What once was an open pasture on a long abandoned farm has changed over time,without the direct influence of humans.After the cattle had been removed,shrubs and bushes could be seen dotting the grass-covered hillsides.A few years later,small pine trees and then larger deciduous trees appeared.Now,there are so many trees and shaded regions it is difficult to tell that this was once a field.
-These ecological changes in the abandoned pasture represent
A)aquatic to terrestrial succession.
B)primary succession.
C)intermediate succession.
D)secondary succession.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The ecological changes in the abandoned pasture represent secondary succession, which is the sequence of changes that happens in an area where an ecosystem had previously existed. In this case, the pasture was previously a grassland ecosystem that was disturbed by humans (the cattle being removed). The changes that occur over time, as new plant species colonize and grow in the area, are characteristic of secondary succession.

What Once Was an Open Pasture on a Long Abandoned