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1 vote
5. Imagine you are out mountain climbing and come across a large lake with crystal clear

water.
A. Would this lake be likely to support a large number of organisms? Explain the reason(s)
for your answer.
B. As you continue your walk, you come across a meadow. What was most likely here
before the meadow?
C. What would be the next step in its progression? That is, how would the area change?
Explain the reason for your answer.​

User Biliboc
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1 Answer

5 votes

You too, picture this alongside my answer. Let's say you are mountain climbing and you see a crystal clear, large lake.

Would this lake support a large number of organisms? Definitely. When it comes to freshwater bodies, cleanliness is a factor and an indication that it does not have any impurities, and probably has good minerals that can sustain life. Both aquatic and terrestrial species can thrive in a clean lake.

You continue walking, and come across a meadow. What was most likely before the meadow? A meadow is a sign that an ecosystem has experienced change, since they are not static. Its changes over time are called ecological successions. This meadow could be a sign that there was primary and secondary succession, and there could have been different grassy environments before, or a forest. Remember that primary succession is when rocks are colonized by living things. Secondary succession is when living things of an ecosystem have been disturbed and then recolonized.

What would be the next step in its progression, what changes would you see in the area? This area would become simply beautiful, vital for all types of life to thrive: animals, plants, etc. Wild species would likely occupy that ecosystem. And the sad fate of that ecosystem too, would be that humans would try to take over it and destroy everything in its surroundings. It's just part of human nature.

User Wookie
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