trees will start growing.

B. Animal populations and trees will be unchanged.

C. Minerals from the ashes will nourish the soil.

D. No energy will be transferred in the ecosystem ever again.

E. The burned trees will give off extra energy to primary consumers.

Answer 1

A wildfire leads to secondary succession where new types of trees will grow and minerals from the ashes will nourish the soil, leading to a new climax community similar to the pre-disturbance state.

Step-by-step explanation:

If a wildfire destroyed all the trees in a forest, this would lead to a process called secondary succession. After an initial period of devastation, new types of trees and other plants would start to grow from seeds that survived underground. This growth begins with small grasses and progresses to shrubs and eventually larger trees over time. The minerals from the ashes will nourish the soil, creating fertile conditions for new growth. This series of changes will result in a new climax community, which may resemble the pre-fire community if the climate and geology remain the same.

The correct answers to the question are:

• A. New types of trees will start growing.
• C. Minerals from the ashes will nourish the soil.

Options B, D, and E are not correct because the animal populations and trees will change after a wildfire, energy will continue to be transferred in the ecosystem after recovery, and the burned trees do not give off 'extra energy' to primary consumers.