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Multiple Choice
Which type of ecological process first occurred in the ecosystem around Mount St. Helens after it erupted?
A
Secondary succession
B
Primary succession
C
Tertiary succession
D
Climax community formation
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the concept of ecological succession, which is the process by which the structure of a biological community evolves over time.
Differentiate between primary and secondary succession. Primary succession occurs in lifeless areas where there is no soil, such as after a volcanic eruption, while secondary succession occurs in areas where a disturbance has destroyed a community but left the soil intact.
Recognize that the eruption of Mount St. Helens created a barren landscape with no existing soil, making it a candidate for primary succession.
Identify the initial colonizers in primary succession, such as lichens and mosses, which can grow on bare rock and help in soil formation.
Conclude that the ecological process that first occurred around Mount St. Helens after the eruption was primary succession, as it involved the development of a new ecosystem from a lifeless area.