Download Ecological Succession- Definition,Types of

Ecological
SuccessionDefinition,Types
of
Ecological Succession
ECOLOGICAL SUCCESSION :
Ecosystems are constantly changing due to natural and human
disturbances. This is a big ecological problem for ecological
succession.
Example:
1. Natural Disturbance(such as: forest fire)
2. Human Disturbance(such
agriculture)
as:clearing
a
forest
for
DEFINITION OF ECOLOGICAL SUCCESSION :
Ecological succession is the series of changes in an ecosystem
when one community is replaced by another community as a
result of changes in biotic and abiotic factors.
It can regenerate a damaged community
It can create a community in a previously unhabitated
area
Succession occurs in all types of ecosystem
(Forest, ponds, corals reefs, etc)
It may takes hundreds or thousands of years.
SERI AND SERAL COMMUNITY
TYPES OF ECOLOGICAL SUCCESSION :
Ecological succession IS mainly of two types:
1.
Primary succession.
2.
Secondary succession.
1. Primary succession:
The process of creating and developing an ecosystem in an
area that was previously uninhabited sides (volcanoes ,sides
of glacier recession)
1. Occurs in areas with no soil
2. It is a very slow process
3. The process of primary succession starts with the
arrival of living things such as lichens and mosses.
that do not need soil to survive.
Pioneer species
Pioneer species is the first organisms of
primary
succession to live in a previously uninhabited area.
The pioneer species help create soil by breaking down
the rock particles into smaller and smaller pieces.
As lichens and mosses dies, they decompose and add small
amounts of nutrients to the rock particles, creating
soil.
4. During the early stage of succession there are not many
habitats, so not many organisms are found in
environment.
5. Ones there is enough soil and nutrients, small plants
such as flowers, ferns, grasses grow, which helps in
primary plant succession. These plants help to further
break down the rocks and add nutrients to the soil when
they die and decompose.
6. Due to the primary plant succession it helps to create
habitats of small animals like insects and small
mammals.
7. Over time, as animals die and decompose ,their bodies
add nutrients
to the soil allowing
larger plant
species to populate the area ,larger animals follow
the larger plants.
Eventually, a mature community is formed and this mature
community is called Climax Community.
(Climax community is a community that is able to maintain
itself for long periods of time with few changes in the
species that populate it)
2. Secondary Succession :
Secondary succession is the process of repairing a damaged
ecosystem. It occurs when community is destroyed, altered but
soil is still there
(Such as: natural disasters, human activities, death of
organisms)
1. Its typically a much faster process than primary
succession, because there is already soil present.
2. It is a never ending process
3. Any disturbance in ecosystem result in secondary
succession starting over.
4. If an ecosystem is frequently disturbed it will not be
able to support large trees and animals so it will
consist of the animals typical of the early stages of
succession.
5. Very similar to primary succession but does not require
soil forming pioneer species.
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