Stages of primary ecological succession in water are given below. Arrange these stages in the correct sequence.
A. Reed-swamp stage
B. Forest
C. Marsh-meadow stage
D. Submerged plant stage
E. Scrub stage
Choose the correct answer from the options given below.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → D, A, C, E, B
D. Submerged plant stage — first. After the pioneer phytoplankton, rooted submerged plants come in.
A. Reed-swamp stage — second. Floating plants and then reeds grow as the water becomes shallower.
C. Marsh-meadow stage — third. The soil builds up into marshy land with sedges and grasses.
E. Scrub stage — fourth. Shrubs take over the drier ground.
B. Forest — last. Trees form the climax community.
Note: This question is from the topic “Succession of Plants” in Chapter 14, Ecosystem, of the pre-rationalised NCERT book. This portion is not in the present NCERT book, where the chapter is now Chapter 12, Ecosystem. The extract below is from the pre-rationalised edition.
NCERT Extract (Pre-rationalised edition, Chapter 14, Ecosystem):
Succession of Plants – “… In primary succession in water, the pioneers are the small phytoplanktons, which are replaced with time by rooted-submerged plants, rooted-floating angiosperms followed by free-floating plants, then reed-swamp, marsh-meadow, scrub and finally the trees. The climax again would be a forest. With time the water body is converted into land (Figure 14.5).”