Forests, like other ecological systems, are subject to the species succession process. Which of the following would be characteristics of pioneer plant species facilitating the early stages of forest succession? (Check all that apply.)A) Slow-growingB) Pollinated by animalsC) Seedling growth requires direct sunlightD) Seeds germinate in the shadeE) Plants produce great quantity of seeds

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

C, E

Clarify Question
• What is the key concept addressed by the question?
        o This question requires an understanding of succession and the characteristics of organisms that are better adapted for an envirnment undergoing succession.
• What type of thinking is required?
        o This is an evaluate question; you need to examine all of the choices and make a judgement about the suitability of a characteristic to a pioneer species. This is check-all-that-apply question; there is more than one correct answer.

Gather Content
• What do you already know about succession? What other information is related to the question? 
        o An established forest habitat would have large mature trees, low levels of light at the forest floor, and very little room for a new species to get started. In a very early succession stage, it would look very different. The habitat would have many smaller plants, high levels of light, and lots of new plant species would be growing and trying to get established.

Choose Answer
• Given what you now know, what information is most likely to produce the correct answer?
        o Pioneer plants would have many characteristics consistent with r-selected life history strategies. They would be fast-growing and reproduce in great numbers. They would also be able to germinate and grow in direct sunlight since there would be few other plants to produce shade. They would also likely be wind pollinated as there would not be many animals available for pollination.

Reflect on Process
• Did your problem-solving process lead you to the correct answer? If not, where did the process break down or lead you astray? How can you revise your approach to produce a more desirable result?
        o You need to use your knowledge of ecological succession to judge which characteristics would be most beneficial to a pioneer species that is try to establish itself. Did you remember that r-selected species are better able to survive in conditions of succession, like those seen in an establishing forest in the early stages of succession? Knowing that were you able to identify characteristics of r-selected species in a forest succession environment?