1 Define the following terms; I. Ecology (1 Marks) II. Community (1 Marks) III . Secondary succession (1 Marks) IV. Autecology (1 Marks) 2. Describe the characteristics of a climax community (5Marks) 3. Briefly explain the Niche theory

1. I. Ecology is the scientific study of interactions among organisms and their environment. II. A community in ecology is a group of different species that live together in a specific area and interact with each other. III. Secondary succession is a type of ecological succession that occurs in an environment that has already been significantly altered by a disturbance. IV. Autecology is a branch of ecology that studies the relationship between a single species and its environment.2. A climax community is a stable community that is in equilibrium with the physical environment. It is characterized by a stable structure and function, and it is the final stage of ecological succession. The species composition of a climax community is relatively stable and remains unchanged until a disturbance occurs.3. The Niche theory, also known as the Competitive Exclusion Principle, states that no two species can occupy the same niche in the same environment for a long time. This is because one species will outcompete the other, leading to the extinction of the less competitive species.

## Step 1The first step is to define the terms Ecology, Community, Secondary succession, and Autecology.### **Ecology**Ecology is a branch of biology that studies the interactions among organisms and their environment. It involves understanding the distribution and abundance of organisms, the interactions among organisms, and the interactions between organisms and their physical environment.### **Community**In ecology, a community is a group of different species that live together in a specific area and interact with each other. ### **Secondary succession**Secondary succession is a type of ecological succession that occurs in an environment that has already been significantly altered by a disturbance, such as a fire or a flood.### **Autecology**Autecology is a branch of ecology that studies the relationship between a single species and its environment.## Step 2The second step is to describe the characteristics of a climax community.### **Climax Community**A climax community is a stable community that is in equilibrium with the physical environment. It is characterized by a stable structure and function, and it is the final stage of ecological succession. The species composition of a climax community is relatively stable and remains unchanged until a disturbance occurs.## Step 3The final step is to explain the Niche theory.### **Niche Theory**The Niche theory, also known as the Competitive Exclusion Principle, states that no two species can occupy the same niche in the same environment for a long time. This is because one species will outcompete the other, leading to the extinction of the less competitive species.