When a New England farm is abandoned, its formerly plowed fields first become weedy meadows, then shrubby areas, and finally forest. This sequence of plant communities is an example of
A) evolution.
B) a food chain.
C) secondary succession.
D) primary succession.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The sequence of plant communities described (weedy meadows, shrubby areas, and forests) is typical of secondary succession, which occurs when an existing community is disrupted or destroyed but the soil remains intact. Primary succession, on the other hand, occurs on bare rock or soil where no community existed before. Evolution and a food chain are not relevant concepts in this context.

When a New England Farm Is Abandoned, Its Formerly Plowed