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Question #46041
The Question
During the herbaceous seral stage of primary succession, an invasive alien species (Parthenium hysterophorus) heavily colonizes the area. According to ecological principles, how will this invasion most likely alter the trajectory towards a climax community?
Options
- A.
It will accelerate the seral stages by rapidly adding humus to the soil, reaching the predicted mesic climax community faster.
- B.
It will act as a biological inhibitor through competitive exclusion and allelopathy, disrupting the facilitation process and preventing the ecosystem from reaching its theoretical climax diversity.
- C.
It will initiate secondary succession by destroying the existing biomass, but the final climax community will remain unchanged as it is determined solely by the regional climate.
- D.
It will increase the species-area capacity of the ecosystem by creating new trophic levels, leading to a highly diverse polyclimax community.
Check Your Answer
Correct Answer
Step-by-Step Solution
Explanation
How the Examiner Thinks
Comparative_Analysis
Sharpen your ability to evaluate multiple scenarios and distinguish between competing potential answers.
Concepts Behind This Question
Rivet Popper Hypothesis|Diversity-Stability Relationship|Species-Area Relationship
Why This Question Is Tricky
Common Mistakes
Conceptual Pivot: Students often rigidly apply the NCERT statement that 'the climax community is determined by climate' (Chapter 14), failing to integrate Chapter 13 concepts (Alien Species Invasion/Competitive Exclusion).
The trap is assuming succession is an unstoppable physical process, whereas it is a biological dynamic highly susceptible to disruption by invasive species that break the 'facilitation' chain.
Quick Facts About This Question
Question Information
| Subject | Biology |
| Chapter | Biodiversity and Conservation - Class 12 |
| Concept | Species-Area Relationship |
| Difficulty | 8 |
| Cognitive Load | 5 |
| Target Solve Time | 120 sec |
| Access | Free |