Select the correct sequence of development of following stages in a primary succession
A. Scrub Stage
B. Marsh-meadow stage
C. Submerged free floating plant stage
D. Reed-swamp stage
E. Submerged plant stage
Choose the correct answer from the options given below
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → E, C, D, B, A
E. Submerged plant stage — first of the five. After the phytoplankton (the pioneers in water), rooted plants that stay under water come up. Their dead parts add soil to the bottom of the pond.
C. Submerged free floating plant stage — second. As the water becomes shallower, plants that float on the surface take over. Their roots hang in the water.
D. Reed-swamp stage — third. The pond is now shallow enough for tall reeds rooted in mud, with stems and leaves above the water.
B. Marsh-meadow stage — fourth. The water body has largely filled up. Sedges and grasses grow on the wet, marshy land.
A. Scrub Stage — last of the five. On the drier land shrubs grow, and in time they give way to trees, the climax forest.
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 reedswamp, 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).”
