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The term that best describes the process of establishing a community on the exposed bedrock as a glacier melts and retreats is succession.
Here's why:
1. Succession is a natural process where a series of changes occur in the structure of a biological community over time. It involves the gradual establishment of different plant and animal species in an area.
2. When a glacier retreats and exposes bare bedrock, the process of primary succession takes place. In this process, pioneer species like lichens and mosses start to colonize the barren rock surface. These pioneer species help break down the rock and create soil over time.
3. As the soil develops, more complex plant species can establish themselves, attracting insects, birds, and other organisms. This gradual development of a community on the exposed bedrock is an example of primary succession.
Therefore, in the context of the question, the most appropriate term to describe the process of community establishment on the exposed bedrock after a glacier retreats is succession.
